Final thoughts
@HunterFelt I suppose we weren't going to see the defensive inefficiency SEA exhibited last week, but this was more tense than I envisioned.
— Elena V (@amariselv) September 21, 2015
Take away that late Seattle interception, and we’re probably looking at overtime here. The Seahawks are better than their 0-2 record suggests, but the Packers are probably as good as their 2-0 record would indicate. Overall, it was the second straight dramatic Sunday Night game we’ve had. I won’t complain.
I will however, step aside for the night. Thanks to everyone who followed along with us tonight, especially those who contributed to the liveblog. We will have lots more NFL coverage here at the Guardian tomorrow and throughout the season. Ciao!
Green Bay Packers are now 2-0 and the reigning NFC champions, the Seattle Seahawks, somewhat shockingly, start the season down 0-2.
Packers win!
Seahawks 17-27 Packers, FINAL
Wilson and company attempt to march down the field as quickly as possible, but Jackson fumbles at the Green Bay 32. It’s recovered by Micah Hyde. The Packers take a knee and this is OVER. Green Bay wins!
Seahawks 17-27 Packers, 2:00, 4th quarter
Crosby’s kickoff is in the endzone for a touchback.
Seahawks 17-27 Packers, 2:00, 4th quarter
Mason Crosby is in for a 21 yard field goal. It’s good! He’s now officially scored the most points in Green Bay Packers history.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 2:00, 4th quarter
Aaron Rodgers tries to run it in, nothing doing but it burns some clock off. Two minute warning! Packers are now at the Seattle 3 and in danger of making this a two possession game with practically nothing left on the clock.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 2:27, 4th quarter
Seattle’s Ahtyba Rubin tackles Starks at the Seattle 6. On 2nd 6, Bobby Wagner is able to stop him at the 4 yard line.
Seahawks take a timeout.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 3:28, 4th quarter
The Packers are eight yards away from the end zone and...
They take a timeout for television suspense related reasons.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 4:16, 4th quarter
3rd and 6 at the Seattle 21. Rodgers throws to Ty Montgomery. WHO CATCHES IT! 1st and 10 at the Seattle 8 and it’s looking very dim for the Seabirds.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 4:16, 4th quarter
Green Bay’s at the Seattle 29 now. On 2nd and 2, Starks picks up four yards, so that will be the 25. He’s stuff for the loss of a yard on 1st & 10. On 2nd & 11, Starks picks up 5.
Packers take a timeout.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 6:50, 4th quarter
The Packers offense is on the field at the Seattle 37 with a chance to really put this away. Starks goes off on a 8 yard run but...
There’s a major scrum at the end of the play, so the officials try to figure things out here. The penalties offset, but Seattle’s K.J. Wright has been ejected.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 6:57, 4th quarter
Sweezy jogged off the field, so it’s not too disastrous for Seattle.
WHAT IS DISASTROUS IS RUSSELL WILSON THROWING AN INTERCEPTION!
Jayrone Elliot robs it from Lynch, and it looks like he fumbles it afterwards. Green Bay seems to have recovered it though.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 7:24, 4th quarter
Mike Neal drops Russell Wilson for a two yard loss. I guess Green Bay is figuring out that he’s gonna be running a lot this game.
Which he does again on 2nd and 12 after his first options break down. It’s good for a first down, Seattle are now at their 42, but they get some bad news: offensive lineman J.R. Sweezy is hurt during the play.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 8:52, 4th quarter
Lynch gets 4 yards on his first run of this drive. 2nd and 6, Wilson hands off to Lynch again who finds a hole to push through for 9 yards and a 1st down.
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 9:28, 4th quarter
That was an 80-yard drive for Green Bay. Lockett’s kickoff return only gets him to the Seattle 18, where the Seahawks will start.
Touchdown! Green Bay! Two point conversion!
Seahawks 17-24 Packers, 9:28, 4th quarter
And now Green Bay is at the Seattle 5. This looks almost sealed up here, Aaron Rodgers hits Richard Rodgers for a touchdown!
