NFL

Five takeaways from lopsided Seahawks-Packers opener

The Seahawks’ Super Bowl repeat bid went off in roaring fashion Thursday night with a 36-16 romp over the Packers in the din of CenturyLink Field.

Green Bay, which won the Super Bowl after the 2011 season, was a trendy pick to regain the upper hand in the NFC — for a night at least, that seemed like a foolish notion.

Here are five takeaways from the NFL season opener:

1. Is Seattle’s offense getting better?

Percy Harvin had 100 combined yards rushing and receiving — on a kaleidoscope of 11 offensive touches. Harvin’s Swiss Army knife skill set was on display: He was used on quick screens, fly sweeps, in traditional wide receiver patterns and he even lined up next to Wilson as a running back. He finished with seven receptions for 59 yards and four rushes for 41.

“We had a ton of different ways to show how we’re fitting him together in the offense,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “There’s a bunch of other stuff that we’ll do, but he’s such an explosive athlete and so tough.”

2. Eddie Lacy’s concussion could benefit the Jets

The second-year Packers running back was held to 34 yards rushing on 12 carries — and that includes one 15-yard saunter — before leaving in the fourth quarter with a concussion. The head injury puts his status in doubt for a Week 2 clash against the Jets. If he misses the game against Gang Green, all the more reason for Aaron Rodgers to air it out against the Jets’ suspect cornerbacks.

3. It’s not easy playing 10-on-10

Not one pass was thrown Richard Sherman’s way Thursday night.AP

Aaron Rodgers struggled as the Packers were held to 255 total yards, the third-fewest for Green Bay since the start of the 2012 season, and one major reason was the real estate crunch created by shutdown corner Richard Sherman. Rodgers was 23 of 33 for 189 yards and was isolated to one side of the field. He looked almost exclusively for Jordy Nelson matched up against Byron Maxwell and NEVER threw in Sherman’s direction. Not once.

4. Marshawn Lynch: still incredibly difficult to tackle

Lynch ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns (on 20 carries, or 5.5 yards per try). His 20th 100-yard game since the start of the 2011 season is the most of any running back in the NFL. The Packers were even accused of being a bit shy against the man known as Beast Mode.

“I saw supposedly some of the best players in the league not want to tackle Marshawn Lynch,” Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett said. “Of course nobody is going to say nothing about that, but I seen a lot of guys whiff on tackles that should have been 2-yard gains and they’re supposed to be the best.”

5. Maybe Aaron Rodgers should get used to fearing for his safety

Yes, this came against the fearsome Seattle front, but the Packers offensive line is evidently not in great shape. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga went out with a knee injury in the second quarter — a common occurrence for the fifth-year pro — and backup Derek Sherrod was picked on in the second half. First-string center J.C. Tretter is on short-term injured reserve — consider it a win that fill-in Corey Linsley only got bawled out once by Rodgers for dawdling on a snap.

With AP