Posted January 7, 2008
Packers vs. Seahawks: 'The most unique situation'
By Tom Pelissero
The reminders are everywhere for Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy.
On TV, where on Saturday he watched a former Packers quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, help the Seattle Seahawks earn a trip to Green Bay for the divisional playoffs.
In the meeting room, where General Manager Ted Thompson provided insight Sunday on the Seahawks roster he helped compile as vice president of football operations from 2000 to 2004.
Most notable, a block southeast of Lambeau Field, where a street bears the name of the Seattle Seahawks coach who led the Packers to a championship in 1996.
"Unusual?" McCarthy repeated Sunday, when asked about facing the coach whose name appears at intersections with Brett Favre Pass and Lombardi Avenue. "I think it's probably the most unique situation in pro football. I don't know if anybody else has had to do that. I haven't thought about it.
"Maybe I'll stay off Holmgren Way for a while, for at least the week."
There are several notable connections between two organizations irrevocably linked when Holmgren left the Packers to become the Seahawks' coach and general manager after the 1998 season. The move came less than one year after Holmgren coached Green Bay in the second of back-to-back Super Bowl appearances.
The teams have met twice in McCarthy's two-season tenure as Packers coach — on Nov. 27, 2006, in Seattle and in a preseason game Aug. 18 at Lambeau.
But this game carries far more weight, because of its playoff and anecdotal implications: the local legend facing the man with a chance to become one, the past meeting the present and future with a trip to the NFC championship game at stake.
"I look at it more as our football team versus his football team," McCarthy said. "Mike Holmgren calls plays for their offense, and I call the plays for our offense. So, as far as going up chess match-wise, that's really — there's not as much of that actually in the game. But as far as the week, preparation, getting your team ready to play, that's all part of it.
"I think anytime you have an opportunity to compete in the playoffs against a coach of his stature, it's something you really look forward to."
Knowing his second-seeded Packers had the greatest chance of facing the third-seeded Seahawks, McCarthy exclusively watched tape of Seattle last week, letting other assistants handle advance work on Tampa Bay and the New York Giants. In addition to regular-season game tapes, McCarthy reviewed last season's 34-24 loss at a snowy Qwest Field and the first quarter of the Packers' 48-13 exhibition rout this past summer — a game preceded by a visit to Lambeau from Holmgren, who spent some time with McCarthy and old friends in the organization after checking out the stadium's renovations.
McCarthy watched Seattle's 35-14 win over the Washington Redskins on Saturday as well, alone at Lambeau. On Sunday, he praised everyone from Hasselbeck and Holmgren to running back Shaun Alexander, defensive end Patrick Kerney and receiver/returner Nate Burleson.
Both teams' offenses favor the pass. Both defenses are above average in yards allowed. Both teams will be playing for a likely matchup with the top-seeded Dallas Cowboys in Irving, Texas.
"I think it will be an excellent matchup," McCarthy said.
Addressing reporters in Seattle after Saturday's win, Holmgren made the first of what he expects to be many acknowledgements of his successful tenure in the town he left nine years ago Tuesday. He left with a Super Bowl ring, two NFC titles and a .667 winning percentage (84-42) over seven seasons that is second in franchise history only to Vince Lombardi's .758 (98-30-4).
FULL STORY
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Packers vs. Seahawks: 'The most unique situation'
Packers vs. Seahawks: 'The most unique situation'
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