And then the Rodgers-ing continues as Aaron hits Richard for a successful two point conversion. (I probably could have come up with a better word there than Rodgers-ing, but whatever.)
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 10:23, 4th quarter
Montgomery can only pick up two yards this time, as the Seahawks defense finally figures out a way to tackle him. Rodgers’s next pass is to Cobb and it’s incomplete, but they get a gift thanks to a penalty on Seattle.
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 11:04, 4th quarter
Rodgers makes a short pass to Ty Montgomery who cannot be taken down. He makes it to the Seattle 17. Can anyone stop this drive?
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 12:27, 4th quarter
The other Rodgers plows through defenders for what is almost a first down. On 2nd and 1, Cobbs picks up three yards and a new first down. They’re at the 34 in enemy territory.
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 13:11, 4th quarter
Rodgers scrambles for two yards on the 1st down and then hits Cobb on 2nd down, Cobbs is able to blaze through the Seattle defense to the Seahawks’ 46.
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 15:00, 4th quarter
Oh that’s right, that’s what Aaron Rodgers can do: he hits Cobb with a bullet of a throw for 18 yards to their own 33.
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, end of the 3rd quarter
Green Bay, in shotgun formation, start at their own 20. Starks runs for no gain and then there’s a five yard penalty on Green Bay, which is even worse than no gain. And then we have the end of the 3rd quarter.
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, :52, 3rd quarter
Wilson throws the next one away, he was lucky not to be called for intentional grounding. He throws incomplete again on 2nd 10. On 3rd and 10, Doug Baldwin.. ALMOST makes a catch on Wilson’s throw.
Enter the punt team.
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 1:09, 3rd quarter
So, the Seahawks keep the ball at their 44 but they can’t get on the same page. Wilson calls his team’s final timeout.
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 1:58, 3rd quarter
There’s a fumble on the handoff and everybody jumps on top of it. There’s also a lot of flags. Apparently there was a penalty against Green Bay, so that negated the fumble. There’s another penalty for the play on the negated fumble, which Seattle will wisely decline.
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 1:58, 3rd quarter
Wilson throws a 5 yard pass to Baldwin and then gets the first down himself. 1st and 10 at the Seahawks 32, Wilson makes a play with his legs out of nothing, scrambling for 7 yards.
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 3:16, 3rd quarter
The Green Bay kickoff takes a bounce and ends up in the stands. That will be a touchback.
Field goal!
Seahawks 17-16 Packers, 3:16, 3rd quarter
Starks gets the ball to the Seahawks 28. On 1st & 10, Rodgers throws incomplete. On the next two downs, Starks can only get a yard apiece. In comes the field goal unit and Crosby makes a 44 yarder to make this a one point game.
Seahawks 17-13 Packers, 5:48, 3rd quarter
Packers start their drive on their own 20 thanks to a touchback. Rodgers finds Adams for 6 yards, then Starks runs 35 yards. They are determined to counter-punch this drive.
Updated
Touchdown!
Seahawks 17-13 Packers, 6;53, 3rd quarter
Wilson throws to Chris Matthews! 13 yards! Seahawks are at the Green Bay 13. Wilson then silences the crowd with a touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin! The extra point is good!
Seahawks 10-13 Packers, 7:32, 3rd quarter
Russell Wilson gives a bit of a play fake before taking the ball himself to the Green Bay 26. Wilson’s next throw to the Other Wilson goes poorly, it’s almost intercepted by Clinton-Dix. On 2nd down, R. Wilson calls for a time out.
Updated
Seahawks 10-13 Packers, 8:36, 3rd quarter
Wilson finds Jimmy Graham, oh yeah he’s still a thing, for a 11 yard gain. 1st and 10 in Packers territory, at the enemy 43.
