The Packers–Seahawks rivalry is a rivalry in the National Football League (NFL) between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers and Seahawks first played each other in 1976, the Seahawks' inaugural season. During the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, the two teams only played each other intermittently, as they were in different conferences. However, this all changed in 2002 when the Seahawks were moved from the American Football Conference (AFC) to the National Football Conference (NFC), and the teams played each other in the regular season at least every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium when the NFC North and NFC West are paired up against one another, sometimes more often they meet in the playoffs, or common position finish.[2][3][4][5][6]
 The Packers and Seahawks playing in a 2006 regular season game | |
| First meeting | October 10, 1976 Packers 27, Seahawks 20 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | November 14, 2021 Packers 17, Seahawks 0 |
| Next meeting | December 15, 2024 |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 24 |
| All-time series | Packers lead 15–9[1] |
| Postseason results | Packers lead 3–1:
|
| Largest victory | Packers: 48–10 (2009) Seahawks: 27–7, 36–16 (1999, 2014) |
| Smallest victory | Packers: 28–23 (2019) Seahawks: 14–12 (2012) |
| Longest win streak | Packers: 3 (1976–1981, 2008–2012, 2015–2017) Seahawks: 3 (1984–1990, 2012–2015) |
| Current win streak | Packers, 2 wins (2020–present) |
As of the 2020 NFL season, the Packers lead the overall series 14–9, including winning 3 out of 4 postseason games. The rivalry has been defined by numerous high-profile games, including the 2014 NFC Championship Game, where the Seahawks went on to win in overtime to earn a berth into the Super Bowl. The rivalry has also not been without controversy, with the Fail Mary game in 2012 being perhaps the most notable. The Packers and Seahawks most recent game was on November 14, 2021, with the Packers winning 17–0. It was the first time that the Seahawks were shut out in Green Bay.[7]
Pre-rivalry history
editGreen Bay Packers (1919–1975)
editThe Green Bay Packers were founded in 1919 by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun.[8] After a few years of playing local teams, the Packers entered the National Football League (NFL) in 1921.[9] Between 1929 and 1944, the Packers dominated the NFL, winning six championships and reaching the playoffs two other times.[10] The advent of the forward pass under coach Curly Lambeau and wide receiver Don Hutson revolutionized the way football was played.[11] After the retirement of Hutson and the eventual departure of Lambeau to the Chicago Cardinals, the Packers experienced 15 years of poor results from 1945 to 1959.[10][12] However, with the hiring of Vince Lombardi, the Packers saw a revival, making the playoffs eight straight seasons and winning five championships, including the first two Super Bowls. After Lombardi departed for the Washington Redskins in 1969, the Packers again experienced a prolonged period of poor results, only making the playoffs once from 1968 to 1975.[10][12]
Seattle Seahawks
editAs part of the AFL–NFL merger, it was agreed that the NFL would expand by two teams. The Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Buccaneers became these two expansion franchises, both of whom had their inaugural season in 1976.[13]
Overview of rivalry
editThe Packers and Seahawks played each other just 8 times from 1976 to 2002. However, after the NFL realignment in 2002, both teams were in the NFC for the 2003 NFL season. Being in the same conference pitted the two teams against each other more often, including setting the stage for the first postseason match-ups.
Notable games
edit
There have been several memorable games which have cemented the rivalry:[14][15][16][17]
- Packers 33, Seahawks 27 (January 4, 2004) - In the 2003–04 NFL playoffs, the teams met for the first time in the postseason at the Packers' Lambeau Field. Their Wild Card matchup saw numerous lead changes, and the teams were tied 27–27 at the end of regulation time. In overtime, the Seahawks won the coin toss. Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (a former Packer) told the microphoned referee, and thus the crowd and the national television audience, "We want the ball and we're going to score!"[18] After each team went three-and-out, cornerback Al Harris intercepted a Hasselbeck pass and returned it 52 yards for the winning touchdown.
- Packers 42, Seahawks 20 (January 12, 2008) - In the 2007–08 NFL playoffs, sometimes referred to as the "Snow Bowl", the Packers and Seahawks met again in the playoffs at Lambeau Field. The Seahawks jumped to a 14–0 lead in under five minutes in the 1st quarter, recovering two fumbles on consecutive drives by Packers running back Ryan Grant and scoring a touchdown each time. The Packers defense, however, only allowed two Seahawks field goals for the rest of the game. Grant went on to rush 27 times for 201 yards and scored 3 touchdowns; his 201 rushing yards set a team postseason record. Quarterback Brett Favre also threw for 3 touchdowns as the Packers beat the Seahawks 42–20.[19] A large snowstorm dumped about 2 inches of snow during the game, limiting visibility for the players and fans watching on television.[20] The Packers would go on to play in the NFC Championship game, losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
- Seahawks 14, Packers 12 (September 24, 2012) - On September 24, 2012, the teams played a regular season game at the Seahawks' CenturyLink Field. It is remembered for the controversial last play, dubbed the "Fail Mary". Replacement officials were being used due to the 2012 NFL referee lockout. With the Packers leading 12–7 and only eight seconds left, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw a desperation Hail Mary pass into the end zone. Packers safety M. D. Jennings and Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate both jumped for the ball, and both maintained some contact with it in the air and upon landing on the ground. The two officials near the play conferred and then simultaneously made separate signals; side judge Lance Easley raised his arms to signal touchdown, while back judge Derrick Rhone-Dunn waved his arms to signal stoppage of the clock. Eventually, it was declared a touchdown, with Jennings and Tate ruled to have simultaneous possession (which is decided in favor of the offensive player), giving the Seahawks the win. Following the game, the NFL released an official statement that acknowledged that a pass interference penalty should have been called on Tate. Also, several of the regular NFL officials stated they would have ruled it an interception. The referee lockout ended a few days after the game, with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stating that the reaction by fans, players, and the media after the Fail Mary game "may have pushed the parties further along" in their contract negotiations.[21]
- Seahawks 28, Packers 22 (January 18, 2015) - The teams clashed in the 2014 NFC Championship Game. Seattle was looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions, having defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII 43–8 the year before. However, Russell Wilson started poorly and his team was down 16–0 at halftime. The Seahawks finally scored on a fake field goal attempt; holder Jon Ryan threw a touchdown pass to Garry Gilliam. They were still down 19–7 with less than three minutes left, however. Wilson ran for a touchdown. Then, after a successful onside kick, Marshawn Lynch rushed for another touchdown, giving his team its first lead. Ahead 20–19, the Seahawks elected to go for a two-point conversion; Wilson came under intense pressure and was chased out of the pocket, but managed to loft a high, arcing pass to tight end Luke Willson, who took the ball into the end zone. That successful conversion proved to be crucial, as Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had enough time to drive down the field for a tying field goal. In overtime, Seattle won the coin toss, and Wilson threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse on the first possession. The touchdown pass was Wilson's only pass meant for Kearse that was actually caught by him; Green Bay intercepted four of the other five.
