Unser Chat » Seattles 12th man, the

(SportsNetwork.com) - Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll knows about life in the NFL from other stints around the league. He just wasnt used to having so much success. Carroll struggled as head coach of the New York Jets and New England Patriots in the 1990s, and now his Seahawks are on the doorstep of a second straight Super Bowl appearance. Standing in the way of Seattles date with destiny are the Green Bay Packers, who will visit a boisterous CenturyLink Field Sunday afternoon in the NFC Championship Game. The Pacific Northwest has been a place where opposing teams come to die and the Seahawks were 7-1 there in the regular season. The Seahawks face a big challenge versus quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a potent Packers offense. Everybody is looking forward to the preparation and getting ready for obviously a fantastic football team, Carroll said of Green Bay. Mike (McCarthy) has done a great job with this team for years. Theyve always been in the hunt for being a championship team and here they are again. And its no surprise. Carroll said the experience in the Emerald City has been amazing with a whole perspective and culture within the franchise. He admitted he never thought he could top the success he achieved at the college ranks. I thought I could never top what had happened at SC, Carroll said. What were in the middle of right now and the youth and the connection we have with our following is so special that this is as good as it gets. So Im thrilled about it. It helps to have such a loyal fan base and talented players. The Seahawks are 25-2 at home, including the playoffs, over the past three seasons and are unbeaten in the previous eight postseason games as the host. They are currently riding a seven-game winning streak in which theyve outscored opponents by a lopsided 165-56 margin (102-20 in second half). Seattle, which is the No. 1 seed in the NFC for a second straight season, opened its playoff run with last weekends 31-17 rout of the Carolina Panthers. Russell Wilson passed for 268 yards with a touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Luke Willson, while Marshawn Lynch ran for 59 yards on 14 carries. Wilson knows what hell be up against versus the Pacers. Its going to be one for the ages, said Wilson, who is 5-1 in the postseason with a 109.6 passer rating. The NFC West-champion Seahawks (13-4) havent lost since Nov. 16 at Kansas City and hope to eventually become the eighth different team to win back-to back Super Bowl, joining New England, Denver, Dallas, San Francisco, Pittsburgh (twice), Miami and Green Bay. The Patriots were the last team to accomplish the feat in Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX. Its exciting but the jobs not done, Wilson said. Were on one mission. You just have to take it one game at a time. Our goal is to go 1-0. Wilson hopes to have center Max Unger back Sunday. He left Saturdays win over the Panthers with an ankle injury and missed the final six regular season games. Carroll said Unger felt pretty good the next day and looks to be OK. The Packers (13-4) recorded their fourth straight NFC North title in the regular season and went 9-0 at Lambeau Field, including last Sundays 26-21 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Green Bay punched its ticket to the conference title game for the first time since winning it all back in 2010 and Rodgers shook off a gimpy left calf to throw for 316 yards and three touchdowns. The PFWAs NFL MVP completed 24- of-35 passing and still extended plays on basically one leg. Rodgers was asked how much more can the injured calf take. I think Ive got 120 minutes left in me so Im going to do everything I can to play all of those minutes, Rodgers said. He added the leg felt worse after beating Dallas and will face a tough, gritty Seattle defense. Youve just got to be efficient against them, which is tough because they take away just about everything you do. Its not an intricate scheme, but it doesnt have to be when you have those kinds of players, said Rodgers, who has a 105.3 passer rating in the playoffs. The Packers, who benefited from an overturned call on a catch by Dez Bryant near the goal line, are 31-19 in postseason play and have reached the playoffs seven times in the last nine years under McCarthy. They are 8-1 over the last nine games and have won 12 of the last 14 games since Rodgers told the fan base to relax following a 1-2 start to the campaign. One of those two losses for the Packers came in Seattle on Sept. 4. The Seahawks crushed Green Bay, 36-16, and were led by Lynchs 110 yards and two TDs on 20 carries. Wilson needed to pass for only 191 yards and collected a pair of touchdown strikes with no interceptions. He is 2-0 against Green Bay. Rodgers threw for 189 yards with a TD and an interception. McCarthy believes his team improved significantly from that Week 1 loss. Weve improved as a whole offense. Weve scored a few points this year, McCarthy said. They have a great defense. We recognize that and look forward to the challenge. Green Bay, which went 2-2 in its last four road games, will meet Seattle for the third time in the postseason and has won the previous two matchups, including a 42-20 rout at Lambeau Field on Jan. 12, 2008. The Packers lead the all-time series with the Seahawks, 10-7, and are 3-2 in NFC Championships. The Packers have won the last two they played on the road and are tied with Baltimore for the most road wins in postseason history (10). There have been seven