Packers beat Seahawks 17-9 to take NFC heavyweight match

Mike Daniels can be a man of few words. The defensive lineman’s play on the football field speaks volumes as to how important he has become to the Green Bay Packers.

Daniels’ strip-sack of Russell Wilson deep in Seattle territory in the third quarter set up Ty Montgomery’s 6-yard touchdown run on the next play to spark the Packers’ 17-9 win on Sunday over the Seahawks.

A marquee season opener between two NFC heavyweights turned into a defensive slugfest, with Daniels landing the momentum-swinging punch.

“Beat the guy across from me,” Daniels said. “It’s just that simple, you know what I mean?”

No talk about double moves or stunts. Daniels said he just flatout beat guard Luke Joeckel to wreak havoc in the backfield.

“If I can’t do that, then nothing happens,” Daniels said. “So you simplify the game, just beat the guy across from me.”

The Packers’ Aaron Rodgers was 28 of 42 for 311 yards and added a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson to make it an eight-point game late in the third quarter. Rodgers went deep to his favourite receiver on a free play that was extended after Seattle was flagged for having too many men on the field.

But defence fueled the victory, which isn’t always the case in Green Bay.

“This really started with our defence,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. “It starts on the line of scrimmage. We were in the backfield a bunch.”

Seattle managed just three field goals. Wilson was held to 14 of 27 for 158 yards. The Packers held decisive edges in total yardage (370-225) and first downs (26-12). Green Bay held the ball for 39 minutes.

“I was disappointed they were able to be as aggressive up front as they were with their defence,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. RODGERS’ DAY Rodgers’ regular-season streak of passes without an interception ended at a careerhigh 251. The Seahawks’ defence reinforced by the return of safety Earl Thomas bottled up receivers from making many big plays and put plenty of pressure on Rodgers.

But the Packers started denting Seattle with runs or quick passes to Nelson, Randall Cobb and Montgomery in the second half, chewing up clock in the process. Rodgers limped late in the game after appearing to get pushed back by a defender. He took a few extra seconds to get back to the huddle on a couple plays, but did not leave the game.

He said he got stepped on and kicked a couple times.

“I think any soccer player without shin guards on, even with shin guards, can relate,” Rodgers said. WILSON CONTAINED The Packers again found a way to contain the Seahawks’ dualthreat quarterback at Lambeau Field. He was 14 of 27 for 158 yards, and ran for 40 yards on two carries. Wilson was sacked three times, and was under pressure on many other plays.

In December on the same field, Wilson threw five interceptions — three of which deflected off the hands of receivers — in a 38-10 loss.