The Green Bay Packers came into Seattle as a major underdog, and were counted out by virtually everyone at every media outlet. This was mainly due to Aaron Rodgers's calf injury and the strength of the Legion of Boom. The other side of the ball was already given credit to Seattle, as it was merely assumed that the Seattle rushing attack of Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch would completely obliterate the Packers defense.

Before the game, it seemed like the Packers would need to pull out all the stops in order to get a victory in Seattle, where the Seahawks have simply dominated their opposition since Russell Wilson came into the league in 2012. But for some reason or another, the Packers coaching staff decided that they just needed to call a conservative game, and hope that everything would turn out for the best. This was simply set up for failure before the first seconds would come off the clock.

Seattle won the opening coin toss and chose to defer, meaning they would kickoff to the Green Bay Packers to start the game. Green Bay would drive down the field to the 29 yard line. On third and 10, Aaron Rodgers had a poor throw toward rookie Davante Adams that was easily intercepted by Richard Sherman. That looked like a bad sign, but three plays later Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and returned to the 4 yard line. In what would be a horrible penalty, Mike Daniels got into a Seahawks lineman's face and the Packers moved back 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. Just three plays later though Green Bay had second and goal at the 1 yard line, and John Kuhn appeared to score as it was initially ruled, but that call was overturned by the replay official, which was the right call to make, and then they would stuff Eddie Lacy on third and goal from the half yard line, and Mike McCarthy went conservative and sent out the field goal unit, where Mason Crosby would easily connect the 18 yarder though the uprights to give the Packers a 3-0 lead. But McCarthy ignored all the evidence to go for the touchdown. If they score the touchdown, obviously they get more than twice the points then the field goal. Also, if you do not get the touchdown, you give your defense an opportunity for a safety, and then a three and out would get you the ball back in excellent field position as well. Not to mention it is still difficult to drive 99 yards down the field to score.

Another stroke of good fortune would come the Packers way though, as often maligned linebacker Brad Jones would force a fumble from Doug Baldwin on the next kickoff, and safety Morgan Burnett would recover at the 23 yard line. The Packers would have third and goal from the 6 yard line, where Randall Cobb would catch it and be tackled a yard short at the 1 yard line to make it 4th and 1 again. McCarthy had an opportunity to make the right call this time, and he even had the lead if he missed this time, but instead sent Mason Crosby out again, making a 19 yard field goal this time. So, after forcing two turnovers against the ball control Seahawks, the Packers only had 6 points, and it was evident that they would probably regret that later in the game.

Green Bay would force another 3 and out on defense though, and Micah Hyde was fortunate as he called for a fair catch, muffed the punt, and then recovered the ball at the Green Bay 44 yard line. Green Bay would end up getting their only touchdown of the day on that drive as they would find Randall Cobb in the back of the end zone from 13 yards out. That was the final play of the first quarter as Green Bay led 13-0 after the initial quarter.

Strangely enough, the Green Bay Packers defense was being aggressive still and forced another 3 and out. On a third and 3 at the Seattle 24 yard line, Green Bay decided to try an Eddie Lacy run, which picked up just 2 yards. This is a bit of an oddity as usually Green Bay would like to pass on most of those downs, simply because they know that they can take advantage of the defense on those plays. Mason Crosby would hit a 40 yard field goal and Green Bay had the full two possession lead, up 16-0.

After a touchback, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix got another interception and returned it a long way back down the field, but the ball was moved back 15 yards because of a moronic blind side block by Clay Matthews on Russell Wilson. Then on a miscommunication play on the offensive side of the ball, Aaron Rodgers threw an interception on a great play by defensive back Byron Maxwell. Seattle drove down the field but Sam Shields made an excellent play on the ball in the end zone to give the Packers their third interception of the game and prevented Seattle from scoring in the first half. Green Bay would then punt after a few plays and Seattle would go nowhere as the first half came to a close. Green Bay should have been thrilled to be up 16-0 at the half, but with how it had played out on the field, it felt like the Packers should have been up by more, at least 20-0 or 24-0.