Updated
Seahawks 10-13 Packers, 8:43, 3rd quarter
Masthay’s punt goes 44 yards so Seattle will start at their own 46. Solid field position
Updated
Seahawks 10-13 Packers, 9:15, 3rd quarter
Starks picks up two yards. On 2nd and 8, Rodgers can’t do anything. The Seahawks have a chance at a momentum-building 3 and out...
And they do, Michael Bennett sacks Aaron Rodgers for a loss! The Packers punt team emerges.
Updated
Seahawks 10-13 Packers, 9:57, 3rd quarter
More bad news for Green Bay, Eddie Lacy apparently will not be returning, but Davante Adams does return.
Ty Montgomery takes the kickoff to the Packers 16 where they will start their drive.
Updated
Seahawks 10-13 Packers, 10:01, 3rd quarter
This is why you always defer. Never give the opponent the ball after they’ve had a full halftime to work on things. You won’t make me think otherwise, I’m basically a Coin Toss Truther.
Updated
Touchdown Seattle!
Seahawks 10-13 Packers, 10:01, 3rd quarter
On 2nd 11, Lynch can only get back the yard he loss. On 3rd and 10, the Seahawks are bailed out by a defensive offside call. On second go, Wilson spies Fred Jackson in the endzone and nails a touchdown throw.
And the extra point is good!
Updated
Seahawks 3-13 Packers, 11:32, 3rd quarter
Wilson goes for it again, his legs can be such a powerful weapon, and makes it to the Green Bay 10. He hands it to Lynch on 1st and goal, but the Packers are able to sack him for a one yard loss.
Updated
Seahawks 3-13 Packers, 12:33, 3rd quarter
Wilson now hits Baldwin for 13 yards and then takes the next carry himself to reach the Green Bay 20.
Updated
Seahawks 3-13 Packers, 13:45, 3rd quarter
It looks like Green Bay’s going to put a stop to this. Wilson gets sacked and throws one incomplete but, on 3rd and 11, he completes a 17 yard pass to Lockett.
Updated
Seahawks 3-13 Packers, 14:21, 3rd quarter
Wow! Luke Wilson makes a sweet one-handed grab from Russell Wilson for 24 yards and a 1st down.
Updated
Start of the second half!
Seahawks 3-13 Packers, 15:00, 3rd quarter
Crosby kicks it off for a touchback. The Seahawks will start on their own 20
Updated
Okay, Green Bay, that almost touchdown was bad but it wasn’t...
Buttfumble bad.
:: Woulda been a touchdown, butt...
— Steve Chamraz (@TMJ4Steve) September 21, 2015
Twitter, or at least the part of the Twitter not complaining about the Emmys, is full of butt puns. Which reminds me...
@HunterFelt What? They now call penalties on Sherman?? Can you do that?? Packers lucky these calls mask the gaffé of running out of timeouts
— Elena V (@amariselv) September 21, 2015
@HunterFelt Oh man. Kinda get the feeling that the Packers will regret not getting that touchdown. Shades of January.
— Elena V (@amariselv) September 21, 2015
I thought that touchdown would hold up, but I also thought that Dez Bryant made that catch.
Halftime thoughts
Once again, we have a Sunday Night Football game where all the fun stuff seems to be happening in the last few minutes before the whistle. I’ll take this time to mention that if you want to chime in, I’ll gladly include your emails (via Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com) or tweets (send them to @HunterFelt) on this liveblog.
Halftime!
I’ll be back shortly with my thoughts.
Field goal!
Seahawks 3-13 Packers, end of the first half
Rodgers’ s throw on 3rd and goal is short, but they get just enough time for a Mason Crosby field goal with is good! Exciting finish for the first half!
Updated
No Touchdown (Nevermind)
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, :8, 2nd quarter
No! The officials rule that Jones’s butt was out of bounds when making the catch. So it’s 3rd and goal. Seattle takes its final time out.
Touchdown (Probably!)
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, :13, 2nd quarter
Rodgers throws to Jones, tip-toeing on the sidelines and...