consecutive NFC Championship Games decided by seven points or fewer, the longest streak in conference championship game history. Seattle is vying to become the 12th team in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl after winning it the previous season. WHAT TO WATCH FOR If Rodgers didnt have an issue with his calf, the Seahawks would be in trouble on their own turf. It doesnt matter what the decibel level is during the game because Rodgers is coming to play bum leg or not. Sherman doesnt feel Rodgers calf injury will be a factor. Not much. Doesnt take away much. That was evident the last game, Sherman said. In the last game, he puts that zip on the ball. He has quick wrist release anyway. He doesnt always have to drive through his throws to get them where he wants them. Rodgers was visibly in pain versus the Cowboys and was still able to make plays with his feet when he needed to. Dallas defense doesnt have as much talent as Seattles and allowed two 100-yard receivers in Davante Adams (117 yards, TD) and Randall Cobb (116 yards). Jordy Nelson wasnt much of a factor with two catches for 22 yards. Just dont sleep on him, Seattle. Rodgers has thrown for 1,470 yards with 12 TD strikes, four INTs and a 108.2 QB rating on the road in the postseason. The Packers receivers will face Seahawks talkative cornerback Richard Sherman, who had an interception last week versus Carolina. Safety Kam Chancellor also recorded an interception of Cam Newton and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. Sherman and free safety Earl Thomas were named to the NFLs All-Pro team. Seattle hopes starting cornerback Byron Maxwell will be able to go at full speed and was sidelined through portions of the Carolina win because of shortness of breath. Second-year cornerback Tharold Simon got the start opposite of Sherman and will do so again if Maxwell cant go. He was real sick, Carroll said. Hes had a history of some chest stuff. Hes had pneumonia before and all that. So he was uncomfortable and he couldnt catch his breath in normal fashion. He could play a play, but he didnt know if he could play a sequence. Carroll is hoping to get one of his top defenders back Sunday. The Seahawks paced the NFL in points allowed (15.9), total defense (267.1) and pass defense (185.6). Michael Bennett led the defense with seven sacks and linebacker Bruce Irvin had 6 1/2. Linebacker K.J. Wright posted a team-high 107 tackles in the regular season and LB Bobby Wagner had 104. Were playing for each other, Sherman said. Thats been the biggest thing. Guys are doing whatever it takes to win. Guys are playing for one another, they dont care about stats. Championships are won in the playoffs. Green Bays defense should take a page out of Dallas scheme from a 30-23 win at Seattle on Oct. 12. Wilson passed for only 126 yards with no touchdowns and an interception, and Lynch was limited to 61 yards on 10 carries. Lynch, whos a threat catching passes in the flats, has only one 100-yard rushing game in his last five contests. Lynch ran for 1,306 yards and 13 TDs in the regular season for the Seahawks, who led the NFL is rushing offense with 172.6 ypg. Lynch had no problem against the Packers in Week 1, but things are different at this juncture, especially with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The one known by the nickname Beastmode has six rushing touchdowns in the past six postseason games and four rushing scores in four playoff games in Seattle. Over the last eight games of the regular season, Green Bays defense ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed (691), rushing average (3.60) and rushing touchdowns (two). Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk, and safeties Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix should be flying around the football. Yeah, you have to always be aware of Clay. Hes moving around, playing defensive end and outside linebacker and middle linebacker, all over the field, Wilson said. One of the best players in the National Football League. You have to be aware for where he is. And hes got tons of talent. Its going to be a great matchup going up against him. Cornerbacks Sam Shields and Tramon Williams arent facing a dangerous wide receiver core, but cant take the foot off the pedal against Baldwin and Kearse. Shields has four INTs in his last seven playoff games and Williams owns four picks over his previous nine postseason appearances. If the front line can get pressure up front, Shields and Williams will be in better position to create turnovers. Packers running back Eddie Lacy can bring the pain similar to Lynch and ran for 101 yards on 19 touches versus the Cowboys. It was his 10th consecutive game with at least 100 scrimmage yards, a team record. Sundays win over Dallas marked the first playoff game in franchise history in which the Packers had a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers. But theres still work to be done. We understand the jobs not done, Packers guard T.J. Lang said. Our expectation is to win a championship. Our goal is to go a lot deeper than the NFC Championship Game. Going up to Seattle, its going to be a good matchup and were excited about it. Its going to be a tough one, we understand that, but well be ready for the challenge. With how well both defenses have been playing, look for the special teams units to put the offense in the best position to win. FBS champion Ohio State proved Monday that turning the ball over doesnt necessarily signify a death knell, but that usually doesnt translate at the NFL