GREEN BAY, Wis. — For a team that just fell to 0-2 to start the season, the Seattle Seahawks sounded relatively upbeat.
Sure, they’re disappointed after losing 27-17 to the Green Bay Packers in a bruising, physical rematch of the NFC title game.
But this veteran crew has been through everything in winning back-to-back NFC titles and the Super Bowl two season ago. No need to start panicking now.
“We’re a veteran group, we’ve been here before,” cornerback Richard Sherman said. “We’ll be fine.”
Seattle is 0-2 for the first time since 2011. This season sure would go a lot smoother if they could just cut down on some mistakes.
NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers threw for two touchdowns and orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped by a 5-yard scoring pass to Richard Rodgers in the fourth quarter A 2-point conversion pass, also to Richard Rodgers, made it 24-17 with 9:28 left.
Jayrone Elliott made a lunging, one-handed interception of a short pass from Russell Wilson with 6:50 left, one of the rare mistakes in the second half for Seattle’s dual-threat quarterback. The Packers (2-0) cashed in with one of Mason Crosby’s four field goals on the night for a 10-point lead with 2 minutes remaining.
“Yeah, it was a heartbreaker, obviously,” Wilson said. “A guy made a phenomenal play again, a one-handed pick, I think.”
Wilson was 19 of 30 for 206 yards, while running for 78 yards on 10 carries.
The Packers defense held on when it mattered in the fourth quarter after giving up chunks of yardage earlier in the second half to the dual-threat quarterback.
The Seahawks’ last two series ended in turnovers. Besides Elliott’s pick, Micah Hyde recovered a fumble by Fred Jackson with 22 seconds left.
Rodgers took a knee on the next play to end the game. He finished 25 of 33 for 249 yards.
“The defense set the tempo early, particularly on the run defense and the two big (turnovers) at the end,” coach Mike McCarthy said.
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was held to 41 yards on 15 carries.
The Packers blew a 16-0 lead against the Seahawks in the NFC title game in January. They held on after giving up a 13-3 lead at halftime on Sunday.
“We’re 2-0. It was a great night here at Lambeau Field,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “You sleep better when you win.”
Rodgers connected with favorite target James Jones for a 29-yard touchdown pass on the game’s opening series. But the offense got bogged down or had to settle for field goals until the fourth quarter.
Rodgers was clutch against a defense missing safety Kam Chancellor, who is holding out for a new contract. Young players such as second-year tight end Richard Rodgers and rookie receiver Ty Montgomery had big plays. So did Elliott, a second-year backup linebacker.
Carroll thinks his team will rebound. They started 3-3 and 6-4 last year, but still returned to the Super Bowl.
“I think that’s a really good point, and we don’t talk really in that manner. But we were not right last year for some time, too,” Carroll said. “We just need to clean up our game and get right, and hopefully we can do that and get started.”
NOTES: Safety Steven Terrell had the only Seattle injury of note, with a hip flexor. Carroll said he did not know the severity of the injury. … Green Bay running back Eddie Lacy left the game in the first quarter with a right ankle injury. Backup James Starks kept Packers running game going with 95 yards on 20 carries. … With four field goals and an extra point, Packers kicker Mason Crosby set the franchise record with 1,057 career points.