He caught it! Probably! The officials are checking to see if he was in bounds.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, :13, 2nd quarter
The officials review to confirm that Cobb was down. They confirm. so it’s 2nd and 1 at the Seattle 1. Pete Carroll uses his remaining timeout. Not a bad idea, that.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, :35, 2nd quarter
A deep Rodgers pass to Cobb means that Green Bay will have the ball at the Seattle 10. And Rodger’s next pass to Cobb gets them to one yard away from the endzone
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, :42, 2nd quarter
The punt goes into the end zone for a touchback. Rodgers then gets sacked for seven yards. On the next play, Aaron Rodgers has the advantage of an offsides penalty on Seattle and...
He draws a HUGE defesnive pass interference call on Richard Sherman! 1st down on the Seattle 35 yard line!
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 1:25, 2nd quarter
3rd and 3 on the Seattle 42 and Lynch is STUFFED.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 2:00, 2nd quarter
Wilson can’t connect with Lynch on 1st and 10, but picks up 7 yards on 2nd down before getting stopped by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (or as the Guardian calls him: The Best Name In The NFL).
And it’s the two minute warning, which really should be the “two minute alert” because there’s nothing genuinely frightening about two minutes. (Unless you’re Andy Reid.)
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 2:48, 2nd quarter
Masthay’s punt goes out of bounds. The Seahawks start at their 24. Marshawn Lynch gets the ball and finally he finds a hole and gets a first down.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 2:48, 2nd quarter
So the Seahawks defense starts to focus on Starks here. Rodgers throws incomplete on 1st and 10 and the defense only lets Starks get three yards. Rodgers turns his attention to Randall Cobb, but they don’t quite get the first down. They’re forced to punt, not a bad job by Seattle there.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 4:12, 2nd quarter
Micah Hyde makes a fair catch at the Green Bay 8. They have a lot of ground to make up. They go shotgun, with Rodgers feeding Starks on three consecutive drives, ringing the ball to the 21 yard line in a matter of seconds it seems.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 6:12, 2nd quarter
Wilson can only get the Seahawks to the Green Bay 45 before they’re forced to punt.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 8:34, 2nd quarter
Disaster for Seattle, Lynch loses two yards. Seattle loses 15 yards AND a down thanks to a unnecessary roughness call on Drew Nowak. It’s now 2nd and 27 on the Seahawks 47.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 8:34, 2nd quarter
The cart, which took off Adams earlier, is coming out for Boyd. Hard to imagine that he will be back. Boyd gives the obligatory thumbs up leading to the weird “cheering an injured player but not the fact that he was injured” thing that I will never get used to.
Back to the football, Lynch gets just enough yards to pick up a first down.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 9:05, 2nd quarter
Seahawks start at the Green Bay 47. Marshawn Lynch gets five yards....
And there’s an injury on the play. It’s Green Bay defensive lineman Josh Boyd.
Green Bay Fumble!
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 9:05, 2nd quarter
Starks picks up 5 yards on 1st and 10. Rodgers hands it to them the next drive, but he FUMBLES AT THE GREEN BAY 47! Recovery by Seattle’s K.J. Wright!
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 10:34, 2nd quarter
Rodgers to Adams only nets one yard on 1st and 10 so decides to go running by himself. He manages to get 3 yards before being taken down.
And on 3rd down he finds Adams and this time he picks up 13 yards, although he appears to be banged up after the play ends.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 12:27, 2nd quarter
I am going to type Micah Hyde’s name as many times as possible because he sounds like the name of a 3rd-string Marvel supervillain.
Rodgers throws to Randall Cobb who runs off for 16 yards total. The Packers are at their own 25.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 12:34, 2nd quarter
Micah Hyde makes a fair catch at the Green Bay 11.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 12:40, 2nd quarter
Lynch gets pushed back and then Russell Okung gets called for a false start. Then Russell Wilson gets sacked, for no loss but still. On 3rd and 16, Wilson throws incomplete. And that’s that. Here comes the punt.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 14:27, 2nd quarter
Some Wilson-to-Wilson action here, as Russell finds Luke for 12 yards.
