Matchups for the NFC championship game Sunday between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field:WHEN THE PACKERS (13-4) HAVE THE BALL:Pretty simple, really: balance. Yadier Molina Jersey . With a healthy QB Aaron Rodgers (12) and RB Eddie Lacy (27), that usually is not problem for the Packers. But Rodgers has been bothered by a calf injury and was particularly hobbled in the second half last week vs. Dallas. Still, he threw for two second-half touchdowns.Running against Seattle is about as easy as hearing each other at CenturyLink Field for a visiting team. Led by dynamic LB Bobby Wagner (54) and a stout defensive line featuring Michael Bennett (72), the Seahawks rarely allow an opponent to control the clock on the ground. Establishing any sort of rushing attack is a major challenge for Green Bays line, particularly rookie C Corey Linsley (63) and guards T.J. Lang (70) and Pro Bowler Josh Sitton (71).An inability to do so would force Rodgers to the air early. Sounds like a good idea when your quarterback is an All-Pro, but only if Rodgers has the mobility he needs to escape pressure from DE Cliff Avril (56) and LBs Wagner and Bruce Irvin (51), plus whichever Legion of Boom member blitzes from the secondary.Then theres the equally difficult chore of completing throws against All-Pros CB Richard Sherman (25) and S Earl Thomas (29), plus S Kam Chancellor (31), who comes off a dominant performance against Carolina. Rodgers should feel comforted that his two outstanding main targets, WRs Jordy Nelson (87) and Randall Cobb (18) are complemented by the emerging WR Davante Adams (17) and TE Andrew Quarless (81).Regardless, if the Packers cant establish a semblance of a running game, it figures to be a long Sunday.WHEN THE SEAHAWKS (13-4) HAVE THE BALL:Also relatively simple, and the same formula that worked on the way to last seasons championship: Seattle must feed the Beast, RB Marshawn Lynch (24), and give QB Russell Wilson (3) freedom to create.Lynch, like Lacy, has the power, speed and determination to ruin a defences day. The way DeMarco Murray marauded through Green Bays defence last week is worrisome. And Lynch gets better as the game progresses, with defenders tiring.The Packers will need outstanding showings by an underrated defensive line, including DLs Mike Daniels (76) and Letroy Guion (98), who come off a strong game against Dallas, and more from star LB Clay Matthews (52). If Lynch gets through the first wave, the Pack will be in trouble because the secondary lacks good tacklers.Matthews and LB-DE Julius Pepper (56) must be disruptive, and also need to keep Wilson from escaping outside, whether as a scrambler or on designed runs.With the unsung offensive line, led by LT Russell Okung (76) and C Max Unger (60), pretty much back intact, the Seahawks are capable of dominating the trenches. Green Bay must find ways to make Wilson uneasy.The matchup of Seattle receivers against the Packers secondary isnt nearly as high-profile as the other way around. But even after losing free agent Golden Tate and trading Percy Harvin, the Seahawks have gotten timely plays from Doug Baldwin (89), Jermaine Kearse (15) and TE Luke Willson (82). Packers CBs Tramon Williams (38) and Sam Shields (37) struggled last week against Dallas, which has more dangerous wideouts. Safeties Morgan Burnett (42) and rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) had problems covering Jason Witten, which bodes well for Willson. And Wilson.SPECIAL TEAMS:Green Bays Mason Crosby (2) and Seattles Steven Hauschka (4) are solid placekickers, reliable in the clutch. Hauschka has gotten better on kickoffs through his career, too. But both the kickoff coverages werent great in 2014 for either squad.Micah Hyde (33) ran back two punts for TDs, but Seattles Jon Ryan (9) is one of the leagues most dependable punters. Neither Ryan nor Green Bays Tim Masthay (8) have had big seasons, though.COACHING:Both Seattles Pete Carroll and Green Bays Mike McCarthy pulled off one of their best coaching jobs this season. Carroll saw his team suffering from a Super Bowl hangover early in the schedule and not only got the Seahawks to snap out of it, but reach peak form down the stretch. His energy is contagious; his top assistants, Dan Quinn on defence, Darrell Bevell on offence, are masterful game planners.McCarthy is more low-key than Carroll, and oversees the prolific offence while leaving the defence to co-ordinator Dom Capers. McCarthy has found ways to overcome injury issues better than most coaches, particularly on offence.INTANGIBLES:CenturyLink Field is as difficult a place for visitors as any stadium/arena on the planet. The best way to describe the noise level when the fans get pumped is beyond deafening. Indeed, local seismologists plan to measure the surge of sound on Sunday.Green Bay has been mediocre on the road (4-4), with only one truly well-rounded performance, at Chicago. But the Packers have some key veterans such as Rodgers, Nelson, Peppers, Matthews, Sitton and Crosby who have been through such tough challenges before.No team has been to successive Super Bowls since New England 10 years ago. Seattle is primed to do it.___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Kyle Schwarber Cubs Jersey .com) - Gustav Nyquist scored the lone goal of the shootout as the Detroit Red Wings clawed their way back from a three-goal deficit to defeat the New Jersey Devils, 5-4, on Friday. George Brett Jersey . To make room on the 25-man roster, Toronto optioned right-handed reliever Chad Franklin to the International League farm team. Kratz will serve as a backup to Josh Thole.Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Rangers found out once again what a difference Carey Price can make. In the first meeting between Montreal and the Rangers since last years Eastern Conference finals, Price turned away 34-of-35 shots in a stellar effort that carried the red-hot Canadiens to a 3-1 victory at Bell Centre. Price sustained a knee injury in Game 1 of the 2014 East finals and missed the remainder of the series, a contributing factor to the Rangers prevailing in six games. The standout goaltender was healthy and in top form on Saturday, however, yielding just a first-period goal to Carl Hagelin to help Montreal move to 7-1-0 on the young season. Max Pacioretty had a goal and an assist in the win, which concluded a perfect four-game homestand for the Habs. Tomas Plekanec and Lars Eller also scored while Dale Weise chipped in a pair of assists. The Rangers had a three-game win streak snapped as Henrik Lunqvist couldnt match Prices performance, finshing with 26 saves. After both teams lit the lamp once during an evenly played opening period, Price came up with 13 saves in the second and Eller broke the tie with a second-effort score with 8:14 remaining in the frame. P.K. Subban fired a drive that was blocked in front of the New York net and Lundqvist denied Weise in close on the rebound, but the RRangers were unable to clear the puck and Eller jammed it home for his first goal of the season. Matt Holliday Cardinals Jersey. . Price was spotless once again during a 13-save third that saw Montreal extend the margin courtesy of Pacioretty, who slipped a shot past Lundqvist 6:36 into the period after taking in a behind-the-net backhand feed from Wiese. Plekanec opened the scoring with a shorthanded tally with just over 12 minutes elapsed in the contest, forcing a turnover in the Montreal zone that created a 2-on-none breakout with Pacioretty against a defenseless Lundqvist. Hagelin drew the Rangers even with 2:53 to go in the first, skating uncovered into the slot to put in the carom of Dan Girardis initial attempt that Price got a piece of. Game Notes Prior to the start of the contest, the Canadiens teamed with the Senators and Maple Leafs, who were also at home on Saturday night -- to stage a coordinated pregame ceremony honoring the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in the tragic events in Ottawa earlier this week ... The Rangers fell to 1-8-2 in their last 11 regular-season visits to Montreal and have now dropped six of their last seven non-playoff meetings with the Habs overall ... New York forward Rick Nash, whose eight goals is tied for second in the league this season, was held to one shot. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
