Packers RB Ryan Grant vs. Seahawks run defense
Grant still is without a 100-yard rushing game this season, but he could cross that
threshold Sunday. After being hampered at the outset of the season by lingering
soreness from a right hamstring injury sustained in training camp, Grant ran
with some authority in an 18-carry, 83-yard effort against Atlanta in the
Packers' last game.
Grant plowed through Seattle's leaky defense, on a snowy
Lambeau Field track no less, nine months ago in the Packers' 42-20 romp in the
NFC divisional playoffs. Grant overcame two early fumbles to run for 201 yards
and three touchdowns (both franchise postseason records). He averaged 7.4 yards
per carry. The Seahawks haven't improved any since that game in stopping the
run. The New York Giants steamrollered them last Sunday for 254 rushing yards.
Seahawks offensive line vs. Packers defensive line
Green Bay's
injury-riddled line has been overmatched and pushed around early in the season.
The Packers can't stop the run, and they haven't had an effective pass rush the
last 2 1/2 games. The matchup doesn't favor Green Bay in trying to put pressure
on Matt Hasselbeck as it goes against the hefty likes of Seattle left tackle
Walter Jones and right guard Floyd Womack. What's more, the addition of former
Packers run-blocking stalwart Mike Wahle at left guard gives the Seahawks the
edge in piling up yards for the trio of Julius Jones, Maurice Morris and T.J. Duckett.
Seahawks secondary vs. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
Seattle
is giving up 237 passing yards per game and has been susceptible to the big
play. Rodgers has a 95.5 passer rating and has thrown nine touchdowns with just
four interceptions.
Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck vs. Packers secondary
Hasselbeck has a
career-low passer rating of 57.7 and a career-low completion percentage of 49.2
percent. He'll face a Green Bay secondary that has nine interceptions through
five games, including three apiece by Charles Woodson and Nick Collins.