APIf the Seahawks’ physical secondary is going to struggle with the NFL’s renewed emphasis on illegal contact, defensive holding and pass interference, we’ll see it tonight.
Sal Paolantonio of ESPN reports that tonight’s referee is John Parry. That’s significant because Parry’s crew called the most defensive holding and pass interference penalties of any officiating crew during the preseason. Parry’s crew also tied for the most defensive holding and pass interference calls of any officiating crew during the 2013 regular season.
So if there’s any officiating crew that’s going to force the Seahawks out of their physical — and successful — ways, it’s probably Parry’s crew.
However, the Seahawks’ secondary did just fine during the preseason, even with the increased emphasis on letting receivers run free. Actually, they did better than fine: As noted by Peter King of TheMMQB.com, the Seahwaks’ starting secondary played a total of 285 snaps during the preseason and got a grand total of zero penalties.
So maybe Parry will help Aaron Rodgers and the Packers put up big numbers tonight in Seattle. Or maybe Richard Sherman and Co. will show that they’re the best secondary in the league, no matter how strictly the NFL wants to call the game.
Looks like the league is out to ruin the games from day 1 of the season this year.
SMH
If you can’t beat ’em, flag ’em.
Sounds like we’re set up for the officials to give a “pay back” to the Packers tonight.
The real test will be if NFL fans can tolerate a game kicking off at 8:30 at night lasting until after midnight on a weeknight due to a barrage of unwarranted penalties.
After tonight GB fans will be whining about another “ref job” in Seattle.
GB will be flagged more than Seattle.
Seattle wins going away.
Even though they had ZERO new emphasis defensive holding calls all pre season. They are trained correctly.
It’s easy they no the rules, don’t commit the fouls. If you can’t play the game within the rules your not good enough.
I don’t understand the NFL’s decision to reemphasize defensive holding/contact this year. I get that the casual fan enjoys big offense and that fantasy football is huge business but this just seems like such a reactionary decision to the NFL’s golden boy getting shut down in the Super Bowl.
I am an NFL fan and I enjoy defense!
They’ll be fine. Knowing their coach, he’s taught them to conceal it even more. After all, his full legal IS Pete The Cheat Carroll. He changed it at USC. Fact.
NFL paid referees helping the Packers, what a big surprise (eye roll), someone bring the replacement refs back š
Seahawks still win.
Know, sorry not enough coffee yet. Lol.
Lets not forget that the Packers have the worst o line in the league and they haven’t had a running game since WW ll. This one is gonna be a laugher!
Its like this crew of officials wants it be more about them then the players, I understand calling the obvious, but if its tight, let them play.
the Seahwaksā starting secondary played a total of 285 snaps during the preseason and got a grand total of zero penalties.
thats by design. the NFL is letting the seahawks get full of themselves through the preseason. Tonight will be different as you will see plenty of flags on that pedefense. i see Rodgers carving up that d for an easy win. 34 – 16
GO HAWKS!
I want to apologize in advance for the game tonight. It won’t be that exciting unless your a Seahawks fan. One sided victory by the hawks.
Russel Wilson, still the only QB to throw a game winning interception…
Or maybe somewhere in between. Whatever, just please refs, don’t pay too much attention to Sam Shields. And if the refs want to pay us back for their error two years ago, that would be fine. I am soooo ready for some football. Let the season begin!!!!
Packers fan here, but the Seahawks secondary are well-coached and I don’t expect to see too many PI flags, especially early. But then that’s not the NFL’s goal here, it’s to help out the passing game for everyone (well, everyone with a quarterback). If it works I’d expect to see something like this:
1st half: No PIs on the hawks (maybe one on Sam Shields though) but also more success by the Packers through the air than we saw against the hawks last year.
Late 1st or second half: If the hawks get down they find themselves in some trouble they’ll try to “tighten up” on defense and start to reverting to the way they have played the last several years, which is when we see some key PI calls against them.
If the Pack doesn’t get a lead we probably won’t see the latter, but I expect to see all passing teams have more success this year (against all defenses, not just the Seahawks), especially on the short out routes. Tonight won’t be about a rain of flags as much as it’ll be about whether the NFL is getting the offense/defense mix they want, for better or for worse.
