Packers rout the Seahawks and clinch playoff spot
December 27th, 2009 | by adamburnett |The Packers destroy the Seahawks 48-10 to improve their record to 10-5. Couple the win with a Giants loss to the Panthers 41-9 and Green Bay is in the post season. The Seahawks looked like a team that quit midway thru the first quarter. The Packers rushing attack accumulated 153 yards and 5 touchdowns. Ryan Grant ran for 96 yards and 2 scores including a 56 yard burst. Brandon Jackson ran for 2 short scores and caught another. Ahman Green also had a short rushing touchdown. Aaron Rodgers completed 12 of 23 for 237 yards and a score. Greg Jennings caught 4 balls for 111 yards. Jermichael Finley hauled in 3 balls for 80 yards. Mason Crosby drilled a 29 yard and 52 yard in his two attempts of the contest.
The defense picked off Matt Hasselbeck 4 times as the veteran signal caller looked like damaged goods. Atari Bigby had 2 picks, while A.J. Hawk and Jarrett Bush had one each. Nick Barnett had 9 total tackles and a sack. Brad Jones and Brandon Chillar each had a sack as well. John Carlson caught the Seahawks only touchdown. Deion Branch and T.J. Housmanzadeh combined for 9 catches and 104 yards. Because the Seahawks offensive line is so poor, the passing game was restricted to shorter throws. Seattle never attacked down the field or tried to test the highly criticized members of the Packers secondary.
I sat in Section 118 Row 14 Seat 11 for this game. My seat was behind the Packers bench and about even with the 40 yard line. Being that close to the action gave me an opportunity to see a lot of things that don’t get shown on television. The overall feeling I got from the Packers before the game was a team that was totally relaxed and confident. Outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene was out throwing around the ball before the game. Clay Matthews gave the Clay Nation something to talk about with his field goal attempts with Mason Crosby before the game. Seahawks broadcaster Warren Moon also looks bigger in person than I remember. I found it interesting how much the phones and photos come into play. I was unaware of the routine of the long snapper. Brett Goode keeps busy with snaps during each possession.
As the game wound down to the 2 minute warning, YMCA by the Village People was played in the stadium. Offensive lineman T.J. Lang, Darren Colledge, Evan Dietrich-Smith, and Josh Sitton were doing the YMCA in unison. They lack cohesiveness doing the YMCA. Fans in my section started yelling the players last names hoping they would turn around. Greg Jennings turned around and flashed a smile signaling thumbs up, that was a great shot ruined by someone’s elbow. Jordy Nelson, Chad Clifton, Mason Crosby, and Aaron Rodgers all acknowledged the crowd. Rodgers then pointed out T.J. Lang and we chanted for him. He instructed the crowd to chant for Dietrich-Smith and we followed. Watching the interactions of the players, I really got the sense that this is a team that gets along. After the game Charles Woodson, Greg Jennings, and Donald Driver ran around the stadium high fiving all of the fans. The Packers play against the Cardinals next week in Arizona. The Cardinals are coming off a 31-10 rout of the Rams.
