Thursday Night's Games: 1-1 ATS
Preseason to Date: 12-6 ATS
From Matt Hasselbeck to Mike Holmgren to Russell Wilson and last year's infamous Fail Mary, the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks have intimate ties that have spanned generations and made this rivalry special. Matt Hasselbeck, originally drafted by the Packers in '99 as one of many unused back-up QBs to Brett Favre, was traded to the Seahawks in 2001 where he became their franchise quarterback for nearly a decade. Similarly, Mike Holmgren - a name as quickly associated with Green Bay as Brett Favre or Reggie White, left his longtime post as the Packers head coach and took his talents to the northwest where he helped rebuild a respectable franchise in Seattle. And finally, although a bit of stretch, the young gunslinger Russell Wilson was a very good Wisconsin Badger before being drafted last year by the Seahawks.
What does it all mean? Truth be told - very little. It's all ancient history except for last year's replacement ref debacle, and besides this is still the preseason. I'm not convinced the mystique of Lambeau Field applies to games played in August. The Lush Green and Pleasantly Warm Tundra just doesn't inspire the same dread in the Pack's opposition. Any guesses as to who we're taking in tonight's game? Before we get to tonight's games, let's do quick recap of Thursday night's action.
New England/Detroit: Patriots crapped the bed, and yet I still firmly believe there must be a very good reason Bill Belichick historically loses every third game of the preseason. Sure there's the "theory" that the Patriots struggle against physical defenses, but I still think it's some kind of ploy, a long con intended to give teams game tape of New England struggling at something. They probably practice sucking all week and then pull it off perfectly. Well, almost perfectly - behind closed doors a stoic Bill will tell them they could have sucked just a little bit worse. Oh well, there's always next preseason.
Carolina/Baltimore: The Carolina Panthers defense is the best offense I've seen all preseason. How's this for a breakdown of their scoring:
Defense and Special Teams: 28
Offense: 6 on two 40+ yard field goals.
I know Junior Slump doesn't roll off the tongue, but the Panther offense better put some more points on the board if they intend to compete in their division.
And now for tonight's action.
Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) over GREEN BAY PACKERS: You guessed, we're taking the seemingly indomitable Seattle Seahawks. Pete Carroll is the Michael Jordan of the NFL when it comes to finding ways to make a mortal enemy of the opposition. In fact, the insatiably competitive former coach of the USC Trojans is still upset with former Cal quarterback Aaron Rogers for a 34-31 triple overtime loss back in 2003, even though Rogers was replaced at halftime of the game due to injury. The Seahawks have looked a Super Bowl favorite in their first two preseason games, and we don't believe they will do anything to tarnish their aura tonight.
Meanwhile, in the post-season last year the San Francisco Forty Niners dismissed the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round when Colin Kaepernick and Company exposed the fact that the Dom Capers-led Packer defense was unprepared for what is becoming a pervasive offensive force in this league. Much like Mike Shanahan's attitude towards e-mail, Capers probably thought the read option was just another NFL passing fancy, destined to archived in the fourth floor stacks with the likes of The Wildcat or The East Coast Offense. Sorry Dom, check your Twitter account because Richard Sherman just sent you an Instagram of Russell Wilson racing past your D-line into the end zone.
Chicago Bears (-3.5) over OAKLAND RAIDERS: This game is not nearly as cut and dried as the first one. Although the Chicago Bears are a team in transition with regards to roster and coaching changes, they looked decent enough in last week's 33-28 win over a pedestrian San Diego Chargers team. I don't trust the Bears enough to actually bet on this game, but I do believe they are a better team than the Oakland Raiders, and I also believe that first year head coach Marc Trestman knows the value of building team chemistry through winning games - regardless of the time of year and especially the games they should win.
Chicago's front seven is relatively new and might be exposed, but the Oakland Raider's secondary is even worse and will be exposed by the Cutler-Marshall Express. Although there is some value to taking home underdogs, we believe this game will come down to a key turnover, most likely by a still shaky Terrelle Pryor. Bears by nine.
Good luck everyone. Check back in tomorrow for a complete slate of Saturday games.
May the Spread Be With Us All,
Vinny and Marco
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