Tex's Christmas Preview - Seahawks

For those of you celebrating Christmas, I hope today finds you enjoying the company of friends and family. For those of you celebrating something else, I wish you the same this holiday season. 

Now that I have the political correctness out of the way, I'd like to explain that I got one of the best Christmas presents that I have received in quite a while: the opportunity to attend a game at Lambeau with three of my friends from Madison. You will be able to find us in the parking lots early Sunday morning pounding back Miller Lites, Old-Fashioneds, and bratwurst before watching our Packers take on (and hopefully demolish) the Seattle Seahawks. 

Now, this will be my fourth Packer game of my life, and the first since 2004, my senior year of high school. Needless to say, this will be a vastly different experience from my previous games, both due to significant roster changes over the past five years and the fact that I can legally purchase and drink the aforementioned alcoholic beverages. I feel confident that the Packers, fighting for a playoff spot, will dispatch the Seahawks handily, so here are a few things I'm looking forward to on Sunday.

1. Charles Woodson

No, I will not cease my man-crush on Woodson. Since I have not watched Chuck play in person, I want to see if he looks as impressive from within the stadium as he does on television. I would compare this to when I saw Steve Yzerman live in person for the first time at a Red Wings-Blackhawks game in 2002--watching the smartest player in the game is an impressive sight no matter the sport. Similarly to Woodson, Stevie Y got by on talent alone for many years before, later in his career, maturing and becoming the smartest, most prepared player in every game he played. Woodson should be the defensive POY, and you don't get that many opportunities to be in the same stadium as someone with his playmaking ability.

2. Winter in Lambeau

As I mentioned earlier, this will be my fourth game at Lambeau. Two of those games were early-season games in September, and while they were a great time, they couldn't remotely compare to the one game I attended in 5-degree temperatures and a driving snowstorm. (Remember the game in 2004 when the Packers held Joey Harrington and the Lions to 47 passing yards? I do. I was there.) Looking back, it just felt different. The atmosphere was more fun, the cold brought people together, and we got to see good, old-fashioned, outdoor Midwestern football. Right now, we're looking at mid-20's for the temperature and about a 50% chance of snow showers during the game, which is great. But Mother Nature, all I want for Christmas is a snowstorm in northeastern Wisconsin on Sunday. Please?

3.  Aaron Rodgers

The last time I attended a Packers game, Aaron Rodgers was in Berkeley, preparing to face Texas Tech in the 2004 Holiday Bowl. I'm excited to finally see Rodgers throw the ball live instead of watching through a television feed, much like I pumped about seeing Woodson. Combine that with Seattle's 29th ranked pass defense, and that says to me that I will be thoroughly entertained by watching the Packers' passing game on Sunday.

So if you're tailgating around Lambeau Field on Sunday see a 22-year old bearded guy wearing a green 1996 Don Beebe jersey, please invite him over for a beer and a brat. I promise you that he'll appreciate it.