I've noticed a lot of people going with the Seahawks, who come into Saturday's game against the Packers with some momentum built off last week's fourth-quarter outburst against the Redskins.
But I still say Seattle is an incomplete team, and that its big drawback - the running game - will prove their undoing in Green Bay.
This was once a dominant running team, especially during Shaun Alexander's MVP season in 2005. But Alexander has not been consistent this year - due in part to wrist and knee injuries - and the loss of fullback Mack Strong has been underplayed.
Leonard Weaver is a decent replacement, but he is not nearly the blocker that Strong was. Weaver is a better pass catcher, but Alexander needs a big-time blocking back to be most effective.
The Seahawks do get Deion Branch (calf) back this week, but he has not been the dominant receiver they'd hoped when they gave up a first-round pick for him last year.
I like the Packers at home in this one. And I like them in part because of Brett Favre's resurgent season, but mostly because of their defense, which has been their strong suit all season, even if all anyone's talking about is Favre.
Aaron Kampman is one of the most underrated pass rushers in the game, and cornerback Charles Woodson has changed my mind completely about his effect on a team. I was admittedly skeptical when the Packers acquired him last year, but he has done nothing but turn into the kind of shutdown corner they've needed.
And the linebacking crew, led by Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk, is one of the best in the business.
Comments (2)
Good prediction Bob. I agree with you about the Packers winning. I feel it could get out of hand in the 4th quarter with a turnover for an easy score. I feel that the Packers defense will indeed dominate the Seahawks offense. The only weakness in the Packers defense is the safety position, and even that brought 9 interceptions this year with Bigby, Collins, and Rouse.
I feel very comfortable with the Packers offense imposing their will. McCarthy is very smart and will have a gameplan to expose the weakness in Seattle.
boy did that prediction stink.. :-)
Or was that a first half prediction? :-)