level. OVERALL ANALYSIS Its only fitting Seattle and Green Bay kicked off the regular season and will cross paths again with a trip to Super Bowl XLIX on the line. Rodgers may have 120 minutes left in that balky left calf and wont have to worry about the remaining 60 because Seattles going back to the Super Bowl. Weve had the opportunity to really experience the best of the NFL, Carroll said. Our guys are really getting a full experience of it and its wonderful to see these guys grow up and find out what this thing is all about. Its about the hard work and the sacrifice and the giving to one another and what you can get out of that when you really give of yourself. This has been a wonderful experience for all of us. Im thrilled to be part of it. Seattles 12th man, the defense and Wilson are ready to do their part and help this wonderful experience reach new heights. Raising the George Halas Trophy as NFC champions will put the Seahawks that much closer. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Seahawks 27, Packers 20 Ryan Callahan Jersey .com) - Patrick Reed poured in a 19-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Monday to defeat Jimmy Walker and win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Brayden Point Jersey .Cullen scored the go-ahead goal at 13:47 of the third period and Nashville beat the slumping Dallas Stars 3-2 on Thursday in a game that wasnt decided until the last shot of the night. http://www.cheaplightningjerseyschina.com/martin-st-louis-jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Mikhail Sergachev Jersey . According to the sportsbook BoDog, the Stampeders are 8/5 favourites to take home the Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on November 24. Cheap Lightning Jerseys . Both the top-seeded Djokovic and sixth-seeded Fish took relatively easy paths, with the Serb winning when opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired in the second set with a sore arm and Fish dominating Janko Tipsarevic in two quick sets. BERLIN -- Bayern Munich defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0 to restore its 13-point advantage in the Bundesliga on Sunday, while Nuremberg climbed out of the relegation zone by beating Hertha Berlin. Mario Goetze opened the scoring after 11 minutes of concerted pressure from Bayern, and Franck Ribery, back in the starting lineup after recovering from his back problems, made it 2-0 a minute before halftime. Bayern began the second half as it ended the first, with Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp deflecting Goetzes effort onto the post, then denying Rafinha, before Ribery struck the crossbar with a delicate chip. Goetze pulled the ball back for Arjen Robben to score off the underside of the crossbar in the 67th, two minutes after the Dutchman came on as a substitute, and Dante made it 4-0 with a header two minutes after that. It got worse for the visitors when Trapp hobbled off with a knee injury. Replacement goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald came on for his Bundesliga debut but was helpless to prevent Mandzukic scoring in the 89th, when the Croatian beat a defender before curling his effort inside the far post. "We talked before the game of a miracle, but when Bayern are like that you cant do anything. I think even Barcelona would have lost here today," Frankfurt midfielder Pirmin Schwegler said. Bayern stretched its record league unbeaten run to 44 games and the win was its 17th from 19 games this season. The other two games were draws. "Everyone always wants to beat the top team in the league. We have to stay alert," Robben said. Frankfurt coach Armin Veh left out regulars Sebastian Rode and Carlos Zambrano because they were in danger of suspension for a fifth yellow card. "We need them more against (next opponent Eintracht) Brraunschweig," Veh said.dddddddddddd Earlier, Nuremberg claimed only its second win of the season, its second in succession, by winning 3-1 in Berlin. It started badly for Gertjan Verbeeks side when a poorly defended corner allowed Hertha striker Adrian Ramos to score with a header at the near post in the fourth minute. The Colombian missed two good chances to score again before Markus Feulner equalized with a 16-meter shot in the 20th after a botched clearance, and Josip Drmic scored from a rebound in the 68th, after Daniel Ginczek struck the post. Hertha had a goal ruled out in the 90th minute when it might have had a penalty after Ondrej Petrak used his hand to stop Ronnys long-distance effort on the line. Ramos tucked the rebound away but was judged offside for Ronnys initial shot, while Petrak escaped the red card. "It was the right decision from the referee, luckily for us," said Drmic, who made sure of the victory in a frenetic finale with a penalty after he was fouled by Marcel Ndjeng four minutes into injury time. "We knew they were a good team," Hertha general manager Michael Preetz said. "They didnt get the results they deserved in the opening half of the season. They played with courage. Still, I found we created holes in their defence that we should have made more use of, particularly in the first half." Nuremberg coach Verbeek was relieved the referees decision went his sides way in the final minute. "He could have decided differently," the Dutchman said. "We had a lot of bad luck in the first half of the season. Today it was the other way around." Nuremberg climbed above Freiburg on goal difference and pushed Hamburger SV into a direct relegation place. 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