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Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks -2.5
Over/Under 49
This may appear to just be a matchup of mediocre four-win teams, but they get to mediocrity in completely different ways. Up until last week, the Packers relied almost entirely on Aaron Rodgers to make plays, extend drives and keep Green Bay’s defense off the field. Last week, Green Bay finally leaned on Aaron Jones the way fans and fantasy players have been begging them to all season.
The Packers are first in the NFL with 5.2 yards per carry, but they rank 27th in rushing attempts.
Seattle, on the other hand, probably doesn’t rely on Russell Wilson enough. Seattle’s offensive line is much improved from the last few years, but that isn’t really an excuse to keep the ball out of the hands of your playmaking quarterback.
The Seahawks have 288 rushing attempts this season, second to only the Rams.
All five of Seattle’s losses have been by seven points for fewer.
Doug Baldwin still has not found the end zone through seven games after he scored at least seven touchdowns in each of the last three seasons. Linebacker K.J. Wright is doubtful for Thursday’s game, though running back Chris Carson and right guard D.J. Fluker are expected to play.
Jimmy Graham is questionable for Thursday’s game, which would be his first against his former team. Graham has played every game so far this season, but he has just two touchdowns. Graham caught 10 touchdowns last season with Seattle.
If Graham is out, Lance Kendricks and Marcedes Lewis would likely split the tight end snaps.
Aaron Rodgers has 17 touchdown passes and just one interception this season.
Green Bay is 21st in the NFL at 4.5 yards allowed per carry.
Seattle is one of only two NFL teams (Tennessee is the other) with more rushing attempts than passing attempts this season.
It is not at is Seattle has been ineffective passing the ball, either. Seattle ranks eighth at 8.0 yards per passing attempt. Green Bay is close behind at 7.7 yards per pass attempt.
Despite ranking dead last in pass attempts, Seattle is tied for seventh with 29 sacks allowed. Russell Wilson could be in trouble against a Green Bay defense that is tied for the league lead with 31 sacks.
The Seahawks are one of 10 teams with double-digit interceptions this season, but they will likely be hard pressed to add to that total considering Aaron Rodgers only has one interception this season. Rodgers has not had more than eight interceptions in a season since 2010.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been a popular fantasy play for weeks, but he still hasn’t gotten a huge role in Green Bay’s offense. Valdes-Scantling is averaging 6.0 targets per game over his last four games, topping out with seven targets in Week 10.
Nick Vannett hasn’t exactly been a huge part of Seattle’s offense, but he has caught touchdowns in consecutive weeks. Considering how often Russell Wilson threw to Jimmy Graham in the end zone last season, Vannett has a chance to continue to be effective in that area of the field.
Player News
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the Cowboys were among the teams interested in acquiring Steelers WR George Pickens.
“But with the draft in the rearview,” Russini said, “expect the trade buzz to cool surrounding Pickens.” The disgruntled wideout will likely stay on the Steelers roster alongside new WR1 DK Metcalf. The Cowboys’ interest in Pickens could indicate that they’d like to bolster the team’s wideout room behind CeeDee Lamb in the coming weeks or months. Pickens, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, has led the Steelers in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and TD receptions since entering the NFL in 2022.
49ers signed TE George Kittle to a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension.
The deal includes $40 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. After denying a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini that he was aiming to become the game’s highest paid tight end, Kittle signs a monster extension that eclipses Trey McBride’s recent deal. Kittle last year ranked third in tight end receiving yards and led the position in yards per route run. He has been one of the NFL’s most efficient pass catchers for years and will enter his age-32 season as an important part of a San Francisco passing attack that is now without Deebo Samuel.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager reports Aaron Rodgers “has no timetable” to sign for the 2025 season.
Schrager said Rodgers has told teams — including the Giants and Steelers — that they should feel free to move on in their quarterback search if Rodgers’ timetable doesn’t fit theirs. Rodgers, 41, told ESPN’s Pat McAfee this month that he was dealing with personal issues and indicated he was in no hurry to sign with the team for 2025. The Steelers could enter the summer with Mason Rudolph and rookie QB Will Howard atop their quarterback depth chart.
Seahawks exercised the fifth-year option on OT Charles Cross.
Cross now remains tied to the organization through the 2026 season. PFF gave the towering 24-year-old tackle exemplary marks in 2024, ranking him 10th of 140 qualified tackles, including 15th in pass protection and 16th in run blocking. The Seahawks extend the negotiating window on one of the key pieces of their offensive front.
Browns signed WR Diontae Johnson to a one-year contract.
The former Steeler wasn’t able to carve out a significant role with the Panthers, Ravens, or Texans in 2024 after seemingly breaking out in Pittsburgh. The Browns apparently saw enough during his visit with the team Monday to sign him to a one-year contract, the details of which have yet to be released. Expect Johnson to start opposite Cedric Tillman on the perimeter while Jerry Jeudy works the slot.
ESPN’s Field Yates reports Browns placed the unrestricted free agent tender on WR Elijah Moore.
Moore visited the Bills on Monday and then saw the Browns place the unrestricted free agent tender on him. Per Field Yates, this means that Moore will count against the compensatory free agent formula should he sign with another team. He’ll play on the tender if he returns to the Browns, which carries a value of $3.428 million for wide receivers in 2025.