Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Seahawks at Packers

We apologize for the delay in updating the blog. Life gets in the way of football sometimes, unfortunately, and the time for quality pursuits is just not available. We wanted to put up a post with photos from the Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers game on Friday night, August 23rd, so here it is. Above, tailgating is in full force a couple of hours before the game.

Gates open two hours before kickoff, and we like to go in and wander around and avoid the later crush of the crowds. Here, Lambeau starts to buzz with action as players do their initial individual warm-ups and the sidelines are being set-up. It was a beautiful night for preseason football, or any football for that matter.

A shot along the Packers sideline area during pre-game. It’s amazing how many people who don’t belong there (and probably don’t appreciate the opportunity) are milling about. It’s all about who you know who does business with the Packers to get the sideline passes.

When we were up for Training Camp, we posted the photo which showed that the old Greg Jennings ads were still hanging. They have all since been replaced with brand new Clay Matthews ads.

Lambeau bratwurst.

We still get tingly when we walk out and see the field for the first time upon each visit. We’re thankful that we get the opportunity, and don’t take it for granted.

The view from the upper north end zone as things are ramping up for game time.

The instant replay “booth” is checked prior to the game to make sure that if needed, it will take as long as possible and disrupt the flow of the game as much as can be expected.

Plenty of tape to go around on the Packers’ sideline.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Since it was the annual “Midwest Shrine Game,” Packers President Mark Murphy presented them with a giant check in this photo opportunity.

Above and below, two Packers who warmed up but did not suit up for the game, WR’s Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson.

QB Graham Harrell, Nelson, and Cobb joke around with former Green Bay WR Brett Swain.

LB Clay Matthews warms up amongst his teammates, much to the delight of the crowd gathered in the south end zone.

We’ve never seen this before. The CBS cameraman has a cheat sheet of Packers’ players taped to his camera, purportedly to help him pick out certain individuals on the sideline.

“Gold” ticket package fans get their first look at the field from their new seats up in the stratosphere.

From left to right (not including the guy in the foreground) are GM Ted Thompson, Seahawk’s coach Pete Carroll, and Packers’ Head Coach Mike McCarthy.

Seattle team huddle during warm-ups before the game.

QB Aaron Rodgers warming up with WR’s and QB Vince Young (#13).

Packers team huddle before the game.

Seattle works through some plays during warm-ups.

It was a CBS national broadcast, and here we see the television broadcast booth. Phil Simms can be see at center in dark suit and tie.

Your 2013 Green Bay Packers are introduced as a group, coming out of the tunnel. The individual starting player introductions (alternating offense and defense for each game) don’t happen in the preseason.

The game gets underway.

Seattle QB Russell Wilson works under center.

Packers on defense.

The first-string defense awaits the Seahawks at the line of scrimmage.

Seattle K Steven Hauschka kicks a field goal.

QB Aaron Rodgers leads the Packers’ offense on his only drive of the evening. Usually, the starters play into the third quarter in the third preseason game, but Rodgers was pulled early. Some fans were not happy with this decision.

Making some adjustments at the line of scrimmage.

Rodgers gets a throw off for a completion.

Handing off to RB DuJuan Harris for a few yards.

K Mason Crosby ties the game at 3-3.

Mike McCarthy watches his team from the sideline.

Seattle RB Robert Turbin takes the handoff from Wilson.

Wilson gets a throw off.

Graham Harrell came in to play a large chunk of the first half and into the second half.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll intensely watches his team’s execution.

There was plenty of pushing and skirmishing through the whole game. These teams don’t like each other. I wonder if it has anything to do with the game played on September 24, 2012?

At halftime, local youth football league teams got to run some plays on Lambeau Field, and more importantly, do some “Lambeau Leaps.”

Also new this year are the little scoreboards on the upper east and west sides of the suites/press box. This makes it easier for a large majority of the stadium to see the clock, etc. without craning their necks to the giant scoreboards at the north and south ends.

In the second half, QB Vince Young comes in to lead the team to their only TD of the evening. It was also the only TD scored at Lambeau in the preseason this year.

Young in the shotgun formation.

Young’s ability to run secured first downs which kept the scoring drive alive.

Fourth-string QB B.J. Coleman (#9) came in to finish up the game.

P Tim Masthay gets his kicks in as well in the preseason.

Coleman in the huddle. Where he stacks up after the release of QB Graham Harrell is uncertain at this point.

The final score. We attended two preseason games this year, and the Packers managed only 10 points between them. It‘s a good thing none of this counts.

Like last time, this was our final late night look at Lambeau. We’ll be back for the September 8th Noon home opener against the Washington Redskins.

We’ll leave you with the game program cover for the Seattle game.