Regardless, I expect it to be a great game and I can’t wait to watch it.
Seattle will soon know what the Super Bowl hangover is all about. 7-9
Lots of talk about flags being thrown on the defensive secondary, I’m much more interested to see how they call hands to the face on the OL and DL. That could be as much a factor as illegal contact, if not more.
I really don’t want to listen to Chris Collinsworth after midnight saying in his southern drawl “I don’t understand that call at all”. SMH
The uniformed still talk and write about this like its Seattle’s issue alone, where did the Packers rank as a pass defense last year? Do other teams in NFL have CB’s?
Seattle had 0 defensive holdings in the pre-season. Kris Richard has 3 All- Pros in his secondary. I sure watched the flags being thrown on other teams and it was pretty bad.
Let’s see, when the league made their pitch to the refs, regarding the emphasis on PI, they did not use one tape of the Seahawks defense. And during preseason, there were zero flags thrown on the LOB, so it looks like the Seahawks are ahead of the curve again. It seems that the rest of the league just keep playing catch up with the Hawks. We have the best and most talented secondary in the league. It’s the mediocre DBs that are going to have an issue with PI flags.
With the many lawyers who run the NFL, itās funny that they never seem to be too concerned about the appearance of impropriety. Altering the interpretation of your rules to prevent one team from winning just looks really, really bad.
The real test will be if NFL fans can tolerate a game kicking off at 8:30 at night lasting until after midnight on a weeknight due to a barrage of unwarranted penalties.
is your gonna complain about a game lasting until midnight, then stop watching and go to bed. the game starts at 830 pm. games last 3 to 3 1/2 hours. that equals midnight. some people complain about silly things.
In 2004 Peyton Manning (after another playoff flame-out) and Bill Polian (who was the chair of the competition committee at the time conflict of interest anyone?) whined and complained that the Patriots defensive backs were too “physical” and got the rules changed.
Now it’s 2014 and after Manning got humiliated in the Super Bowl by Seattle’s physical secondary the NFL decided to make “points of emphasis” and restrict the physical press coverage that Seattle has mastered.
Five head gets embarrassed and the rules change. Coincidence? I doubt it.
Just read GB plans on using 2 D lineman and 5 backers.
Harvin already having the impact I expected.
Lynch is going to run wild until GB adjusts. Expect Seattle to hold the ball much of the first half and to lead by 7-10 at halftime.
Expect GBs D to fall apart in the second half out of exhaustion as Wilson will carve them up.
Hawks gonna get ten sacks tonight
Lets not forget that the Packers have the worst o line in the league and they havenāt had a running game since WW ll. This one is gonna be a laugher!
It is easy to pick out those with a double digit IQ.
What’s the over/under?
Cant think of 2 teams I could care less about seeing in tonight’s opener…..
Why are only the Seattle fans complaining about enforcement of the holding rule?
I hope they DONT call a lot of pass interference calls.
And only because I hope Seattle actually plays clean now. Sherman got his payday from holding and pushing receivers in a way that refs wouldnt see as much, but now that they will be truly be watching, I hope he lays off and plays clean.
Lets see if Sherman really is as good as he thinks, and as good as Seattle fans say. Ive only seen him play a few times, and every time, his aggressiveness has been pointed out, so its hard for me to say one way or another.
I hope the “Legion of Boom” is as good as hyped playing within the rules. I look forward to tonights game, mostly because its actual football that really counts.
Seahawksā secondary will be tested by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers receivers.
The PI rules are there to generate a higher scoring game across the entire NFL. That said, it wouldn’t be a factor for Seattle, their secondary is that good.
Where the rules hurt certain teams the most are those without a strong Qb and weak WR’s, they can’t keep pace with the rest of the teams, Minnesota Vikings anyone?
The Seahawks D was not physical. It was a holding secondary. I am not mad at this, because these dudes was grabbing receivers by the waist and riding them last year. Great safeties but tonight they will still most likely win. But they will have to do it with coverage and not blatant holding.
