NFL Playoffs: Each team's X-factor and red flag

NFL Playoffs: Each team’s X-factor and red flag

Dec 28, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (center) picks up his red flag on the field against the Buffalo Bills in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Buffalo Bills defeated the Patriots 17-9. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 4, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) shakes hands with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) following a 36-16 Seahawks victory at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Seahawks enjoy the best home field advantage in the NFL. How do the Packers break through?

Green Bay Packers X Factor

This team is loaded, pressuring opposing teams to keep up with an unrelenting offensive attack. Last week in their first playoff game, though, Green Bay beat Dallas with defense as much as their offense (the refs helped a little bit, too). The Packers held Dallas in check, both in the run game and the pass game.

Green Bay has 2 X Factors this week.

The first is their defense. DeMarco Murray had a solid performance against Green Bay last week, but was not able to take over the game. In the passing game, Tony Romo was held under 200 yards. Romo found his targets, going 15 for 19, but the secondary did a good job of keeping the receivers in front of them and avoiding the costly big plays. Seattle doesn’t field the formidable receiving corps that Dallas does, which could allow them to concentrate more on shutting down Beast Mode.

The second X Factor is Davante Adams. The rookie receiver has had an up and down season trying to find targets behind Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson. Against Dallas, Nelson was held to 2 catches on 5 targets. Adams was the difference, tying Cobb for the team lead in targets with 11. He led the team with 117 yards and a pivotal 46 yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter that helped Green Bay regain the momentum in the game.

Against Seattle’s tough secondary, Davante Adams will once again be called upon to provide an open target to exploit the underbelly of the Legion of Boom.

Green Bay Packers Red Flag

The last time the Packers were in Seattle, they went home with their tails between their legs and a 20 point loss in Week 1. Two weeks later, after a second loss in three weeks, Aaron Rodgers was telling the Cheeseheads to R-E-L-A-X.

Green Bay relaxed, let the season come to them, and subsequently ripped off 11 wins in their final 13 weeks.

Much of the early season issues centered around the running game and Eddie Lacey. When Lacey is shut down, Green Bay loses. If that happens this weekend, Aaron Rodgers will not be afforded the luxury of loosening up his injured calf before he’s called upon to save the day.

Next: Are the Seahawks a one year wonder?

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