What do you get when you reintroduce Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson on the same Sunday, for a head-to-head showdown with major playoff implications? Maybe the best game of the week! The Packers are expected to welcome back Rodgers after the reigning MVP missed Week 9 due to COVID, while Wilson is slated to go for the Seahawks after a three-game absence due to injury. And both star quarterbacks are eager, if not desperate, to get their teams on the right track. Green Bay is fresh off a close loss to the Chiefs and looking to stay in the hunt for the NFC's No. 1 seed, while Seattle is looking up at both the Cardinals and the Rams in the NFC West.
Will Rodgers' return reignite the Packers' offense, especially against the Seahawks' vulnerable defense? Or is Russ an even bigger X factor here, destined to steal a road win and catapult Seattle back into serious contention? Either way, this one's going to be good.
We've got you covered below with a betting preview of the matchup, complete with an updated point spread, line movement, player props and best bets:
How to watchDate: Sunday, Nov. 14 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: Packers -3.5, O/U 49.5
Latest Odds: Green Bay Packers -3.5
The Packers opened as 5-point favorites in this matchup on Nov. 2, right before Rodgers landed on COVID reserve and missed Green Bay's Week 9 showdown with the Chiefs. They actually jumped to 5.5-point favorites on Sunday, during Jordan Love's first career start, with Rodgers by that point expected to return for Week 10. The ensuing days saw Green Bay's advantage dip, and the Packers entered the weekend as 3.5-point favorites over Seattle, with Wilson officially returning to practice.
Betting trends The Packers are 8-1 against the spread this year, and 4-1 when favored by 3+ points Packers games have gone Over just twice in nine weeks this season The Seahawks are 5-3 against the spread this year, and 2-0 ATS when underdogs by 3+ points The Packers are 3-0 at home, both straight-up and against the spread The Seahawks are 2-2 on the road, but 3-1 ATS on the road Props to considerAaron Jones total rushing yards O/U 59.5
Jones hasn't eclipsed 59 yards on the ground in three weeks, topping 60 just four times in nine weeks, but Matt LaFleur will probably be determined to reestablish the run game after the way Week 9 started against the Chiefs. It helps that Seattle has been vulnerable on the ground, and that LaFleur will want to lessen the burden on Rodgers upon his return.
DK Metcalf total receiving yards O/U 70.5
Metcalf was limited to 43 against the Jaguars before Seattle's bye, but that was with Geno Smith at QB. Russ will be eager to reestablish his connection with the big man, especially with the Packers battling several injuries at cornerback.
PredictionWilson would love nothing more than to save the Seahawks' season upon return, like Superman swooping in at the last minute. And if both he and Chris Carson are back with relatively no limitations, Seattle will definitely keep this close. Tyler Lockett and Metcalf, for example, should help free each other up against a nicked-up Packers secondary.
But unless Rodgers is severely limited from lingering COVID effects -- or, worse, a surprise deactivation that puts Love back under center -- too many other factors work in Green Bay's favor. Lambeau Field has been kind to the Packers, and better yet, Seattle's "D" has been extremely vulnerable against both the run and the pass. LaFleur will look to get Aaron Jones involved early, helping keep the home team in control.
In the