These new rules are such a bummer. I LOVE great defense! It seems like every time there is a good defensive play it is immediately followed by flags now.
If I wanted to watch the NBA, I’d watch the NBA.
I’m all for making the game safer, but I’m not for making it impossible for CB’s and defenses to have any hope whatsoever.
Bummer…
Fingers crossed for a game with less penalties than we saw in the preseason.
You mean will be tested by the Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jarrett Boykin, Richard Rodgers, Devante Adams, Eddie Lacy and company…
Seahawks have a great D, but I’d love to have Richard Sherman have his trap shut up in this competition!
It’s not as if the officials are off the field when the Seahawks have the ball.
These “points of emphasis” cut both ways, and the Seahawks have the best deep passer in the league and speed to burn at receiver.
Have fun with that.
Over / under about 47.
Best GB spread +6; best Seattle spread -5.5.
So thumbs up if you’d take Seattle giving up 6.5; thumbs down if you’d take GB getting 6.5.
LOL at Seahawks paying Sherman like a legit top CB………… he is not, not even close if these rules are enforced… or if Thomas ever gets hurt
2 QBs threw for over 5k yds last year. The point of emphasis isn’t so offenses can throw more. The point of the emphasis is to enforce the rules.
“If you canāt beat āem, flag āem.”
Close… but it’s actually, if you can’t beat ’em, then push them, hold them and bump them…
I don’t know about this one! Not a packer fan at all but I would have to say if Russel Wilson can’t get going it’s gonna be pretty hard for the Hawks to keep up with Rogers, the only thing going for that terrible thing they call a team!
No it won’t, no matter how much you hope and pray that it does. It wasn’t in the preseason, it won’t be now.
I keep saying it: Brandon Browner is in New England now.
At the owner meeting we discussed and requested this officiating crew. Glad to see the NFL obliged with the most historic team in professional sports history!
Watch it be fourth and one a game winning drive fails and then a phantom call comes in for d holding. Revenge for the fail Mary.
Hopefully for HGH.
the only unit in football that gets away with more holding than the Seahawks Corners are New England’s O-line.
Was watching the NFL Channels top 100 plays of 2103 and couldn’t help but notice the choke hold the NE Tackle had with his right arm on the rushingDE on the season’s #1 play.
But I get why the refs missed it, it was only right at the point of attack and if they called it might mean NE doesn’t make the comeback.
Let’s see the Seahawks secondary play without cheating. That would be interesting.
According to MMQB, the first-team LOB had none of these penalties for the entire preseason – roughly 80+ snaps for each of Thomas, Chancellor, Sherman & Maxwell. None.
More flags and penalties? Here lays the beginning of the end.
So the officials will be calling fake penalties to determine the outcome of the game.
While I’m no particular fan of Carroll’s, UW fan here, it would be refreshing to hear/see something original from the haters.
When youre playing GB, expect the officials to test EVERY position, because all the calls are going to be against you. Gotta protect the Packers.
The cheating rule benders contenders,
It’ll be a close game, regardless who wins in the end. People (Seahawks fans) think it’ll be a blowout…. go figure. The Packers’ offense is just too good to let that happen. Not saying the Packers win, but it’ll be a good and close game.
Of course they will be flagged often…
These referees probably feel some need to compensate the Packers for the “fail mary” game…..
Just wait– These referees will have knowledgable fans (not the media) wondering what the difference is between replacement refs and the real ones…
It’s ALL about what “gray area” penalties get flagged… and which ones don’t.
As a Packer fan, I dont really care whether the officials call it tight or let em play – as long as they are consistent. My hope is that the Packers offense can test the Seahawks secondary and not the officials.
It is a bad sign for the other team when their hopes rest on how the officials disrupt the other team, rather than on their chances of outplaying that team straight-up.
I really do think people need to get off this “fake/phantom” penalty crap. I’ve watched enough football to witness the calls going BOTH ways, never favoring one team over another over the course of a game, nor ever seeing fake calls/no-calls being made to intentionally help one team. I suggest watching sports with an objective viewpoint, not allowing your bias to contaminate your vision of what you ACTUALLY see versus what you WANT to see. Don’t you think it’s funny how some fans always complain that certain calls are only made against their team? It’s the biasing effect taking place. Think about it.
