NFL Features: Monday Night Football Green Bay At Seattle


By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst

(Nov. 27, 2006) -- Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren against his old pupil Brett Favre. Favre is the reigning king of Monday Night Football production with 7,281 yards and 54 touchdown passes. The Seahawks have been decimated by injuries all season, but they finally get their quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, and running back, Shaun Alexander, back on the field together for the first time since Sept. 24. The Seahawks didn't put up very good numbers back in September when the two stars were on the field, but they were 3-0 until the injuries hit. Can they return to the level of play that got them to the Super Bowl last year? We will find out tonight when the Packers come to town. Favre dodged a bullet last week when it looked like he seriously hurt his throwing arm, but he's fine and usually "lights up the scoreboard" on MNF.

Both teams have been sloppy with the ball and are losing the turnover battle to date. Neither team has been very good on defense at getting the ball back for the offense. Seattle has a tremendous home-field advantage, but the truth is Favre plays better on the road than he does at Lambeau. Since 2003, the Packers are 15-14 away from Green Bay and just 13-16 at home.

Green Bay was shut out last week for the second time this season, and the Seahawks shut out the Raiders on Monday Night Football three weeks ago (and by the way, they hold the NFL record for shutouts on MNF with five). I don't think the Seattle defense can hold down Favre, but you never know.

POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU LIKE SEATTLE
1. Matt Hasselbeck is back at QB.
2. Seattle is 21-4 at home when Hasselbeck starts since 2003.
3. The Seahawks are No. 2 in defensive sacks this season.
4. Green Bay has now been shut out twice this season.
5. Green Bay gives up 24 points a game on the road.
6. The Packers were held to 120 total yards last week.
7. Seattle has shut out five teams on MNF.
8. Green Bay is the 31st-ranked pass defense in the NFL.
9. Deion Branch and Darrell Jackson have 44 receptions and six touchdowns in the last five games.
10. Green Bay is 1-4 in its last five MNF games.

POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU LIKE GREEN BAY
1. Brett Favre is healthy and second all time to Dan Marino on MNF .
2. Matt Hasselbeck is 0-3 versus the Packers with zero touchdown passes.
3. Green Bay is No. 4 in defensive sacks and the Seahawks are No. 28 giving up sacks.
4. Seattle has now gone seven games without a rushing touchdown.
5. Last year, Green Bay beat Seattle and held Shaun Alexander to 73 yards.
6. Shaun Alexander has a 2.7 yards per carry rushing average.
7. Seattle has given up 19 sacks and fumbled 10 times in the last five games.
8. Favre has only thrown two interceptions in his last 164 passes.
9. KGB (Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila) has 15½ sacks in 15 MNF games.
10. Last week, San Francisco running back Frank Gore had 212 yards versus Seattle.

WHEN THE SEAHAWKS HAVE THE BALL
Last year, no one could stop Mike Holmgren's team at home. Shaun Alexander rushed for 17 scores in his eight home victories, but that was last season when All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson was leading the way. The Seattle offensive line has been torn apart with injuries, and it may be time to spread out the Packers defense with three- and four-receiver packages and attack a questionable Green Bay secondary.



Last week, Alexander was up against a San Francisco defense ranked 22nd in the league and could only muster 37 yards in 17 carries. Green Bay struggled to contain Laurence Maroney last week and gave up a 100-plus yard rushing day to an individual for the first time this season. The Packers are still one of the better run defenses in the league, and when I watch them on tape, it's clear they are an excellent tackling team. Coach Holmgren will consider setting up the run with the pass early in this game.

The Seattle passing attack is going to have to be the three-step drop quick game, because the Seahawks struggle to protect the QB. Whether it's Hasselbeck or Seneca Wallace, opposing defenses get to the QB. The 34 sacks in 10 games is more than twice as many as the Packers give up, and if Aaron Kampman and company get to Hasselbeck four or five times, Seattle will be in for a long night. Slant routes to Branch and Jackson seem like the way to go in this game.

WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL
Ahman Green returned to practice on Friday and should start. In the four weeks prior to a knee injury last week, he rushed for just over 400 yards in four games. Favre is at his best with a solid running game behind him, and I'm sure Green just watched the game tapes of Gore tearing the Seahawks defense apart and will want to do the same thing to the team that traded him away years ago.



Favre should realize that the formula to slow him down is to double up Donald Driver and make him find the open man. Favre can read coverages as well as anyone to ever play the game, but he can get in trouble trying to stick a ball into places he shouldn't go. Favre looks like he is back in his Hall-of-Fame form over the past five weeks, and he is taking a lot less chances than he was previously. All reports from Green Bay this week are that his arm strength is excellent, after the injury last week that put him on the sideline during the game for just the sixth time in his career.

It looks like the Packers will miss offensive right tackle Mark Tauscher, down with a groin injury, and that means Seattle will develop a few looks to rush outside linebacker Julian Peterson from that side. If not Peterson, than one of the 13 Seahawks who have combined to notch 35 sacks will get his shot at Favre. Look for the Packers to work their classic screen game to the right side to help backup lineman Tony Moll, a rookie handling the right edge of the protection. Green is an excellent screen pass receiver, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a few called in the first quarter.

CONCLUSION
It's hard to believe Hasselbeck has never beaten his old team and never thrown a touchdown pass in three starts against Green Bay. The Packers have already given up 18 touchdown passes this season, and it seems probable that Branch and Jackson -- who already have 12 scores between them -- will break the ice for Hasselbeck. Alexander will run well enough to keep a safety down in the box most of the night, and the Seattle pass rush will disrupt Favre just enough to give them a home win. If the Seahawks don't shore up their tackling and pass blocking, then Seattle will slip to 6-5 and find its playoff hopes in jeopardy. I think Holmgren will have his team ready to start their playoff push tonight and win a close game against his old team.
[Edited 11/27/06 15:15pm]

Monday Night Football "transformation" with model/talk show host Tyra Banks.

Monday Night Football Transformation - 2006

Fans can expect the temperature to be around 34 degrees come kick-off, with possible snow showers. At the end of the game, prepare for temps in the low 30's (possible 20's) with more snow showers.

Light rain, snow in forecast. Temperatures should be in the low 30s for kickoff, according to various forecasts.

I'm sure the cool conditions will really throw off the Packers.
It's never cold in Green Bay.

july said:

Time to go to Qwest Field.

Terrific game by Alexander, who rushed for 201 yards on 40 carries.
The Seahawks' ability to control the ball on offense clearly dictated
the outcome of this game. SEA 34 GB 24

Matt had a great second half. Welcome back.

july said:

july said:

STOP! DROP! ROLL!