Amidst their most brutal stretch of games, the Green Bay Packers will travel to the West Coast for a face-off against the Seahawks in Week 15.
The Packers have lost four in a row in Seattle, with their last win coming in 2008 when Aaron Rodgers was in his first season as the starting quarterback. While Green Bay aims to end its losing streak, it won’t be easy against a Seahawks team riding a four-game winning streak led by their defense, which ranks first in points allowed per game during that stretch.
Seattle (8-5) is currently in first in the NFC West, meaning Sunday’s matchup could be a potential playoff preview. Both teams still have work to do, especially the Packers, who were all but eliminated from the division race following last week’s loss to the Detroit Lions.
Green Bay (9-4) is in good position to secure a wild card spot, but it will be important to have momentum going into the postseason. Hopefully, that starts with a quality win over a playoff-caliber team this week. As we look ahead to a highly anticipated NFC rival game in Week 15, the outcome could come down to these three key matchups for the Packers.
Edge Rashan Gary vs Left Tackle Charles Cross
Gary typically lines up on the left edge of the defensive line, but that wasn’t the case last week with Detroit down their starting left tackle, Taylor Decker. Gary recorded his fifth sack of the season and added a pair of pressures while primarily lining up across from backup Dan Skipper. Gary won’t be facing a backup this week, but it might be smart to keep him on the right edge. Seattle’s Charles Cross has surrendered the second most pressures among offensive tackles this season and allowed five sacks. Meanwhile, Gary has gotten stronger over the course of the season and could be in store for a massive day against a left tackle who has struggled to protect Geno Smith’s blindside.
LG Elgton Jenkins vs DE Leonard Williams
Now in his age 30 season, Williams is still one of the top interior defensive linemen in the league. He leads the Seahawks with 7.0 sacks and tied for ninth among defensive linemen in pressures. A of couple weeks ago, Williams made a jaw-dropping play by picking off Aaron Rodgers and returning it 92-yard for a touchdown. Coming off some impressive outings, Williams will have his hands full against a premier guard. Jenkins is on pace for another strong season, having only allowed one sack and 12 pressures in 434 pass-blocking snaps.
LEO TAKES IT HOME. pic.twitter.com/BzcOiWAM5g
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 1, 2024
Green Bay’s Corners vs WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
There might be a new no.1 wide receiver in Seattle, and it’s one who many Packers fans were pounding the table for during last year’s draft. The first-rounder out of Ohio State has established himself as one of the top up-and-coming pass catchers in the league, hauling in 75 receptions for 911 yards and five touchdowns. 80 percent of Smith-Njigba’s snaps have come from the slot in 2024, and Green Bay’s starting nickel Javon Bullard is week to week with an ankle injury. Luckily, reinforcements are on the way with Jaire Alexander trending toward making his return, but the All-Pro corner has lined up in the slot only 14 times this season. This might be the week to move Keisean Nixon back to the inside and let Alexander and Carrington Valentine handle the perimeter. Whichever way the Packers choose to defend Smith-Njigba on Sunday, limiting his impact could be crucial to the outcome.