Sometimes its just the stupid fans that seek the drama of conspiracy to fuel them from week to week. It’s like a lot of things in life.
Seahawks’ secondary will be just fine. They just took advantage of refs being afraid to blow the whistle everytime. Besides, Sherman will eat a bowlful of PED-flavored Chunky soup before the game and at halftime.
I really wanna see Lacy cut through a hole, pick up speed and meet up with Dick Sherman ten yards downfield.
We can then talk about “The Legion of getting-run-over-by-a-freight-train”
What no talk of officials on this one. Leave them off the field and just let them play. They didn’t do my Packers any favors the last time at Qwest field. Win or lose I am fine but I don’t want the officials involved in why its a win or not.
Seahawks. World Champs. At home. Full of confidence. Win by 20.
Illegal Defensive Contact and Holding has always been against the rules.
The Ref’s are just going to enforce it now.
Richard Sherman becomes an ordinary cornerback who cannot man cover.
They need to be tested by the DEA.
The real question to be asked here is why this new “emphasis” is even necessary.
If the refs had called these games correctly over the past couple of years, no new emphasis would be needed. If you have to throw the flag on every play to get the defense to stop, then do it.
For all the talk about the new D-holding emphasis, the Packers will have to make plays in the RUNNING GAME in order to have a shot at winning this game. They will need to value their possessions and make the most out of their opportunities to score points. I just don’t see that happening. Seattle will run the ball, and could have as much as a 7-10 minute time of possession advantage. Lynch, Wilson and company will eventually wear down what is already a lackluster Packers front line.
Did someone really call Russell Wilson the best deep passer in the league??? Wow – The Hawks are pretty good, but these fans are delusional! Congrats, you have a ring now. Join the club of teams that are legit contenders. I know its tough, but act like you’ve been here.
There are 20 QB’s in the league that could have won the SB last year with that team. Maybe more.
Sea 35 GB 14
GB’s defense is not much improved over the sieve that they were last year. Seattle’s offense is primed, and is better than last year.
Seattle’s offense >>>> GB Defense
GB Offense =< Sea Defense
Does any fan really believe you will see as much has four calls for any of the calls that were the emphasis of preseason.
How about the packers offensive line? they’re going to have to hold all night to slow down that pass rush, and the refs will probably let them get away with it as always.
Just remember, in green bay it’s called good blocking; in the rest of the league it’s called holding.
I hope Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ Offense shut Sherman’s mouth once and for all.
“the Seahawks have the best deep passer in the league”
———————
Wow. Seattle fans are so full of themselves they now think Russell Wilson suddenly has the best deep ball in the league? The QB lining up on the opposing team tonight might have something to say about that…
Nothing but pride and arrogance here in the Pac En-Dub. All citizens of the Emerald City will be cheering as Miss Rodgers and the Packers get pummeled senselessly for 3 straight hours. It’s hilarious that anyone even thinks this is a fair contest. I can’t wait to watch their smiles turn into frowns and tears. More delicious tears for me to enjoy.
#KissTheRing
#WorldChampionSeahawks
That picture is symbolic of the way the league had the refs not look at all the cheating the Seahawks did on defense last year.
Can’t wait to hear the Packers excuses after they lose tonight.
The same thing happened in 2002 when the Patriots beat the Colts. Ty Law and company were too “physical” and ruined an offensive or gym that the nfl wanted to see happen.
Everyone always talks about how old teams were so great. Never stopping to think that this is how football use to be played. It use to be that it wasn’t pass interference unless the ball was in the air.
Watching qb’s put 5000 yard seasons is cool and all, but I don’t want to see it if it means that defenses can’t put a hand on you. To me, watching the greatest statistical offense of all time getting shut down by fierce defense in the super bowl, was the most interesting super bowl in years.