Updated
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, end of the 1st quarter
Wilson hands it off to Lynch for a gain of 12 yards and that’s the end of the 1st quarter. They’ll start the 2nd quarter on Green Bay’s 48.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 1:24, 1st quarter
Lockett does something good here, returning the punt 22 yards but there’s a flag on the play. Illegal use of the hands on the kicking team, that’s going to help the Seahawks who will start at their own 45.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 1:24, 1st quarter
So that’s the Packers’ third and final timeout of the half. This could be huge in the second quarter, not that the Seahawks have been at all cautious themselves about this sort of thing.
Rodgers does manage to connect with Starks on 3rd and 8 but Starks is tied up before he can make it for a first down. The punting team comes out for Green Bay.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 1:24, 1st quarter
Starks picks up another 6 yards for a first down, taking the Packers to their own 32. Rodgers pump fakes and then throws one incomplete, clearly seeing something in the defense he didn’t feel comfortable throwing towards.
Next play he has to use yet another Green Bay timeout.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 3:13, 1st quarter
Rodgers passes to Starks for 6 yards, while Eddie Lacy is off the field with a possible injury concern.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 3:13, 1st quarter
Seattle’s kickoff goes off the upright. That will be a touchback. Packers will start at their 20.
Seahawks 3-10 Packers, 3:13, 1st quarter
Russell Wilson throws incomplete to Luke Wilson in what would be an entertaining Wes Anderson film but a failed football play. The field goal unit comes in and Steven Hauschka makes... but just makes... a 54 yard field goal to put Seattle on the board.
Seahawks 0-10 Packers, 3:56, 1st quarter
It’s 1st and 10 at the Green Bay 43. Marshawn Lynch can’t get anything on his first try but he picks up 7 the next go around.
And the Green Bay Packers call for a timeout with the Seahawks in a 3rd and 3 situation at their 36 yard line.
Seahawks 0-10 Packers, 4:55, 1st quarter
Wilson can’t find Jimmy Graham on first down, so he takes it himself on 2nd and 10 and gets the first down himself. They’re in Green Bay territory.
Seahawks 0-10 Packers, 5:01, 1st quarter
So it’s 2 and 8 for Seattle. Wilson throws incomplete. On 3rd and 8, however, he connects with Doug Baldwin for a 33 yard gain. They’re now at their own 47 and actually might have a drive going here.
Updated
Seahawks 0-10 Packers, 6:57, 1st quarter
Crosby kicks it off... Tyler Lockett receives it and returns to the Seahawks 13 yard line. Not a great game for him, so far. But hey, the Seahawks actually make a gain here. Lynch gets, um, 2 yards. It’s a start at least!
Seahawks 0-10 Packers, 6:57, 1st quarter
Good news for Seahawks fans, Wilson should be due for a good game. Now he just needs to get more than three total chances holding the ball.
Russell WIlson only tweeted 9 times this week. That means he should have a good game. http://t.co/eEbXo7x0v4 pic.twitter.com/p7eo3d8eKA
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) September 21, 2015
Field goal!
Seahawks 0-10 Packers, 6:57, 1st quarter
So, the Packers are now at the Seahawks 48. Rodgers connects with Adams for a 2 yard gain. It’s 3rd and 12 and while the Packers don’t quite get the first down they’re already in field goal position for Mason Crosby, who easily hits a 54 yarder. Down the middle.
Seahawks 0-7 Packers, 8:47, 1st quarter
James Starks gets the ball and goes... the wrong way and is pushed back for a 4 yard loss.
Seahawks 0-7 Packers, 8:53, 1st quarter
Forced to punt at their own 5, Jon Ryan’s punt only goes 39 yards. The Packers will start at Seattle’s 44. Zero going right for the Seahawks here.
Seahawks 0-7 Packers, 9:27, 1st quarter
And now Green Bay has to take a timeout for having only 1o player on the field! Okay, now this is just absolutely ridiculous now.
