FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
(W) 27-23
(L) 17-14 (W) 34-27
LITTLE BIG MAN:
WR Doug Baldwin lacks size but has developed into a major threat. “He is an underrated player in this league,” Packers CB coach Joe Whitt said. “He blocks, he can play any position … he can catch the ball away from his body, he understands where the holes in coverages are, he can (see) blitzes and he’s always the hot guy that (QB) Russell (Wilson) can get to right away.” In three games against Green Bay, Baldwin has 16 receptions for 212 yards (13.3) and one TD. He beat Clay Matthews for a gain of 29 yards, Casey Hayward for 20, 35 and 32, and Micah Hyde for a 13-yard TD. “They work their scheme to try to get the ball in his hands,” said one scout. “Let him do things with it.”
BADGER RETURNS:
According to the Packers, the Seahawks start with Wilson. “He extends plays probably as well as anybody in the league,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “Throws the ball really well on the move, which is what makes him dangerous. He can be running full speed and throw the ball across his body with pretty good accuracy.” Eagles coordinator Jim Schwartz praised Wilson before the two teams met Nov. 20. “People have had a long time to try to figure him out and nobody really has,” said Schwartz. “Even though he’s 5-10 or whatever he plays big. …He also scrambles backwards, which makes him hard to catch because he already has a little bit of a cushion. Fran Tarkenton did a lot of the same things. …Schemewise, they do some things to help him out. When you’re not as tall, they drop him a little bit deeper. It’s not rare to see him 10, 12 yards behind the line so when he throws it evens out the height of image. They open up windows.”
WEAK UP FRONT:
One reason Wilson must scramble so much is the fact his revamped offensive line remains a mess. “You break them down individually, I don’t think they’re very good at all,” said one scout. “(Justin) Britt is the most consistent of the group. Not physical, but he’s a good athlete. …(Germain) Ifedi is a big body but very robotic. Slow to the second level. Very slow to react and recover. …(George) Fant has a chance to be good but he’s a way away. He has the raw tools but he’s just not ready for prime time. …(Mark) Glowinski is OK. He battles. …(Bradley) Sowell is athletic but he lacks anchor and makes mental mistakes. Bad angles to the second level.”
NEW STARTER:
FS Steven Terrell will be making the second start of his four-year career for injured all-pro Earl Thomas. “He has the physical tools,” said one personnel man. “He has good speed and made a high-point interception (against Carolina). He didn’t have a productive college career. He would be someone I’d try to attack to see what he’s made of. He’s not an alley runner. Earl would be 100 miles an hour running the alley where this guy kind of feels his way. I wouldn’t say he turned down (contact) but he doesn’t have the presence in the run game that Earl would.”
PASS RUSH:
With Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Frank Clark, the Seahawks have three legitimate rushers that regularly win one-on-ones. “I think Bennett is better rushing inside,” said one scout. “He’s such a mismatch. …Avril’s playing great. He can run the edge with speed and finish. Occasionally he’ll come underneath. The guy knows how to rush. …Clark’s an explosive, leverage rusher. He’s much better than I thought he’d be.” The Seahawks love to run stunts, too. “This group is fast,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said before a game in Seattle. “Obviously, they feed off their crowd at home. They want you in third and longs. That’s where they get most of their hits on the quarterback. It’s still an eight-man box, and they try to take that run game away from you.” Bob McGinn
INJURY REPORT OUT:
LB Kyler Fackrell (hamstring), LB Nick Perry (hand).
QUESTIONABLE:
CB Ladarius Gunter (illness), G T.J. Lang (foot), LB Blake Martinez (knee), LB Clay Matthews (shoulder), CB Damarious Randall (groin, illness), C J.C. Tretter (knee).