After beating the Eagles in Philly in an NFC wild-card game last week, the Seahawks now head to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to take on the Packers for a divisional-round playoff bout Sunday evening. These two teams have met for several memorable games in the recent past, including that 2014 NFC championship contest that still brings Packer Nation to tears. Who do we like here for our free NFL pick?
NFL Playoffs Betting Odds
NFL playoff betting odds opened Green Bay at -4 over Seattle, with an over/under of right around 46. Early betting action then bumped that total to 47.
NFL Playoff Betting Preview
Seattle reached the divisional-round of these playoffs by beating the Eagles in Philadelphia in an NFC wild-card game last Sunday, 17-9. The Seahawks led 10-3 at the half, pushed their advantage to 17-6 on a beautiful 53-yard Russell Wilson-to-DK Metcalf touchdown strike midway through the third quarter, and held on from there for the victory.
Seattle got out-rushed by the Eagles 120-64 and lost time of possession by a 33:27 split. But the Seahawks defense knocked Philly QB Carson Wentz out of the game in the first quarter, recorded seven sacks and held Philadelphia to just six points on four second-half incursions inside their own 25-yard line.
In the end, Wilson and Metcalf hooked up for a ballsy 36-yard connection on a 3rd-and-11 that iced the game.
With 325 yards through the air and 45 more on the ground, Wilson produced 97 percent of Seattle’s yardage Sunday. Due to a rash of injuries at the running back spot, the Seahawks brought back Marshawn Lynch a couple of weeks ago, but he’s only produced 34 yards on 12 carries so far, although he did score a big, tough touchdown last week.
Seattle actually lost three of its last four regular-season games, in part because it gave up an average of 26 points per game over that span. And while the Seahawks allowed just three field goals last week that came against a banged-up Eagles offense.
Nonetheless, Seattle is back in the divisional round of the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Green Bay, meanwhile, is working on an extra week off as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The Packers started 7-1 this season, with wins over Minnesota and Kansas City, then lost two of their next three, looking bad against the Chargers and 49ers. But they recovered to win their last five, beating the Vikings again, then coming from behind to win at Detroit in Week 17 to clinch a wild-card bye.
So Green Bay is back in the playoffs after missing out the last two seasons, and also again in the divisional round for the first time since 2016.
The suspicion surrounding the Packers is they’re just not as good as their record would indicate. Eight of their wins this season came by one score; they struggled twice against the lousy Lions, and Washington, Aaron Rodgers is showing some age, and the defense is iffy.
These two teams have met seven times over the last eight seasons; Seattle is 4-3 SU over that span, but Green Bay is 4-2-1 ATS. Most recently, back in Week 11 of last season, the Seahawks came from behind to beat the Packers 27-24 in Seattle. The Seahawks pushed the spread as three-point favorites that night, and the game played over a total of 49.
Seahawks-Packers By the Numbers
Seattle ranked eighth in the NFL this season in total offense, averaging 374 yards per game, and seventh in time of possession, averaging 31:26 minutes per game. But the Seahawks also ranked just 26th in total defense, giving up 382 YPG.
Green Bay ranked just 18th in the league in total offense at 346 YPG and 18th in total defense, allowing 353 YPG, but sixth in time of possession at 31:28.
NFL Playoff Betting Trends
- With last week’s win/cover, Seattle is now 8-1 SU, 6-2-1 ATS on the road this season.
- With last week’s win/cover, Seattle is now 4-3 both SU and ATS this season against teams that made the playoffs.
- Green Bay is 7-1 SU, 5-3 ATS at home this season.
- Green Bay is 3-2 both SU and ATS against teams that made the playoff this year.
- Over the past five divisional-round playoff weekends, the home teams – the teams that didn’t have to play on wild-card weekend – are 16-4 SU, 11-8-1 ATS.
Common Opponents
These two teams have played three common opponents this season; San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Minnesota. The Seahawks are 4-1 both SU and ATS against those three foes, the Packers 2-2 both SU and ATS.
Totals Report
- Totals are split 8-8-1 in Seahawks games this season, which are averaging 50 total points.
- Unders are 10-6 in Packers games this season, which are averaging 43 points.
- Overs are 12-8 over the last five divisional-round playoff weekends.
- Get more details: Seahawks at Packers NFL Match up
