Prognosticator likes Seattle’s chances tonight in hosting Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers have some bitter memories of CenturyLink Field. Who can blame them?
The NFC championship game in the 2014 season was in their control until a fake punt by the Seahawks and bad decisions by the Packers helped Seattle force overtime.
Then Russell Wilson spoiled the Cheeseheads’ night with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse — brilliant throw, even more brilliant catch — and Seattle headed to the Super Bowl.
Many believe those Packers would have handled the New England Patriots for the league title. Hey, had Seahawks coaches not gone wacky at the end of that Super Bowl, Seattle would have beaten the Pats.
Neither the Packers (4-4-1) nor Seahawks (4-5) looks like championship material. They might find a way to sneak into the playoffs, but a win tonight would be crucial in that chase.
“I know they’re frustrated, too,” coach Pete Carroll says, noting his Seahawks have lost two in a row, both against the L.A. teams. “They’ve dropped a couple of games that they should’ve won and I’m sure their outlook . . . we’re kind of in a similar boat right here.
“They’ve been a winning program for a really long time and we don’t think of them as anything other than that. I mean, it happens to be the Packers and the Seahawks, so it’s a big deal. We’ve had some great matchups in the past, so we’ve got to play good football.”
Seattle, ranked 14th in the AP Pro32, is a 2 1/2-point favourite over No. 13 Green Bay.
SEAHAWKS, 26-23
KNOCKOUT POOL
Green Bay did the job for us on Sunday, and now we go with ARIZONA. What? Look who the Cardinals are facing.
No. 23 Denver (plus 7) at No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers might be “the other team” in L.A., but they’re very solid.
BEST BET: CHARGERS, 30-19
No. 7 Minnesota (plus 2 1/2) at No. 10 Chicago
If Bears win this one, we’ll start believing.
UPSET SPECIAL: VIKINGS, 22-20
No. 4 Pittsburgh (minus 4 1/2) at No. 24 Jacksonville
Do Steelers remember playoff matchup with Jaguars? Is Pittsburgh the Steel City?
STEELERS, 34-20
No. 2 Kansas City (plus 2 1/2) at No. 3 L.A. Rams
Game moved from Mexico back to LA. Expect lots of scoring.
RAMS, 40-36
No. 8 Carolina (minus 3 1/2) at No. 25 Detroit
Panthers need turnaround coming off real stinker. They’ll get it.
PANTHERS, 26-24
No. 15 Dallas (plus 3) at No. 19 Atlanta
Falcons need turnaround coming off real stinker. They’ll also get it.
FALCONS, 26-19
No. 16 Philadelphia (plus 9) at No. 1 New Orleans
Eagles need turnaround coming off real stinker. Sorry, not here.
SAINTS, 37-27
No. 12 Tennessee (plus 2 1/2) at No. 18 Indianapolis
Pro Picks is certain this looks like a crazy choice after what Titans did to Patriots. Still ...
COLTS, 21-20
No. 9 Houston (minus 2 1/2) at No. 11 Washington
Two clubs that can begin thinking playoffs with victory here.
TEXANS, 23-17
No. 26 Tampa Bay (plus 1) at No. 28 New York Giants
At least Giants don’t have to face that other Tampa team, unbeaten UCF.
GIANTS, 26-24
No. 32 Oakland (plus 4) at No. 31 Arizona
Liked how Cardinals played at KC. Raiders ain’t Chiefs, so . . .
CARDINALS, 20-10
No. 17 Cincinnati (OFF) at No. 20 Baltimore
Flacco, Jackson or RG3 as Ravens QB? Won’t matter against Bungles’ defence.
RAVENS, 29-23