By Jim Owczarski Sports Editor Published Sep 04, 2014 at 1:07 PM

The 2014 season kicks off tonight as the Green Bay Packers travel to Seattle to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

Here is a look at the starters and key contributors on offense, defense and special teams (as well as Twitter handles).

OFFENSE

Jordy Nelson, WR
Stat: Set a career high in catches (85) and yards (1,314) last year.
Did you know?: Began his own foundation, the Nelson Family Community Foundation, this year.
Interact: @JordyRNelson

David Bakhtiari, LT
Stat: The Packers finished in the top 10 in the NFL in rushing in 2013.
Did you know?: Started all 16 games as a rookie, the first to do so in Green Bay since 1978.
Interact: @DBak69

Josh Sitton, LG
Stat: Has given up 10 sacks in five years.
Did you know?: Has taken up curling.
Interact: @jsitton71

Corey Linsley, C
Stat: As a senior helped Ohio State rank No. 5 in country in rushing.
Did you know?: Enjoyed the Harry Potter series.
Interact: @Linsley71

T.J. Lang, RG
Stat: His 47 starts in last three years tied for first on team.
Did you know?: Has played all five line positions in his career.

Bryan Bulaga, RT
Stat: Allowed just one sack in 2011.
Did you know?: Hasn’t played in an NFL regular season game since Week 9 of 2012.
Interact: @BBulaga

Andrew Quarless, TE
Stat: Had a career high 32 catches for 312 yards last year.
Did you know?: Is Penn State’s all-time tight ends reception leader.
Interact: @Quarless81

Randall Cobb, WR
Stat: Averaged 14 yards per catch last year.
Did you know?: Mint julep anyone? Has attended the Kentucky Derby each of the last four years.
Interact: @rcobb18

Aaron Rodgers, QB
Stat: Posted third highest rating of career (104.9) last year.
Did you know?: Did not lose a fumble last year.
Interact: @AaronRodgers12

Eddie Lacy, RB
Stat: Set team rookie record with 1,178 rush yards and 11 rush TDs.
Did you know?: Was a high school teammate of San Francisco safety Eric Reid.
Interact: @Lil_Eazy_Ana_42

Jarrett Boykin, WR
Stat: Was second on team in catches, yards and TDs over the final 11 games of the 2013 season.
Did you know?: Likes to draw in his free time.
Interact: @BoyKinHeCatch

DEFENSE

Datone Jones, DL
Stat: Had 3 ½ sacks last year.
Did you know?: Founded LACEDFACTS.com.
Interact: @IAM_Dat_One

Josh Boyd, DL
Stat: Had two tackles in the playoff loss to San Francisco.
Did you know?: Played with offensive lineman Derek Sherrod in college.
Interact: @StepStr8_97

Mike Daniels, DL
Stat: Had 6 ½ sacks last year.
Did you know?: Fan of Japanese anime manga comics.
Interact: @Mike_Daniels76

Clay Matthews, OLB
Stat: Recorded team high 7 ½ sacks despite playing in 11 games.
Did you know?: Had a brother (Casey) and two cousins (Jake and Kevin) play in the NFL last year.
Interact: @ClayMatthews52

A.J. Hawk, ILB
Stat: Is the Packers all-time leader in tackles with 1,025.
Did you know?: Given name Aaron James, called A.J. by his parents after race car driver A.J. Foyt.

Brad Jones, ILB
Stat: Had three sacks last year.
Did you know?: Likes to play the viola and learned how to surf.
Interact: @bejones00

Julius Peppers, OLB
Stat: Recorded 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception last year in Chicago.
Did you know?: Was named after Julius "Dr. J" Erving.

Tramon Williams, CB
Stat: Begins year on a streak of 50 straight starts.
Did you know?: Holds two degrees, one in sociology and one in computer information systems.
Interact: @HighRizer38

Sam Shields, CB
Stat: Tied a career high with 4 interceptions last year.
Did you know?: Has four interceptions in eight playoff games.
Interact: @ShieldSam37

Morgan Burnett, S
Stat: Led the team with three fumble recoveries.
Did you know?: Scored his first career touchdown last year.
Interact: @MoBetta_42

Micah Hyde, S
Stat: Ranked fifth in NFL with a 12.3 average on punt returns.
Did you know?: Considers former Marquette star Dwyane Wade his favorite athlete.
Interact: @micah_hyde

SPECIALISTS

Mason Crosby, K
Stat: Second in Packers history in total points scored.
Did you know?: Once speared a 35-inch grouper.
Interact: @crosbykicks2

Tim Masthay, P
Stat: Averaged career high 39 net yards per punt last year.
Did you know?: Currently working on his master’s degree through Ohio University.
Interact: @TimMasthay

Brett Goode, long snapper
Stat: Has appeared in every Packers game since 2008.
Did you know?: His last name is pronounced "Gewd."
Interact: @BGoode61

OTHERS TO WATCH

Richard Rodgers, TE
Stat: As a receiver last year at Cal, caught 39 passes.
Did you know?: Is cousins with New Orleans safety Jarius Byrd.

Casey Hayward, CB
Stat: Had six interceptions in 2012.
Did you know?: Has said "The First 48", "Criminal Minds," "Revenge" and "Scandal" are his favorite TV programs.
Interact: @show_case29

Sean Richardson, S
Stat: Made 13 tackles in six games last year.
Did you know?: Holds a degree in human organization development.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S
Stat: As a junior at Alabama, had two interceptions and six passes defensed.
Did you know?: Given name is Ha’Sean Treshon Clinton-Dix.
Interact: @haha_cd6

Letroy Guion, DL
Stat: Recorded three sacks against the Packers in the last two years.
Did you know?: Linebacker Sam Barrington is a cousin.
Interact: @LetroyGuion98

Brandon Bostick, TE
Stat: Had three catches of 20 or more yards.
Did you know?: Was a wide receiver through college.
Interact: @Bostick11

Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.

A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.

To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.

Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.

In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.

Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.