==================================================
Seattle Seahawks (10-6) at Green Bay Packers (13-3)
==================================================
GAME SNAPSHOT
KICKOFF: Saturday, 4:30 ET
GAMEDATE: 01/12/08
SURFACE: Grass
TV: FOX, Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
SERIES: 13th meeting. Packers lead series, 7-5, though the Seahawks captured
a 34-24 decision in 2006. The only time the teams met in the postseason, Green
Bay won a 33-27 overtime game when Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception to
Al Harris that was returned 52 yards for the score.
PREDICTION: Packers 27-24
KEYS TO THE GAME: With
temperatures predicted below freezing with possible snow flurries, weather
could cause problems for the Seahawks' pass-heavy offense. Then again, the
majority of QB Matt Hasselbeck's passes are of the short to medium variety.
Of bigger concern might be the sprained wrist he aggravated against Washington
that could hurt his accuracy. ... With the Seahawks looking to prevent big
plays by bringing linebackers on the blitz, QB Brett Favre will rely on plenty
of slants and screens to combat the quickness of Seattle's front seven. RB
Ryan Grant will be a key factor as well, but when the Packers spread the field,
look for Favre to target CBs Jordan Babineaux and Josh Wilson in nickel and
dime packages.
KEY INJURIES: Packers: CB Will Blackmon (foot) is uncertain.
Seahawks: DE Patrick Kerney has missed some practice this week but will play.
FAST FACTS: Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren is tied for fifth all-time with 13
postseason wins -- including nine with Green Bay. ... The Packers' defensive
line has accounted for 31.5 of the team's 36 sacks.
PERSONNEL NEWS:
Seahawks:
-- DE Patrick Kerney practiced for the first time this week and is expected
to play on Saturday.
-- WR Deion Branch practiced despite a calf strain and is expected to play
on Saturday.
-- WR D.J. Hackett had limited participation in practice to rest an ankle
he has sprained twice this season but is expected to play Saturday.
-- OT Walter Jones practiced for the first time this week. He has been resting
sore shoulders. He will play against Green Bay.
-- DT Rocky Bernard practiced for the first time this week. He has been resting
a sore groin. He will play against the Packers.
-- LB Niko Koutouvides practiced for the first time this week because of a
knee injury but will play on Saturday.
Packers:
--MLB Nick Barnett was added to the injury report and didn't do much in practice
Thursday because of hamstring soreness. The team took a cautious approach
in holding Barnett back. He is expected to be fine for the game Saturday.
--CB Charles Woodson returned to practice after being out the previous day.
He was limited, though, to give him more time to get well for the game after
experiencing knee swelling following Tuesday's practice, on top of a lingering
toe injury.
--DT Corey Williams was added to the injury report because of hamstring soreness.
He was held out most of the practice Thursday for precautionary reasons and
should make the start Saturday.
--CB Will Blackmon appears to be doubtful to play this weekend. He didn't
take part in any team drills this week as he copes with a right foot injury
he aggravated in the regular-season finale. Tramon Williams likely will fill
in for Blackmon at both nickel back and on punt returns.
--WR Greg Jennings had limited involvement Thursday, a day after he left toward
the end of practice when he experienced tightness in his groin. The team was
simply being cautious with its No. 2 receiver, who will make the start Saturday.
--RG Jason Spitz (quadriceps) and WR James Jones (hamstring) were removed
from the injury report Thursday and are good to play in the game. Spitz will
be in the starting lineup.
INSIDE THE CAMPS:
Seahawks:
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney returned to practice on Thursday,
the first time the defensive player of the year runner-up has practiced this
week. Kerney said on Tuesday that he was just being given a day off, but he
missed practice on Wednesday as well with what was described as a knee injury
-- though he has not spoken to the media since Tuesday to clarify his injury.
In either case, the fact that Kerney will play Saturday is a key for the Seahawks
because Kerney, signed as a free agent in the offseason, has been invaluable
to Seattle, especially in the second half of the season.
