NFL Week 1 Preview: Seahawks at Packers

Each week, the PFF analysis team will bring you break downs of the most important matchups for each game of the NFL season.

Coverage by: Mike Cahill

Matchup: Seattle Seahawks offense versus Green Bay Packers defense

• RB Eddie Lacy vs. the Packers – Since entering the league in 2013, Lacy forced 169 missed tackles on 872 attempts, averaging one missed tackle on 20 percent of his carries. Lacy has finished in the top six in forced missed tackles among the league’s running backs every time he has had at least 200 rushing attempts, which hasn’t happened since 2014. The Packers team defense ranked fifth in PFF’s overall grade a season ago and had the fifth fewest defensive missed tackles with 92, 29 less than 2015. On 14 attempts in the preseason, Lacy has four missed tackles, which is second on the team with 10 less attempts than former teammate Michael Davis who has six.

• QB Russell Wilson vs. Packers pass-rush – Keeping Wilson clean will be very important for the Seahawks in their matchup with the Packers. In 2016, Wilson held an adjusted completion percentage of 79.7 when facing no pressure, which ranked seventh in the league, but only had that luxury on 58.4 percent of his drop backs which was third lowest in the NFL. When under pressure, Wilson’s adjusted completion percentage drops to 72.0. Through the preseason, the Packers’ team pass rush grade ranks 19th.
• T Rees Odhiambo vs. DI Mike Daniels – After losing left tackle George Fant for the season, Odhiambo will take over at left tackle for the Seahawks and will be seeing Daniels on his side of the line. Odhiambo saw 11 of his 13 pass-blocking snaps at tackle in 2016 and allowed one quarterback pressure for a pass-blocking efficiency of 93.2. Daniels’ 87.4 overall grade in 2016 was his second highest overall season grade and ranked 11th among all interior defenders. Through the preseason, Odhiambo has allowed six quarterback pressures on 53 pass-blocking snaps for a pass-blocking efficiency of 90.6 which ranks 119th among 131 tackles.

Coverage by: Sam McGaw

Match Up: Green Bay Packers offense vs. Seattle Seahawks defense

• WR Randall Cobb vs. CB Jeremy Lane – In his last four matchups against the Seahawks, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has completed 36 of 46 targets thrown at slot receivers for 354 yards and four touchdowns. Cobb has been Rodgers’ main beneficiary out of the slot in those contests, catching 21 of 29 slot targets for 241 yards and two scores. Lane allowed 33 catches for 300 yards and two scores when in slot coverage last year. Quarterbacks targeting him in the slot averaged a passer rating of 105.8.

• RB Ty Montgomery vs. DI Sheldon Richardson – Montgomery closed 2016 with a PFF overall grade of 81.2, which ranked 12th out of 61 running backs with at least 240 snaps. His 116.4 elusive rating was the best among running backs that had at least 72 rushing attempts. Most of his success came when rushing to the left, as he racked up 322 yards on 40 carries. Conversely, he managed only 135 rushing yards on 37 carries when running to the right. Whenever Montgomery runs to the left, he’ll likely be met by new Seahawks edge defender Sheldon Richardson. Richardson, who has the ability to line up across the defensive front, logged a run defense grade of 91.0 with the Jets last season, which ranked fifth among edge defenders. He also ranked fifth with a run-stop percentage of 11.5.
• RT Bryan Bulaga vs. Edge Cliff Avril – Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga is tasked with stifling Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril. Avril registered 65 total pressures and a pass rushing productivity of 12.6 from the left side last season. Bulaga ranked fourth among offensive tackles with a PFF pass-blocking grade of 89.3. His pass-blocking efficiency of 96.1 ranked 14th for his position.