NFL Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers’ Defense Steps Up But Falls Short With Game On the Line

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By @MWCompton

Clay Matthews Packers

Jeff Kirby-USA Today Sports

The Green Bay Packers were better equipped to face the Seattle Seahawks the second time around. After losing to the Seahawks in Week 1, the Packers’ defense stifled Seattle for 55 minutes on Sunday, nearly avenging the season-opening defeat before falling in overtime in a wacky NFC title game.

In the season-opening contest between the two teams, the Packers struggled to stop running back Marshawn Lynch and allowed quarterback Russell Wilson to sustain drives and improvise when breaking containment. With plenty of room for improvement, the Packers, who usually thrive with their backs against the wall, returned to CenturyLink Field a different club. Unfortunately for the Packers faithful, the result was the same in the end even with a much-improved effort from the defense.

The Packers’ defense was able to outshine the Seahawks’ vaunted Legion of Boom most of the game, and Clay Matthews’ play was a big reason why. On a Ha Ha Clinton-Dix interception (one of his two) in the first half, Matthews leveled Wilson with a blindside block. Matthews was called for a penalty on the play, but his crushing hit definitely shook Wilson’s confidence. With an aggressive pass rush and swarming D, the Packers made the dual-threat quarterback look one dimensional — at least until the game’s final three drives when Wilson’s calm and cool demeanor emerged to bring the Seahawks back from the brink of defeat.

Despite keeping the Seahawks’ offense in check most of the way, the Packers’ defense failed to stop Seattle with the game on the line. The Packers’ inability on special teams to secure an onside kick in the final minutes led to a crucial momentum shift that allowed the Seahawks to grab their their first lead of the game with just 1:25 remaining in the game.

Executing the defensive game plan to perfection early, the Packers’ swarming D gang-tackled Lynch out of the backfield and contained Wilson by preparing for him as they would a running back. It worked for more than three and a half quarters. Uncharacteristically, Wilson threw three interceptions in the first two quarters (four in the game) and was just 2-of-9 for 12 yards at halftime. You have to go back to Wilson’s rookie season in 2012 to find the last time he even threw three interceptions.

The Packers nearly overcame Seattle’s 12th Man and a multifaceted offense, but their defense’s inability to come through in the clutch ultimately led to their demise.

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