NFL Week 1: Are You Ready For Some Football?
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet and NFL shield logo before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
NFL Week 1: September 3rd – 8th
Welcome to NFL Week 1, Giants Nation. The wait is over — okay specifically for New York Giants football the wait is until Monday Night Football. Semantics aside, football is back. There is a whole slew of games and all 32 teams are playing.
Starting tonight with this matchup
Who: Green Bay at Seattle
When: 8:30 PM
What Channel: NBC
Where: CenturyLink Field
Line: Bovada
From Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times:
"Line: Seahawks by 6 The Packers of last season are an example of how quickly things can go bad for a championship-caliber team after a few personnel changes and some key injuries. A record of 8-7-1 was enough for a division title, but it was far below the standards set during the Aaron Rodgers era. The Seahawks, coming off a Super Bowl win, should heed that lesson before getting too excited about a potential dynasty."
So the defending Super Bowl champs are favored in this one, but the Packers have one of the best RB/QB combo’s in the NFL with Eddie Lacy and Aaron Rodgers. The Seahawks are a good team with a much-ado-defense, but some people are saying this could be an upset.
GMEN HQ Advice: Study the injury report:
"Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks — Packers: Out: TE Brandon Bostick (fibula), CB Demetri Goodson (concussion). Probable: LB Brad Jones (quadriceps). Seahawks: Out: TE Cooper Helfet (knee), RB Christine Michael (hamstring), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (hamstring), CB Tharold Simon (knee). Probable: LB Bruce Irvin (hip), CB Jeremy Lane (groin), WR Kevin Norwood (hamstring)."
After you know the details, look at the offense and defense of both teams, realize the Packers are healthy; and when they’re healthy, they play well. The Seahawks are at home, their fanbase will be going crazy, but I wouldn’t count out the Packers scheme on offense. Super Bowl champs or not, Seattle is trailing in the series to Green Bay 6-10. Additionally, the Seahawks have only beaten the Packers twice in the last eight games since 2003.
Blah, blah, blah, Pete Carroll, yada, yada, yada, Richard Sherman… this may be a closer matchup than some anticipate.