He has had three three-sack games, the first player in NFL history to do that
in a four-game span. He has had five forced fumbles. He was all over Washington
quarterback Todd Collins last week, to the point that the Redskins needed
to eventually double- and triple-team him -- perhaps the reason for his knee
injury.
"First and foremost, Patrick Kerney's playing unbelievable," Packers
quarterback Brett Favre said. "You can say what you want, he's relentless.
In some respects he's a lot like Aaron Kampman, his high motor or whatever
you want to say, on top of talent. I think high motor is not doing the guy
justice. He's a good player. He's strong, he makes plays on runs, he runs
people down. He has a bull rush, he has a speed rush, and so you have to focus
on him first. You have to put two people on him or you're kidding yourself."
That, however, goes against what the Packers like to do. They prefer to spread
out their offense, allow Favre to read the defense, get rid of the ball quickly
and let the receivers do the rest.
Kerney, however, disrupts that philosophy.
"I don't think we're naive enough to think that singling their guys up
all day is a wise thing to do," Favre said. "Sliding protection
to Kerney, helping with a tight end, helping out with a back, is the logical
thing to do."
Packers:
Having harped on the importance of staying focused in his discussions with
the players this week, the last thing head coach Mike McCarthy needed was
a distraction to come between the team and its first playoff game in three
years.
McCarthy was none too pleased with the timing of a published article Thursday
in which quarterback Brett Favre all but declared he would return for the
2008 season. The report surfaced on the Web site of the Sun Herald in Biloxi,
Miss., Favre's hometown newspaper, two days before the 13-3 Packers play host
to Seattle in the NFC divisional playoffs.
Favre said in an interview with sportswriter Al Jones, a longtime family friend:
"Each week, I bring more stress on myself wondering if this is too good
to be true. I want to continue the streak and winning. When I talk about the
streak, it's not the (consecutive) starts; it's the hot streak we are on.
Then, I ask what can I do better?
"I am trying to enjoy it because this could be my last game in Green
Bay. For the first time in three years, I haven't thought this could be my
last game. I would like to continue longer."
Favre has been notorious the last few offseasons to wait weeks and even months
after a season ends to make up his mind about playing another season.
The 38-year-old Favre, though, has had one of his better seasons in 16 years
as the Green Bay starter and drew consideration for league MVP, which went
to New England's Tom Brady. Favre said in the Sun Herald article that daughters
Brittany and Breleigh encouraged him last weekend, while they were out getting
ice cream in Green Bay, to again put off retirement and play one more year.
"I have a lot to think about. It's been a fun year and winning has made
it a good year," Favre said in the article. "For the first time
in a couple of years, at this point, my focus is solely on Seattle and winning
a playoff
game at home."
Favre wasn't available for comment after practice Thursday, but McCarthy didn't
hold back with his thoughts on the matter. "I'll try not to laugh, but
I have not been part of any conversation with Brett on that topic,"
McCarthy said. "I think we just need to move on and focus on Seattle
because that's what we are focused on, I'm sure that's what he's focused on.
I don't know anything about it, and I think it's just someone trying to distract
my quarterback."
McCarthy asserted that he and Favre wouldn't enter into discussions about
the quarterback's playing future until this season ends. "Brett's playing
at a very high level, and we're preparing for him to play on another higher
level this weekend," McCarthy said. "That's our focus."
Teammates downplayed the buzz that spread throughout Wisconsin on Thursday
afternoon with the presumption that Favre is coming back for an 18th NFL season.
"Who wouldn't want him to come back?" veteran receiver Donald Driver
said. "I want everyone in this locker room to come back, but everybody
probably won't. We'll see what happens."
The chatter prompted by the newspaper article clearly didn't agree with McCarthy,
however, as the Packers wrapped up their final full day of preparations for
the Seahawks. He was short with reporters who queried him on the status of
select players who are on the injury report and haven't fully participated
in practice this week.
"We'll give you the full report tomorrow, and everybody's fine,"
McCarthy said tersely, adding, "We're healthy as hell, and we're ready
to go."