The hill was too high to climb. Despite late opportunities to get back into the game through halftime defensive adjustments, Seattle’s mistakes were too costly against a defense that came into the game with the fifth-most takeaways in the league.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes and running back Josh Jacobs totaled 136 scrimmage yards with 30 touchdowns.

Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (10 catches, 83 yards) and running back Zach Charbonnet (8 carries, 54 yards, TD) were the Seahawks’ only offensive bright spots.

The Packers scored on all four drives in the first half. Seattle was fortunate not to trail by nearly 30 points after two quarters.

Green Bay opened the game by serving Jacobs, who touched the ball 9 of 10 plays and scored 44 yards and a touchdown on the game’s first drive. That set the tone that lasted until halftime.

The Seahawks were down 14-0 before the first quarter ended with another long drive by the Packers. Seattle’s first two drives ended with sacks by Smith on third-and-short situations.

However, Jason Myers gave the Seahawks the lead on their second possession with a 49-yard field goal.

Love and wide receiver Romeo Doubs nearly increased their lead to 18 early in the second quarter and were inches away from scoring on a 20-yard touchdown with 9:21 left in the half, but they weren’t on the same page. Green Bay still got three points.

As Seattle’s offense prepared for its third drive of the game, starting center Olu Oluwatimi was not there. He was listed as doubtful due to a knee injury and did not return. Undrafted rookie Jalen Sundell finished the game at center.

In response, the Seahawks’ offense put together its longest drive of the first half, but it was all pointless when Smith threw his fourth red zone interception of the season – the most in the NFL – while also throwing tight end Noah Fant in the Targeted the end zone. Green Bay cornerback Carrington Valentine made the first pick of his career.

An offside penalty against Seahawks defensive player Leonard Williams and pass interference by cornerback Riq Woolen aided the Packers’ subsequent attack, which began with just under three minutes left in the half.

Woolen, who already had a rough start to the game as he took penalties and allowed several downfield catches, handed the ball to Green Bay at Seattle’s 3-yard line. Another field goal at halftime made the score 20-3.

After Williams forced the night’s first three-pointer with a tackle early in the third quarter, Smith and the Seahawks got the ball back at the Green Bay 46-yard line. Two plays later, Smith was injured trying to get the ball out in the face of two free rushers.

Any wind that caught the Seahawks’ sails was neutralized. Backup quarterback Sam Howell completed a pass for a 2-yard loss and then threw an incompletion, forcing Myers to make another field goal.

Smith did not return to the game. The Packers took a 23-6 lead despite improved resistance from the Seattle defense, while the Seahawks’ offense remained anemic.

Two more three-and-outs by the Packers and a Jacobs fumble forced by Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV kept things interesting.

Safety Julian Love recovered the fumble. Five plays later, Charbonnet broke out for a 24-yard touchdown run with 11 minutes to play, following blocks from Sundell and right guard Sataoa Laumea before exiting toward the sideline and reaching the end zone.

The Seahawks were now down 23-13 and still had some life. That spark was quickly extinguished when Howell threw a pass directly to the Packers’ Cooper in coverage and Doubs caught his second touchdown of the day three plays later, bringing the game back to three points.

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald gave a somewhat encouraging update on Smith’s knee injury, stating: “Structurally it looks like it’s OK, but we’re going to get it photographed and all that stuff.” They still know very little, so he may not be able to play against a hot Minnesota Vikings team in Week 16.

Howell completed 5 of 14 passes for 24 yards and a pick in Smith’s place. The completed interception and the near-interception Howell threw each came directly at the Packers’ defenders.

It’s not easy to come off the bench and change a game, but it would be difficult to be sure about Seattle’s offense next week if Smith can’t return to the lineup. The offensive line, which allowed a season-high seven sacks for the third time this season, does not offer greater security.

Oluwatimi’s injury doesn’t help the Seahawks either. He has been a stabilizing force since Connor Williams’ retirement during the bye week. Sundell held his own, but it’s still another loss.

With the loss, Seattle lost its lead over first place in the division. The Los Angeles Rams (8-6) are in the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating the Seahawks 26-20 in Week 9.

Still, the Seahawks control their own destiny. They play the Rams again to close out the season in Week 17 in a game that could decide which team goes to the postseason. However, to ensure this game means something, Seattle must first win the next three games to compete.

Seattle (8-6) stays at home and hosts the Minnesota Vikings (11-2) at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22nd at 1:05 p.m. It will be the Seahawks’ final home game of the season.