Defenses don’t rest in Packers’ win Seahawks’ ejection
Green Bay unit gets better of Seahawks, quarterback Wilson
GREEN BAY, Wis. — A marquee season opener between two NFC heavyweights turned into a defensive slugfest.
The Green Bay Packers — not the menacing Seattle Seahawks — landed the momentum-swinging punch.
Green Bay defensive lineman Mike 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.
“This really started with our defense,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. “It starts on the line of scrimmage. We were in the backfield a bunch.”
The Packers’ Aaron Rodgers was 28 of 42 passing for 311 yards and added a 32-yard touchdown strike to Jordy Nelson to make it an eightpoint game late in the third quarter.
Rodgers’ regular-season streak of passes without an interception ended at a career-high 251. The Seahawks defense 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.
A 12-play, 53-yard drive that took up more than five minutes ended with Mason Crosby’s 40-yard field goal with 8:01 left to make it a twoscore game.
“That was a great defense that we went against. They’re going to keep everybody kind of in front, they’re
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane was ejected Sunday after referee John Parry said he threw a punch during a scrum with Packers receiver Davante Adams.
The tussle occurred around the Packers 30 during a play in which defensive tackle Nazair Jones intercepted Green
Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers at 9:26 of the first quarter. It was Rodgers’ first interception since Nov. 13, 2016, at Tennessee.
Tensions were already high between the teams early in the game. Rodgers was picking on Lane in the secondary, with wide receiver Randall Cobb whistled for taunting following a 14-yard gain while being defended by Lane. going to make us go the long way,” Nelson said.
Green Bay’s defense had an even better debut, especially considering how maligned the Packers were against the pass last season.
Seattle managed just three field goals.
Wilson was held to 14 of 27 passing for 158 yards. The Packers held decisive edges in total yardage (370225) 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 defense,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.