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Seahawks Look Super in Season-Opening Beatdown of Packers

iIf anything, the Seattle Seahawks, defending Super Bowl champions, looked equally as strong opening the 2014 NFL season Thursday night as they did in ending the 2013 season, manhandling the Green Bay Packers 36-16.

And yet, if you ask the Seahawks, they were not that impressed with themselves.

“It wasn’t dominant at all. We have a lot of things to clean up,” cornerback Richard Sherman said afterwards. “We missed some opportunities on some turnovers. We missed some tackles on key drives we could have stopped; we had some key penalties. These are all things we need to clean up because we have a really high standard.”

The Packers had a high standard as well, but the team was unable to function at peak efficiency in a number of areas against Seattle. Green Bay did not contain quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. It did not hold down running back Marshawn Lynch, who went for 110 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. It did not have many explosive plays against the Seahawks’ stout defense. All-Pro Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 189 yards and was sacked three times.

“I think that you get wakeup calls and then you get drill-sergeant-kick-you-out-the-bed calls, and I think we just got kicked out the bed onto a cement floor, and it hurt,” Green Bay defensive lineman Mike Daniels said.

“Obviously, we were the more physical team today, offensively and defensively. I saw supposedly some of the best players in the league not want to tackle Marshawn Lynch,” Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett said. “Of course, nobody is going to say nothing about that, but I seen a lot of guys whiff on tackles that should have been 2-yard gains and they’re supposed to be the best.”

Seattle had 207 yards rushing as a team and won for the 18th time in its last 20 regular-season home games. Percy Harvin finished with 11 offensive touches, including four rushes for 41 yards and seven receptions for 59 yards.

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