The first game of the 2014 NFL season will pit the Green Bay Packers against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks
The last time the Packers played Seattle was Sept. 24, 2012, on Monday Night Football. At the end of the game, official Lance Easley ruled a pass that appeared to be an interception by safety M.D. Jennings as "simultaneous possession," which gave wide receiver Golden Tate a touchdown catch. The Seahawks won the game, 14-12. In that game Rodgers completed 26 of 39 passes for 223 yards, zero touchdowns or interceptions and 17 yards rushing.
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The Seattle defense will face a legitimate test to all levels of the unit. The Packers offense is one of the most creative and efficient in the league with a healthy Aaron Rodgers at the helm.
Seattle's defense has grown immensely since 2012, and the offense appears to be on the verge of a breakout year, based on the team's play throughout the preseason.
Both Seahawks' head coach Pete Carroll and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy are 5-3 in season openers. The .625 winning percentage in openers is tied for the sixth highest among current head coaches who have coached in five-plus season openers.
Quarterback Russell Wilson was 257-407 for 3,357 yards during the regular season last year. He had a passer rating of 101.2, threw for 26 touchdowns and ran for one.
Running back Marshawn Lynch led the team in rushing. He ran for 1,257 yards on 301 carries and 12 touchdowns.
Lynch held out during training camp for a new contract. He did not receive a new contract. In 2012, the running back signed a four-year, $30 million deal that will pay him $5.5 million this season.
Receiver Golden Tate led the team in catches and yards last season. Tate caught 64 passes for 898 yards, but he left for Detroit in March. The Lions signed Tate to a five-year, $31 million contract.
Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin recently compared quarterback Russell Wilsonto former Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
Cornerback Richard Sherman led the Seahawks with eight interceptions last season. Seattle signed Sherman to a four-year, $57.4 million contract extension in May.
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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who missed almost eight games of the regular season after fracturing his collarbone, threw for 2,536 yards with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. Rodgers had a pass completion percentage of 66.6 and a 104.9 passer rating.
The Packers signed nose tackle B.J. Raji to a one-year, $4 million this offseason, but the veteran tore his right biceps during the Packers' Aug. 22 preseason game against the Oakland Raiders. Raji will miss the entire season.
Running back Eddie Lacy, who won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award last season, ran for 1,178 yards on 284 regular-season carries. He ran for 11 touchdowns in 15 games.
The Packers started the 2013-14 season without receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. Jordy Nelson, who had spent much of the previous season on the injury list, played in all 16 regular season games for the Packers. Nelson had 85 catches for 1,314 yards and eight touchdowns and led Green Bay in all three categories. After Nelson's season, the Packers signed the receiver to a four-year,$39 million contract extension.
The Packers drafted wide receiver Jared Abbrederis in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft, but the rookie tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during training camp practice.
During the 2013-14 season, the Packers did not have an interception or forced fumble from the safety position. The Packers drafted Alabama safety Ha-Ha Clinton Dix with their first-round pick.
Cornerback Sam Shields led the Packers with four interceptions, and cornerbackTramon Williams had three. Green Bay only had 11 interceptions last season.
Don Barclay, who started 14 games at right tackle last season in place of the injured Bryan Bulaga, tore his ACL during practice. Derek Sherrod will likely fill Barclay's role at tackle, and Lane Taylor will be the backup at right and left guard.
The Packers opted to keep three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster for the first time since 2008. Veteran Matt Flynn will be the back-up to starter Aaron Rodgers, and Scott Tolzien is listed as the Packers' third-string quarterback.
The Packers have not won in Seattle since 2008.
If the Packers win, it will be just the third road team to win the NFL’s primetime kickoff game since 2002.
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