Thomas Rawls’ cleats might still be smoking hours after Seattle’s 40-7 defanging of the Panthers in an utterly one-sided match.
Rawls showed he’s past the injuries that bugged him for most of the season by rushing for 106 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 15 carries. Rawls’ breakout performance was a welcome sight for Seattle’s offense that averages a pedestrian 20.4 PPG this season.
Rawls will get next a sturdy Green Bay defense that allows just 92.9 rushing yards per game this season but his presence should lighten Russell Wilson’s load. Wilson had 277 passing yards and a touchdown with an interception on 26 of 36 completions against the Panthers.
Containing Aaron Rodgers, meanwhile, is another priority for the Seahawks. The Seahawks was outstanding in silencing Carolina’s offense, limiting Cam Newton and company to a pathetic total of 182 passing yards. A bit of concern, however, for Seattle’s stop unit is the injury to Earl Thomas, whose season (and probably his career) appears to be in jeopardy after hurting his leg on Sunday.
Green Bay is slowly righting its ship, having won its last two games, which includes a 21-13 victory over Houston at home.
Aaron Rodgers put up a clinic against the Texans, completing 20 of 30 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Rodgers has definitely put the team on his back of late, as evidenced by his QB rating of 100.1 in November, the first time since 2015 that he reached that mark within a month.
It won’t be that easy for Rodgers facing Seattle’s defense next Sunday, though, so ample help will be needed from Green Bay’s backfield, which showed up to work against the Texans, compiling 109 rushing yards and a score.
As good as Seattle’s defense has been this season, the Seahawks will have their hands full containing the Packers’ talented receiving corps that features the trio of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and the fast-rising Davante Adams. Nelson exploded for 118 receiving yards and a TD against the Texans. Adams, meanwhile, is second on the team in receiving yards (793) and receiving touchdowns (8) thus far this season.
Green Bay is 3-0 ATS in its last three home games against Seattle.