I like watching the Hawks play defense. If you want to watch players run routes without getting touched, watch flag football or arena league. I want some pushing and shoving. I want to see people get knocked down. That’s why I watch nfl football.
It’s kind of the same matchup as the Super Bowl. Only…now Seattle is better and at home.
richcranium2112 says:
Sep 4, 2014 10:58 AM
You mean will be tested by the Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jarrett Boykin, Richard Rodgers, Devante Adams, Eddie Lacy and companyā¦
Seahawks have a great D, but Iād love to have Richard Sherman have his trap shut up in this competition!
They were already tested by Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Julius Thomas, Knowshon Moreno and company…
What was the result????
This is all so stupid. Now the refs are going to have to throw flags so they dont look bad, but they will throw flags that 30 yards away from the play just so there #s are up. They will enforce every flag that is thrown. Even the ones where was no foul, they will just have a little ref meeting for 5 mins and make one up. They will do this to both teams.
So now in this game if Seattle wins it will be because they cheated and the refs didnt do there job. If Green Bay wins it will be because the refs helped them.
I used to watch foot ball for the game and the talent of the players. Now I watch it to see if the refs can (or even if they really know how) to call it correctly.
This really no diffrent than a police cheif (name your town) telling traffic police thay need to write more tickets, and then you getting pulled over for speeding 1 mph over and the cop tells you are getting a ticket for 5mph over. Then you have to sign the ticket that you agree with the cop or if you refuse he will just take you to jail. so you sign the ticket (under duress) go to court and tell the judge that you were only going 1 mph over and the cop lied. All that does is piss the judge of and he fines you $500.00. You try to protest but the judge tells you to shut up or he will put you in jail for contempt.
Thank You Rodger
Randall “Tex” Cobb is going to fry the Seahawk defense tonight. He is a man of uncommon valor.
The NFL is simply reacting to the current trend just like they did with the Jimmy Graham rule.
When all is said and done, there will be Legions of Gloom exiting the stands tonight.
Rarely is a SuperBowl winning team better the following season, and this team is no exception. Once you’ve climbed the mountain, it is really easy to sit back and take in the view from atop for awhile. Complacency, etc.
The Packers on the other hand, have strategic players returned from injury and new players ready to contribute.
Let’s do it.
No Fail Mary, no win. Packers 33-Hawks 16
After the lunacy that went down in the last Packers-Seahawks game, the Packers deserve to have every call go in their favor tonight. Roger Goodell owes the Packers and us Packer fans big.
Super Bowl champions are 38-9-1 in week 1. But that doesn’t matter. Seattle is better than they were last year….and GB is built very similarly to Denver. …and we all know how that ended.
Dont forget that green bay has lost 10 straight road games decided by 3 points. Could get ugly quick!
usdcoyotesfan says:Sep 4, 2014 3:17 PM
After the lunacy that went down in the last Packers-Seahawks game, the Packers deserve to have every call go in their favor tonight. Roger Goodell owes the Packers and us Packer fans big
……
You clearly don’t remember the Packers were gifted their only td that game due to a phantom p.i.
You clearly don’t remember Rodgers getting sacked 8 times in the first half, and not once in the second half because of no holding calls.
Seattle had 2 calls go their way that game.
That’sthe “Fail Mary” game you’re talking about? Pretty lopsided view you have.
game altering calls went both ways dude.
fivechampionships says:
Sep 4, 2014 1:06 PM
“There are 20 QBās in the league that could have won the SB last year with that team. Maybe more.”
I don’t know about that. CK had one heck of a RB and an awesome Defense, and he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t even beat the Hawks to go to the SB, last year
Headline in the Green Bay Gazette tomorrow morning: Seattle didn’t beat us, we beat ourselves! The demise begins!
That Aaron Rogers guy will test the secondary too.
Packers are gonna get smoked tonight. The good news is the Packers have plenty of cheese to go with their whine
The Packers always play the Chickenhawks tough, and are 8-2 over the last ten games against them (should be 9-1, the amateur refs gifted them the last game). I expect no different tonight.
Bears fans got a good look in the first half of their preseason game with Seattle what the new offense looks like in seattle this year. Not many other fans have a clue what they look like yet.
