Mike Holmgren has now coached longer in Seattle than he had in Green Bay.  Not only that, but, Holmgren has been really effective in his stay in Seattle.  Holmgren led the Seahawks to another NFC West Championship with a 10-6 record and they went 1-1 in the post season.  Holmgren has now coached nine seasons in Seattle and he has compiled a 82-62 (.569 %) record during the regular season.  He also has a post season record of 4-6 (.400 %).  Holmgren has now been a head coach in the NFL for 16 seasons in which he has a record of 157-99 (.613 %) in the regular season and he is 13-11 (.542 %) during the post season.  Holmgren led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl Championship in 1996.

Things started so well for the Seahawks in this game as they turned two Ryan Grant fumbles into TDs on their first two drives of the game.  But, that just seemed to get the Packers and Ryan Grant upset as Grant rushed for 201 yards and 3 TDs in this game.  Matt Hasselbeck had a so-so game as he completed 19 of 33 passes for 194 yards with a TD pass.  Shaun Alexander didn’t do much as he carried the ball 9 times for 20 yards (2.2 ypc) with a TD run.  Bobby Engram (6 rec, 67 yards, TD) and Ben Obomanu (4 rec, 63 yards) both pitched in on the passing game for the Seahawks.  The Seahawks finished with 28 yards rushing on 18 carries (1.6 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 33 passes for 172 yards.

The defense of the Packers had big issues in this game as the Packers ran all over them.  Leroy Hill (11 tackles, sack) and Lofa Tatupu (7 tackles, fumble recovery) led the way for the Seahawks defense.  The Packers finished up with 235 yards rushing on 35 carries (6.7 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 23 passes for 173 yards.

The Green Bay Packers are well rested and healthy as they welcome old friends Mike Holmgren and Matt Hasselbeck to Lambeau Field this weekend.  The Packers won a stunning 33-27 game in OT in 2003 over the Seahawks in Green Bay. 

The Packers will attempt to balance the offense a little bit against the Seahawks who shut down the Redskins vaunted running game last week.  Still, look for the Packers to run Ryan Grant often to slow the pass rush of the Seahawks a little bit and to run the clock if the Pack get the lead in this game.  The big key to this game will be how tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher do against DEs Patrick Kerney and Darryl Tapp who are big time pass rushers.  That’s because Brett Favre has been known to make mistakes in his career when the pass rush is in his face.  The Packers will likely try to attack the middle of the field in the passing game to avoid dealing with cornerback Marcus Trufant who is one of the best pickoff artists in the NFL right now.  If the game comes down to a kick at the end rookie Mason Crosby has a big leg as he led the NFL in scoring this season.

The Seahawks are going to go with what got them to this game which is passing the ball first.  Look for the Seahawks to run a lot of three receiver and four receiver sets so they can avoid challenging corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson.  The key to the attack will be keeping defensive ends Aaron Kampman, Cullen Jenkins and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila away from Matt Hasselbeck.  If the Seahawks get the lead then they might try to run the ball a little bit more than usual to salt away the clock.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 27, SEAHAWKS 24

The Seahawks appeared to be in trouble when the Redskins scored two quick TDs in the 4th quarter to take a 14-13 lead.  That’s when the Seahawks woke up as they scored a TD on offense and 2 TDs on defense to seal the victory and a trip to Green Bay next weekend.

Matt Hasselbeck had a tough game as he completed 20 of 32 passes for 229 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions.  Shaun Alexander also had a rough game as he carried the ball 15 times for 46 yards (3.1 ypc).  Fullback Leonard Weaver only carried the football 1 time in this game…..for a 17-yard TD!  D.J. Hackett (6 rec, 101 yards, TD), Nate Burleson (6 rec, 64 yards) and Bobby Engram (4 rec, 57 yards) all had good games for the Seahawks yesterday.  The Seahawks finished up with 77 yards rushing on 21 carries (3.7 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 32 passes for 227 yards.

The Seahawks defense was outstanding as they were swarming to the football all game long.  Linebackers LeRoy Hill (13 tackles, sack), Lofa Tatupu (12 tackles) and Julian Peterson (10 tackles, sack) stuffed the Redskins potent running game the whole way yesterday.  Marcus Trufant made six tackles and he had the back breaking 4th quarter interception that he returned 78 yards for a TD.  Jordan Babineaux had six tackles also and he returned a interception 57-yards to close out the scoring in this game.  The Redskins finished with 75 yards rushing on 29 carries (2.6 ypc) and they also completed 29 of 50 passes for 244 yards.

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With the weather windy and rainy in Seattle this will be a very interesting matchup as weather sometimes is the great equalizer.  The Seahawks have one of the best home field advantages in the NFL but the Redskins are motivated to keep winning for their fallen teammate Sean Taylor as they have won 4 games in a row.

The Redskins will attempt to pound the football on the ground against the Seahawks with Clinton Portis and LaDell Betts.  The Redskins should have success on the ground as they average 116.9 yards rushing per game while the Seahawks allow 102.8 yards rushing per game.  The Seahawks defense is on the small side but they are fast and they do get to the QB.  The Redskins offensive line must do a good job of keeping Patrick Kerney (14.5 sacks), Julian Peterson (9.5 sacks) and Darryl Tapp (7 sacks) out of there backfield or QB Todd Collins will be in deep trouble.  To combat the heavy pass rush of the Seahawks look for the Redskins to use TE Chris Cooley early and often in this game.  Also, look for Collins to take some shots deep to Santana Moss now that he’s healthy but he better be careful because CB Marcus Trufant had 7 interceptions this season.  Joe Gibbs will also probably pull out a gimmick play involving Antwaan Randle El at some point.

The Seahawks have been a pass first team this season as they have averaged 247.8 yards passing per game but the weather will likely hinder them a bit.  Still, look for Matt Hasselbeck to be engineering an offense that likely will have 4-WR sets.  Look for the Seahawks to attack the nickel and dime backs of the Redskins as they have been ineffective this season.  It would be nice if Shaun Alexander or Maurice Morris could help out and balance the offense tomorrow afternoon but the Redskins have a stingy run defense that is allowing only 91.8 yards rushing per game this season.

PREDICTION:  WASHINGTON REDSKINS 21, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 17