Seattle Visits Green Bay in Battle Between NFC Heavyweights

Week 1 of the 2017 NFL regular season features a matchup between two NFC rivals that are expected to battle for the conference title when the Seattle Seahawks visit Lambeau Field to play the Green Bay Packers. The current line on top sportsbooks has Green Bay favored by 3 points with the over/under point total on 51.

Both teams routinely reach the postseason with Green Bay making the playoffs the past eight straight seasons, and Seattle reaching the postseason for five straight seasons.

Aaron Rodgers returns under center for the Packers for another season. Last season was his second season of throwing 40 touchdowns or more and he has passed for 4,000 yards or more six times.

Rodgers’ counterpart for Seattle is Russell Wilson. The Seahawks signal caller threw for 4,219 yards in 2016, which was his career best. He threw 21 touchdowns. In December of last year, when the Seahawks visited Lambeau Field, the Packers defense intercepted Wilson five times in a 38-10 rout.

Thomas Rawls the Seattle starting running back is questionable with an ankle injury and that could me Eddie Lacy a former running back with the Packers will get most of the snaps at running back.

Seattle’s defense is full of top players including Richard Sherman at one corner, Bobby Wagner at middle linebacker and Michael Bennett at defensive end.

Green Bay’s Rodgers has three top targets to throw at in Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb. Last season Nelson had 97 receptions, Adams 75 and Cobb 60.

At running back, the Packers will start Ty Montgomery a converted wide receiver who rushed from 457 yards last season.

Green Bay’s defense allowed 30 points or more in five of its losses last year during the regular season. The team signed Ahmad Brooks a former Pro Bowl selection at linebacker to add to the defense led by Clay Matthews and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

Brooks has played the last eight seasons for the San Francisco 49rs.

Green Bay is has won 10 of its 17 regular season games against Seattle, as well as two of three playoff encounters.

Seattle is 1-5 against the spread in its last 6 games played on natural grass.

Green Bay is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games played on natural grass.

Prediction: Rodgers and the Packers offense will outscore Wilson and the Seattle offense. Lean here toward the home team.