You will get one tonight and you might be surprised…and then hate the Seahawks even more than you already do.
Lots of hate going on…starting to feel like I know what pats fans were going through ten years ago. After only one sb the hate and jealousy is so strong. I LOVE IT!
GO HAWKS!
hunst009 says:
Sep 4, 2014 10:14 AM
Russel Wilson, still the only QB to throw a game winning interceptionā¦
——————–
For his team, yes. As a Packer’s fan I watched Favre throw quite a few. š
Talk is cheap haters. To BE the CHAMPS you’ve got to BEAT the CHAMPS!
Enuf with envious talk because your team LOST last year.
Time to get this REPEAT started.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
Russell was a rookie when he threw the “Fail Mary” to BEAT gb.
He is much better now, as are the world Chas as a team.
Stop crying about something that happened two years ago. It matters not and you sound like whiner fans. You don’t want to sound like whiner fans.
gohawks7 says:
Sep 4, 2014 2:27 PM
They were already tested by Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Julius Thomas, Knowshon Moreno and companyā¦
What was the result????
—————————-
Aaron Rodgers is a mobile version of Peyton Manning with a significantly stronger arm. There are some pretty obvious differences everyone who says “they beat Peyton, how can anyone else challenge them” is overlooking.
this is laughable….the packers secondary grabs every receiver all the time…..that IS their defense….grabbing
Russell Wilson is indeed the best deep ball thrower in the nfl ,many pundits even those who hate in Russell admit this . Why you fools ask maybe a little to do with him having the second highest passer rating down field the best complete toon percentage the third most passes completed over 20 yards oh and HE DID THIS THROWING THE SECOND LEAST AMOUNT OF ATTEMPTS . Meaning if he had thrown it more he would have EASILY lead the league in deep ball passes.
If you don’t follow Seahawks football or players stop commenting on stuff you have no idea what your talking about. Your so worried about putting Wilson into the game manager mode you forget he’s had the best two years to start a season IN THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL better than ANY OTHER QB TO EVER PLAY FOOTBALL. Does he benefit from a strong D hell yeah but he wins games for Seattle and by years end will have shed the “games manager” title .
Russell Wilson is one of the best qbs in football considering what he’s does with what he’s had both opportunities and players missing .
Let’s not forget he did this missing both top wrs and 3-4 offensive linemen for over half the season. Your making excuses about him he is still productive missing that much if his team .
Seahawks 34-14 , won’t even be as close as the score ! Seahawks offense is LEGIT!
Seahawks CBs get away with murder every game. If they do start calling them, it will be a miracle.
Aaron Rodgers is a mobile version of Peyton Manning with a significantly stronger arm. There are some pretty obvious differences everyone who says āthey beat Peyton, how can anyone else challenge themā is overlooking.
And you forget that the last time GB visited Seattle – when Seattle wasn’t nearly as good and Wilson was playing his 3rd game ever in the NFL – the Packers managed a whopping 12 points.
I don’t think holding in the secondary will be the issue. More likely it will be how often they call offensive holding.
Parry historically calls a lot of holding, which can really make a game drag on.
Percy Harvin = Packers loss..you will see
Seattle fans are worse trailer trash than ‘Bama fans. Everyone knows by midseason the ones with the biggest mouths will hop on some other bandwagon.
Your favorite team (this week,) won a championship. YOU didn’t win a single thing except contempt. Go cheer some more injuries trailer trash.
Packer fans sound butt-hurt already. Just think how bad they will be at the end of the year!
Collinsworth: “No Fail Mary this time”
Green Bay fans can sit their carcasses down with their nonsense.
Not a single “LOB penalty” as you types like to call it, made all night.
gohawks7 says:
Sep 4, 2014 1:09 PM
Sea 35 GB 14
GBās defense is not much improved over the sieve that they were last year. Seattleās offense is primed, and is better than last year.
Seattleās offense >>>> GB Defense
GB Offense =< Sea Defense
———————————————
Go Hawks!
Maybe the officials need to test them cause the Packers sure didn’t.