It’s 3rd and 12 at the Green Bay 8. AND LYNCH IS HIT AGAIN FOR A LOSS. The punting team is up. So, yeah, this Green Bay defense is clearly out for at least some amount of revenge.
Seahawks 0-7 Packers, 10:06, 1st quarter
A Russell Wilson pass is incomplete, and the Seahawks have to call a timeout to avoid another “too many men” penalty. In their defense, Lambeau is LOUD AS HECK right now.
It gets even louder, when B.J. Raji pushes back Marshawn Lynch two yards.
Seahawks 0-7 Packers, 10:41, 1st quarter
The Seahawks get a return to their own 20, but there’s a holding penalty that pushes them back to their 10.
@HunterFelt I'm still a football neophyte. Perhaps that is why I can't get how a team can't tell when there is an extra man on the field???
— Elena V (@amariselv) September 21, 2015
Speaking as someone who once wrote “third half” when writing one of these liveblogs, I can only assume that it gets confusing on the field as well.
Seahawks 0-7 Packers, 10:51, 1st quarter
And that whole drive could have been just a Green Bay three-and-out if not for that initial call. The Seahawks clearly have to remember to leave the 12th man behind in Seattle.
Green Bay touchdown!
Seahawks 0-7 Packers, 10:51, 1st quarter
Rodgers throws incomplete on 1st and 15 but on 2nd and 15... he hits James Jones for a 29 yard touchdown! The extra point is good!
Seahawks 0-0 Packers, 10:56, 1st quarter
The Packers go into shotgun formation. Rodgers hits Lacy for eight yards, setting up a 3rd and 1. Eddie Lacy picks that up for the first down, but the Packers pick up a delay of game penalty. So it’s 1st and 15 at the Seattle 29.
Seahawks 0-0 Packers, 13:05, 1st quarter
Packers make their first mistake of the game, illegal use of the hands on Josh Sitton. It pushes them back to the Seattle 44... but they get back to the 33 on the very next play thanks to a Rodgers pass to Davante Adams.
Seahawks 0-0 Packers, 13:49, 1st quarter
Rodgers throws incomplete on first down, but on 2nd and 10 he hands over to running back James Starks who finds a hole and easily gets 10 yards. The Packers are at the Seattle 34 with a fresh set of downs.
Seahawks 0-0 Packers, 14:09, 1st quarter
An offsides call gives Aaron Rodgers a free play here and he throws one 22 yards to Randall Cobb. The Packers are now at the Seattle 44. Just sloppy play for the Seahawks.
Seahawks 0-0 Packers, 14:16, 1st quarter
The officials determine that Seattle had 12 men on the field. So the Packers are awarded a 1st and 10.
Seahawks 0-0 Packers, 14:16, 1st quarter
No gain for Eddy Lacy on 1st and 10. Rodgers throws to Richard “The Other” Rodgers almost to the first down. On 3rd and short, however, Rodgers is incomplete. A very weird 3-and-out.
Or is it? Green Bay throws out a challenge, saying that the Seahawks had too many players on the field.
Kickoff!
Seahawks 0-0 Packers, 15:00, 1st quarter
The kickoff goes into the endzone, so Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will start at their own 20 yard line.
Coin toss
The Green Bay Packers win the toss and they will receive. BAD IDEA. Always defer! That’s the only NFL strategy I strongly believe in.
Seahawks starting center owns stock in the Packers, feel like he should get to choose GB's starting QB tonight http://t.co/jH0nnUQyfi
— John Breech (@johnbreech) September 21, 2015
Note: With the Detroit Lions now at 0-2 there is some debate about whether their franchise should be classified as a drama or a comedy if this season gets nominated for an Emmy Award.
The Tony Romo Injury - as it happened
Kam Chancellor non-update
The Seattle Seahawks safety is... still holding out so he won’t be appearing in this key game. This will benefit Green Bay’s chances. It also hasn’t endeared him to the fans very much.