Years later, after Rodgers had left the Packers for the New York Jets and Wilson had left the Seahawks for the Denver Broncos, Rodgers would reflect on his games against Seattle as a "great rivalry," saying "we couldn’t seem to beat them … in Seattle. They couldn’t beat us in Green Bay."[22]
The teams have met four times in the playoffs, with the home team winning each time, and the Packers winning three.[23] In addition to the three meetings cited above, Green Bay won 28–23 in the divisional round of the 2019–20 playoffs.[24]
Statistics and records
editClub success
editAs of the 2023 NFL season, the Packers and Seahawks have won a combined 14 championships in the league's history, including 8 Super Bowl appearances.[10][25] Each team's overall record and playoff success are provided in the table below.
| Team | NFL Titles[note 1] | Conference Titles | Divisional Titles[note 2] | Wild Card Berths | Playoff Appearances | NFL Title Game Appearances[note 3] | Super Bowl Appearances[note 4] | All-time Record | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 13 | 9 | 21 | 8 | 35 | 11 | 5 | 835–623–38 | [10] |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 367–340–1 | [25] |
| Combined | 14 | 12 | 32 | 16 | 54 | 11 | 8 | 1,202–963–39 | [note 5] |
Game results
editAs of the end of the 2023 NFL season, the Buccaneers and Packers have played each other 23 times, with the Packers leading the all-time series 14–9. The Packers lead the all-time series 12–3 when they are the home team, while the Seahawks lead the all-time series 6–2 when they are the home team. The Seahawks and Packers have played each other four times in the postseason; the Packers lead the postseason series 3–1.[26] The following game results are up-to-date as of the end of the 2023 NFL season.
| Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks Season-by-Season Results[26] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1970s (Packers, 2–0)
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1980s (Seahawks, 2–1)
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1990s (Seahawks, 2–1)
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2000s (Packers, 6–1)
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2010s (Tied, 4–4)
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Summary of Results
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See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ *"Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks Results". The Football Database, LLC. 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ "Creating the NFL Schedule". Operations.NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ Davis, Scott. "The NFL schedule is created with the help of a simple formula". Business Insider. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "NFL gives East teams a break traveling West". ESPN.com. March 23, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Trapasso, Chris. "How Is the NFL Schedule Created?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "How Does Scheduling Work In The NFL? | Understanding NFL Scheduling Formula". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Wood, Ryan. "Packers shut out Russell Wilson, Seahawks in Aaron Rodgers' return". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Hendricks, Martin (October 2, 2008). "A founding figure behind the scenes". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ Gulbrandsen, Don (2007). Green Bay Packers: The Complete Illustrated History. Voyageur Press. pp. 15–19. ISBN 978-0-7603-3139-2.
- ^ a b c d e "Green Bay Packers Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Whitley, David. "Hutson was first modern receiver". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ a b "Packers Timeline". Packers.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2003. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Baskin, Ben (November 22, 2016). "39 flags for 310 penalty yards: Revisiting the most penalized game in modern NFL history". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Quinton, Sean (January 6, 2016). "Seahawks vs. Packers: Here are the most memorable moments between Seattle and Green Bay". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ Rogers, Martin (January 10, 2020). "The Packers-Seahawks rivalry usually brings exquisite madness". Fox Media LLC. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ Stites, Adam (January 12, 2020). "A timeline of the weird history between the Packers and Seahawks". Vox Media. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ Wassell, Tom (January 9, 2020). "Seahawks-Packers rivalry has some memorable games — these are the top 5". Bonneville International. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ Hanzus, Dan (January 4, 2017). "Remembering Matt Hasselbeck's coin-flip guarantee". National Football League. Archived from the original on March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ "Favre, Grant lead Pack to postseason scoring mark". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 12, 2008. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ Matthew, Bonita (January 6, 2020). "Coming to Green Bay for Packers playoff game Sunday? Here's what the forecast says". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Officials get standing ovation". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 27, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- ^ Brown, Larry (January 4, 2024). "Aaron Rodgers: Russell Wilson and I share a 'common enemy'". yardbreaker.com. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Seattle Seahawks Playoff History". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ Kahler, Kalyn (January 13, 2020). "Packers Leaving it All on the Field, Win After Win". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ a b "Seattle Seahawks Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "All Matchups, Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "Seahawks 2024 Opponents Set".
External links
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Media related to Packers–Seahawks rivalry at Wikimedia Commons