Then on the next possession, the Seattle Seahawks had the ball and converted a few first downs, but then had a false start on first down, and Russell Wilson was sacked by Clay Matthews on first and 15 for a loss of 15 yards. Marshawn Lynch ran for 11 yards to make it 3rd and 19. Dom Capers started making stupid decisions right here. He sent two men after the quarterback with Letroy Guion acting like a spy from the Nose Tackle position. Doug Baldwin stood open near the 20 yard line for several moments, and with no pass rush at all, of course Russell Wilson was able to find the open man. Technically, Clay Matthews was called for a penalty that would have resulted in a first down, but maybe he wouldn't have been if Dom Capers would have sent him after the quarterback. The conversion is so huge because even though Russell Wilson couldn't pick up a first down, Pete Carroll went after the points, going for a fake field goal from fourth and 10. It was successful as the punter, Jon Ryan, was able to throw a touchdown pass to the rookie tackle, Clint Gresham, to finally put the Seahawks on the board, as they now trailed 7-16.

After a few punts, then the Green Bay Packers got to a second and 7 from the 30 yard line of Seattle. Aaron Rodgers missed James Starks on back to back plays before Mason Crosby would hit a 48 yard field goal to extend the lead to 19-7. This was with 10:58 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Morgan Burnett got a sack on Russell Wilson on the next drive as it ended up with 4th and 15 at the 50 yard line and Jon Ryan would punt the ball to the Packers, where Micah Hyde caught the ball at the 13 yard line. This was when Mike McCarthy went into hyper conservative mode. They started off with back to back James Starks rushes, which led them to third and 4 at the Packers 19 yard line. They at least tried to convert the third down, which went incomplete as there was good coverage on Andrew Quarless on the outside. Green Bay would then punt to the Seattle 44 yard line. Seattle had 5:13 to take over the game and then on the first play Russell Wilson threw an interception to Packers safety Morgan Burnett. For some unknown reason, Burnett quickly went down on his own, instead of trying to make a play to get the ball down field to get the Packers into scoring position. There wasn't even anyone close to him when he slid. Eddie Lacy was stopped on back to back rushes and Seattle called timeout each time and saved their final timeout when Lacy tried to rush for a first down on third and 16 and only got 2 yards. Tim Masthay then had his worst punt of the game, as it went out of bounds to the 31 yard line of Seattle, but there was still 3:52 on the clock for Seattle to mount a comeback. There was originally a pass to Marshawn Lynch that was ruled a touchdown but then they reversed it and brought the ball back to the 9 yard line. Then on third and 1 Russell Wilson went untouched into the end zone to make it closer, at 14-19.

Steven Hauschka went out for the onside kick and got the nice high bounce that every kicker wants. Tight End Brandon Bostick was in perfect position, and went up high to get the catch, but the ball went right through his hands, off his helmet, and Chris Matthews of the Seahawks was able to easily catch the onside kick to give the Seahawks possession. Marshawn Lynch was able to run it into the end zone just a few plays later, from 24 yards out. Green Bay still had another opportunity though, to stop the two point conversion. Russell Wilson went out to his right, and then was able to throw it all the way back left to Luke Willson to convert the two point conversion. This put the Seahawks up 22-19 with just over a minute left.

Aaron Rodgers did a masterful job of moving the ball down the field, although the Packers probably should have called some timeouts earlier on the drive, as they had plenty of time to score a touchdown, with 1:25 left in the game and 3 timeouts. They were able to get down into field goal range though and Mason Crosby was Mr. Consistent as he hit his fifth field goal of the night, another one from 48 yards out to tie the game for the Packers at 22 each.

In overtime, the Seahawks had a critical third and 7 at their 30 yard line. Then Russell Wilson hit Doug Baldwin for a 35 yard gain to convert a first down for them. Then on the very next play they went 35 yards again as Jermaine Kearse burned Tramon Williams for the game winning touchdown in overtime as the Packers lost 22-28.

Green Bay now has to wait until the 2015 season to try and redeem themselves in an increasingly difficult NFC. Jon Fox has joined the division and will try to fix the defense of the Chicago Bears. The Detroit Lions are an up and coming team that made the playoffs. Meanwhile the Minnesota Vikings have Teddy Bridgewater and might have Adrian Peterson back next season.

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About the author
Caleb Wahlgren
I will not deny that I am a big fan of the Green Bay Packers. But I love the NFL and want to see the very best for it.