Packers–Seahawks rivalry

The Packers–Seahawks rivalry is an American football rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks. The Packers entered the National Football League (NFL) in 1921 and saw significant periods of sustained success under Curly Lambeau in the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in the 1960s under Vince Lombardi. However, the Packers entered the 1970s in a sustained slump. They only made the playoffs once from 1968 to 1975. The Seahawks entered the NFL in 1976 as part of an agreement to expand the league after the AFL–NFL merger. The Packers and Seahawks played their first game during the 1976 NFL season, with the Packers winning 27–20 at Milwaukee County Stadium. During the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, the two teams only played each other intermittently, as they were in different conferences. However, this changed in 2002 when the Seahawks were moved from the American Football Conference (AFC) to the National Football Conference (NFC). Teams playing in the same conference compete against each other in the regular season at least every three years and may meet more often if they share common positions in their respective division or are paired in the playoffs.

The rivalry between the two teams grew stronger after they became NFC foes. They met for the first time in the playoffs during the 2003 NFL season, an overtime 33–27 Packers' victory that occurred after Seahawks' quarterback Matt Hasselbeck exclaimed over the referee's microphone "We want the ball and we're going to score!" after winning the overtime coin toss. Both teams maintained consistent success throughout the 2000s, 2010s and into the 2020s, with the Packers winning Super Bowl XLV and the Seahawks winning Super Bowl XLVIII. They each sustained high-quality quarterback play as well, with Brett Favre and then Aaron Rodgers leading the Packers, and Hasselbeck and then Russell Wilson leading the Seahawks. The teams met in the playoffs three more times during this era, with the Packers winning two. The lone Seahawks' postseason victory was the 2014 NFC Championship Game, in which Seattle won after an improbable comeback in the fourth quarter. The rivalry has been defined by these high-profile postseason games, as well as some controversy. In 2012, the teams competed in what became known as the Fail Mary game. With replacement officials refereeing the game due to the 2012 NFL referee lockout, the Packers controversially lost on a walk-off Hail Mary pass by Russell Wilson. The ensuing controversy may have led to the end of the lockout and the return of the referees. As of the 2024 NFL season, the Packers lead the overall series 16–9, including winning three of four postseason games. The Packers and Seahawks most recent game was on December 15, 2024, with the Packers winning 30–13.