The moment we have all waited for has finally arrived, the 2014 NFL season will kickoff tonight with a heavyweight matchup that is sure to have many clamoring for a rematch later in the year.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks welcome in the Green Bay Packers for the leagues annual Thursday night start to the season.
BSO will have a preview of every game this coming season as we all try to figure out who’ll hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Glendale, Arizona this February.
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Packers vs Seahawks Preview & Notes
70°
Light Rain
Coverage: NBC
8:30 PM ET, September 4, 2014
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA
1. Quarterbacks make the world go round:
It all starts and ends in the NFL at the quarterback position, and two of the games elite will be on display this evening.
Seattle returns with all the major pieces from last year’s championship run, including quarterback Russell Wilson.
After throwing for 3,357 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, Wilson looks more than ready to build upon those numbers this fall as Seattle seeks to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions since the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005.
Wilson has all his offensive weapons back for the 2014 season. Wide receiver Percy Harvin is healthy and looked electric this preseason.
Green Bay has one of the most balanced attacks in the NFL, led by one of the top five passers in the game, Aaron Rodgers. The NFL’s A Rod missed seven games last season with a shoulder injury, but still threw for 2,536 yards and 17 touchdowns.
2. Beast Mode vs The Heir Apparent
If Seahawks star running back Marshawn Lynch was to look in the mirror on any random night, he’d probably see Packers running back Eddie Lacy staring back at him. As Lynch begins his descent from elite running back status, Lacy will be there to watch the throne. The second year running back rushed for 1,178 yards and 11 scores in his rookie campaign, and got better as the season came to an end. Lacy is now being touted to possibly win his first rushing title.
Lynch meanwhile simply goes about his business of ‘being about that action.’ Lynch, who amassed another 1,000 yard season last year, is reportedly in the best shape of his life. The running back who is able to get off first, probably will set the tone for the rest of the night.
3. The Pack’s WR Corp vs The Legion Of Boom
Jordy Nelson got a huge raise this offseason, and he’ll get the opportunity to earn most of this evening. A Rod receiving pack is one of the most talented and versatile in the league. Nelson caught 85 passes for 1,314 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
Versatile Randall Cobb, who has also helps the Packers with returning kicks and punts, is the other starting wide receiver. It will be vital for Jarrett Boykins to find his way against the Seahawks defense and make plays. All three Packers wideouts are interchangeable and must win matchups when not opposed by Richard Sherman. Nothing needs to be said about the Seahawks secondary.
Seattle enters the ballgame with the best defense in the game. Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas are the cornerstones of the unit, with Sherman leading the league in interceptions with eight in 2013. Both were given huge extensions this offseason and will now play as the hunted.
4. God bless Cory Linsley
Bruce Irvin said he’d pray for the young man, and why not. Linsley will make his first NFL start in one of the loudest places on this planet. To make matters worse, Linsley and Aaron Rodgers haven’t taken a single snap together this preseason.
Random Notes-
1. The Seahawks offense will face a Green Bay defense missing one of its anchors. Defensive tackle B.J. Raji suffered a torn Biceps during training camp and is out for the season. The Packers still feature pass rushing star linebacker Clay Matthews, along with a motivated Julius Peppers, a newcomer to the Green Bay defense this season.
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll has a great appreciation for what Matthews brings to the game.
“There’s nobody really more effective than Clay Matthews,” Carroll told the media Wednesday. “He’s as big a factor in the game as anybody.”
Seattle has an outstanding pass rush, led by defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril who combined for 16.5 sacks last season.
2. Start Time: Seahawks fans and the 12th man should cherish this ballgame, because it’s the only time you’ll see your beloved Hawks at home at night. Seattle is 7-0 under Pete Carroll at home under the lights. Those games were won going away as well. The NFL says that is not fair.