The Seattle Seahawks haven’t won against the Green Bay Packers in the two teams’ last three meetings dating back to 2015. The Packers, however, are coming into Seattle as the underdogs this Thursday. Will Aaron Rodgers and company extend their dominance over the Seahawks? Or will Seattle finally end its skid?
The Packers are +2,500 to win the NFC title this season, while the Seahawks are +6,000 to top the conference.
The Packers have finally freed up running back Aaron Jones. Among the loudest choruses in Green Bay for the most part this season is to let Jones run more and Green Bay responded to that on Sunday by giving Jones 15 touches, which he converted into 145 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins at home. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers went 19-of-28 for 199 passing yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. The Packers’ decision to rely on their backfield more in that game was also out of necessity, as they were missing the services of wide receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison. Cobb could return as soon as this Thursday from a hamstring injury, but even if he does get back on the field, the Packers now know that increasing Jones touches also increases their chances to win, especially against Seattle’s mediocre ground defense that allows 118.6 rushing yards per game — 19th most in the NFL.
The over is 7-2 in the Packers’ last nine road games.
Betting on the Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
If the Packers want to make this coming Thursday’s game CenturyLink Field a track meet, they should expect that the Seahawks will be there to return the favor. Despite not having running back Chris Carson due to a grin injury, the Seahawks were still able to rack up 237 rushing yards and a touchdown on 34 carries against the Los Angeles Rams’ stout defense. Rookie tailback Rashaad Penny finally had his breakout game, as he paced Seattle with 108 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Seattle head coach Peter Carroll has already said that Carson will play this Thursday, so expect a full slate of Seahawks running backs drilling a hole through Green Bay’s run defense that ranks just 22nd in the NFL with 120.9 rushing yards surrendered per contest. Green Bay has arguable the best pass rush unit in the NFL as the team leads the league with 31.0 sacks on the season, so Seattle will have to tighten their protection of Russell Wilson, who was taken down four times for a loss of 35 yards in the Rams game.
The Seahawks are 2-1 ATS in their last three home games.
