Why the Seattle Seahawks Beat the Green Bay Packers

Sep 4, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) forces a fumble by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. The fumbles was recovered by Green Bay in the end zone for a safety. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

A lot happened in the first game of the new NFL season.  Here are some quick takeaways from the Seattle Seahawks hosting the Green Bay Packers.

Aaron Rodgers is in store for another punishing season

He remains one of the best quarterbacks in the league but Aaron Rodgers just has some sort of curse hanging over him when it comes to offensive lines.  His can never seem to stay healthy and it’s already happening again this season.  Entering the game without key reserve tackle Don Barclay and starting center J.C. Tretter, Rodgers had to watch right tackle Bryan Bulaga exit during the game with an injury to the same knee he tore his ACL on last season.  Derrek Sherrod replaced him and was abused much of the  remainder of the night by Seattle’s pass rushers.

Darrell Bevell is going to be a head coach in 2015

Russell Wilson gets a lot of credit, as does Pete Carroll for the success of the Seahawks but they both would tell anybody that the amazing efficiency and inventiveness of the Seattle offense that makes them so hard to stop is the brainchild of offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.  That was on display in the game as he had the Packers going the wrong way most of the night.  The veteran coach has had success for a long time and many thought he was a shoe-in for a head coaching vacancy in 2013.  Unfortunately for him the Seahawks Super Bowl run got in the way.  Don’t expect that to happen again.  Bevell is going to be running his own team next year.  Count on it.

Lack of discipline continues to plague Dom Capers defense

Dom Capers is a respected defensive coordinator and with good reason, but it was clear on opening night that his Green Bay Packers unit is having a hard time with discipline on the field.  Throughout the evening they struggled to maintain their assignments on cutback runs, were gashed by several read-option plays but most glaringly had some terrible penalties that occurred at the worst possible times.  That kind of bad football isn’t what makes championship teams, as the Packers claim to be.

Conclusion

The repeat talks can and will continue for the Seattle Seahawks.  As for the Green Bay Packers, there will be better days but the ongoing health concerns for them make it hard to envision a Super Bowl run in their future.