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The 2019 National Football Conference (NFC) Divisional playoff game was a National Football League (NFL) playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers on January 12, 2020. The Packers finished the 2019 season with a record of 13–3 under first-year head coach Matt Lafleur. Their record, after tiebreakers were calculated, was good enough for the 2nd seed of the playoffs and a first-round bye. The Seahawks finished the season 11–5 and the fifth seed in the playoffs. The Seahawks beat the Philadelphia Eagles 17–9 in the Wild Card round to earn the right to play the Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in the Divisional round. The Packers built a 21–3 lead going into halftime, however the Seahawks finished the game on a 20–7 scoring run. After their last touchdown, the Seahawks attempted a two-point conversion to try to close the deficit to three points but Marshawn Lynch was stopped short. Both teams exchanged punts before the Packers were able to run out the rest of the game clock for the victory. The Packers advanced to the NFC Championship Game where they lost 37–20 to the San Francisco 49ers. The game is an important part of the Packers–Seahawks rivalry.
Head coach Mike McCarthy was fired during the previous season after missing the playoffs in 2017 and leading the team to a 4–7–1 in 2018. Joe Philbin took on interim head coaching duties and the Packers missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2005 and 2006. After the season, the Packers hired Brian Gutekunst as the team's new general manager and Matt LaFleur as the new head coach. LaFleur led a resurgence in the career of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, leading the team to a record of 13–3, an NFC North title and good enough for the second seed in the playoffs. The San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints also finished with 13–3 records; San Francisco beat the Packers and Saints in the regular season, giving them the first seed in the playoffs, while the Packers got the second seed over the Saints based on having a better conference record.
The Seattle Seahawks continued their steady form under head coach Pete Carroll, going 11–5 during the 2019 season, good enough for second in the NFC West and the fifth seed in the playoffs. The Seahawks started the season 10–2 before going 1–3 over their last four games. The Seahawks also went 10–2 in games decided by one score or less, but only achieved a point differential for the season of +7. Marshawn Lynch returned to the Seahawks prior to the last game of the regular season, after the team lost three running backs to injury. Lynch had retired in 2016 from the Seahawks, missed the 2016 NFL season, came out of retirement to play for the Las Vegas Raiders for two seasons and then retired again, missing most of the 2019 season before signing with the Seahawks. The Seahawks met the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round where they won 17–9. Their victory meant they would travel to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to play the Packers in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The Packers were favored to win the game, which was to become the sixth straight season the teams played each other.
Game summary
Lambeau Field, shown here in 2013, was the site of the playoff game between the Seahawks and Packers.
First half
The Packers took an early 7–0 on their first drive of the game, going 75 yards in 8 plays. The drive ended in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams. The Seahawks and Packers then exchanged two punts each before the Seahawks took a short drive for their first points of the game. Jason Myers kicked a 45-yard field goal to bring the score to 7–3. The Packers engineered another 75-yard drive, this time in 9 plays, that ended in a 1-yard touchdown run by Aaron Jones. Down 14–3, the Seahawks responded with a 50-yard drive, although Myers missed a 50-yard field goal attempt wide right. The Packers quickly turned around and drove down the field, with Jones scoring another one-yard touchdown run to give the Packers a 21–3 lead with just over a minute left in the first half. After the kick-of, the Seahawks drove to mid-field before the half ended.
Second half
The Seahawks started the second half with the ball and drove down 69 yards in 10 days, with Lynch scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 21−10. The Packers responded quickly, going 75 yards in 5 plays. Rodgers connected with Adams for their second touchdown pass, this time from 40 yards out, to increase the Packers lead to 28−10. The Seahawks got the ball back and engineered a long scoring drive, going 84 yards in 12 plays. After scrambling for a first down, Russell Wilson threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett from seven yards out. With a 28−17 lead, the Packers got the ball back and went three-and-out, punting the ball back to the Seahawks. The Seahawks responded with another scoring drive, this one for 79 yards. Lynch scored his second rushing touchdown of the game, again from one-yard out. The Seahawks attempted a two-point conversion, which would have brought the score to within three points, but Wilson was sacked on the attempt. The Packers got the ball back with just under 10 minutes left in the game with a 28−23 lead. Although the Packers were able to run over four minutes off the clock on their drive, Rodgers took a sack on third down that forced a punt. On the ensuing drive, the Wilson connected with Lockett for 14 yards but then after an incomplete pass and a short rush, Wilson was sacked on third down, forcing a punt. The Packers got the ball with two-and-half minutes left in the game. The Packers converted on two third down plays, forcing the Seahawks to use all their timeouts. Rodgers knelt on three consecutive plays to run out the remainder of the game clock and secure the victory for the Packers.
Box score
Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Aaron Rodgers (left) and Davante Adams (right) combined for eight receptions, 160 yards and 2 touchdowns during the game.
Post-game analysis centered on individual performances during the game, including Rodgers, Adams and Preston Smith on the Packers and Wilson on the Seahawks. Adams had a productive game, capturing eight receptions and 160 yards, with two touchdowns. Smith recorded a crucial sack with just a few minutes left in the fourth quarter that forced a Seattle punt, which led to the Packers' final drive and victory. Rodgers performance was punctuated by his two completions on third down on the last drive of the game, which secured the Packers victory. From a defensive perspective, Smith's sack was reflective of the entire game, where the Packers forced Wilson out of the pocket and provided him little time for plays to develop. Wilson led the Seahawks in both passing yards and rushing yards, while also throwing a passing touchdown. Wilson's rushing ability and his success in coming-from-behind in the second half were praised. The Packers–Seahawks rivalry was discussed, with some sources noting past games between the two teams, including the 2014 NFC Championship Game. The loss contributed to the Seahawks losing streak at Lambeau Field to nine games.
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Aaron Rodgers (left) and Davante Adams (right) combined for eight receptions, 160 yards and 2 touchdowns during the game.