The Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks will meet Sunday on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to determine which team advances to play in the NFC Championship Game next weekend.

Here are five things to watch and a prediction for Sunday’s playoff showdown:

1. Line ’em up

The intensity rises significantly in the postseason, and no place on the field is the escalation felt more than the line of scrimmage. The Seahawks understand that shift after going into Philadelphia and beating the Eagles last Sunday, but the Packers are better up front on both sides of the ball and should eventually control the line of scrimmage. In particular, the Packers’ top-ranked pass-blocking offensive line should have a massive advantage over the Seahawks’ pass-rushers, and Za’Darius Smith and Kenny Clark – who combined for over 150 total pressures in 2019 – could feast against an undermanned offensive line, especially inside against Seattle’s lumbering guards and undersized center Joey Hunt. The Packers can win this game at the line of scrimmage.

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2. King vs. Metcalf

This could be the matchup of the game. The Seahawks will need explosive plays to win, and no player is providing more big plays for the Seahawks offense than rookie receiver D.K. Metcalf. He’s a massive receiver (6-4, 229) with incredible speed and strength, but the Packers have a potential counter in Kevin King, who brings his own unique blend of size (6-3, 200), speed and leaping ability to the table. King has played his best football lately while being more aggressive at the line of scrimmage. He’ll need to mix up looks and coverages against Metcalf, who produced 160 yards and a game-changing touchdown last week. If King can neutralize Metcalf, the Packers will likely make the Seahawks need long, mistake-free drives to score.

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3. Feed the Beast

The Packers love backup running back Jamaal Williams, who will return after missing Week 17 with a shoulder injury. But now is the time to feature Aaron Jones as the centerpiece of the offense, especially against a Seahawks defense that has really struggled against running backs this season. In Week 16, Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake ran for over 160 yards and a touchdown by slashing his way through the Seattle defense. Jones can do the same and more, especially if the Packers use pre-snap motion to keep Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright honest. And don’t forget: Jones caught a touchdown pass and was effective as an underneath receiver last year in Seattle. This is a game he could dominate.

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4. Focus on third down

Third down could be a deciding factor. The Seahawks have been terrific lately, converting eight third downs against the 49ers in Week 17 and eight more against the Eagles last Sunday. Both are top-five defenses on third down. Wilson, who was responsible for all 16 first downs, does his best improvisational work when the stakes are high, and his magic acts often result in big plays. However, the Packers gave up first downs on just 34.5 percent of third downs over the final five games of the regular season, which ranked as the sixth-best mark in the league. Mike Pettine’s defense needs to create pocket disruption, limit Wilson’s running lanes and cover downfield even if the original play breaks down.

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5. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers

This Packers team can win in multiple ways, but arguably no one thing is more important to Matt LaFleur’s club than taking the ball away. The Packers were 12-0 when securing at least one takeaway in 2019 and 1-3 without one. Often this season, the turnovers have arrived at pivotal times in games. A top pass-rushing front and an opportunistic secondary led to 17 interceptions, the third-most in the NFL. They’ve even taken the ball away in the red zone. If the Packers can keep Wilson under constant pressure and speed up his playclock, there will be takeaway opportunities. And don’t forget about Seattle’s defense, which produced nine games with two or more takeaways and finished third overall in turnovers (32). The final turnover differential could tell the story of Sunday night.

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Prediction: Packers 27, Seahawks 17 (12-4)

An initial reading of the matchup pointed to another close game. A deeper evaluation of the Seahawks revealed a flawed team that could struggle to match up with the Packers on both sides of the ball. Unless Russell Wilson can pour on the big plays, the Packers have a chance to roll over their visitors by dominating the line of scrimmage, feeding Aaron Jones in multiple ways and creating one or two crucial takeaways. Wilson is a magician capable of saving the Seahawks, but a big Packers win is certainly possible.

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