Seahawks fan has no holds barred statement jersey tonight in Lambeau for Kam Chancellor (via @mundtypoo2) pic.twitter.com/lgtfJpWFsX
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 20, 2015
Oh and one more question: Which will end first? This game or the Emmy Awards? I think the Emmys have this locked, despite starting earlier, unless this goes into OT.
And I just jinxed this and it’s now definitely going into overtime, isn’t it?
Predictions
Since I managed to have a perfect 6-for-6 showing on our last NFL Talkboard, I guess I should feel more confident this week but I feel like it just means that I’m going to be way off this time around. I feel like the Packers/Seahawks matchup should be about evenly matched, so I’m going with the Green Bay home field advantage. Packers by a field goal. 30-27?
Think you have a better shot at making a prediction? You probably do! Send them here if you want to compete for bragging rights. Email them to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt.
Updated
I don’t quite understand the picture included in this tweet but it still manages to amuse me.
.@HunterFelt Go Green Bay! https://t.co/3js5dygIJM
— Jeff Donahue (@TheJeffDonahue) September 20, 2015
Injury news
Bad news today for two quarterbacks. The biggest news is that Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo has a broken clavicle and will likely be out for a long period of time. This comes a week after the Cowboys lost Dez Bryant to a broken foot. It’s hard to imagine the Cowboys will be able to stay afloat with Brandon Wheeden as their main QB.
Meanwhile, the Bears lost Jay Cutler to a hamstring injury during their loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Afternoon game scores
Patriots 40-32 Bills
Chargers 19-24 Bengals
Titans 14-28 Browns
Falcons 24-20 Giants
Rams 10-24 Washington
Buccaneers 26-19 Saints
49ers 18-43 Steelers
Texans 17-24 Panthers
Dolphins 20-23 Jaguars
Ravens 33-37 Raiders
Cowboys 20-10 Eagles
Lions 16-26 Vikings
Cardinals 48-23 Bears
Ravens 33-37 Raiders
Preamble
The last time the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks met, it didn’t work out very well for Green Bay. It was the NFC Championship Game, and the Packers were up by 12 points late in the fourth quarter, primed for a return to the Super Bowl. Then, in less than a minute, the Seahawks somehow tied the game up and won on an overtime touchdown drive. For the Seahawks fans in the stands, it looked something like this:
It, of course, wasn’t the most painful/memorable ending to a NFL playoff game. That would come during the Super Bowl itself when the Seahawks had the chance to score the winning touchdown against the New England Patriots and…
So, there’s a lot on the line here tonight. The Packers, coming off a 31-23 win over the Chicago Bears, would like to get some small measure of revenge for their unexpected elimination. The perhaps even more desperate Seahawks, who were defeated by the St Louis Rams 34-31 last Sunday, are looking to avoid starting their 2015 campaign down 0-2.
As always, we want to hear from you throughout tonight’s liveblog. Send us your NFL-related comments, questions, predictions, jokes and we’ll post them here for all to see. You can email Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt. It’s the Seattle Seahawks facing the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field! The game kicks off in roughly 45 minutes but we’ll be back well before that with predictions, today’s scores and news from around the league. (Spoiler: that news might not be so good if you’re a Cowboys fan.)
Hunter will be here shortly while you wait you can read Matt Cleary’s outsider look at the Pittsburgh Steelers 43-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers:
Steelers fans, doing the towel thing. Davis! Nearly. Kaepernick. Touchdown? NO TOUCHDOWN! KAEPERNIC THREW IT TO MILLER IN THE END ZONE BUT BUT BIG BRUCIE MILLER COULDN’T HANG ON, OR PLACE HIS FEET INTO THE END ZONE ... something. But it’s no TD, baby, and the Steelers line of D-men celebrate like they’ve won the lottery. Big celebrations, big chest-thumping. I would suggest some exclamation of We da bomb, or We are really good, and you are not, Niners, take your silly offense away from here this is our house and you can’t come in you are like burglars, something like it.
