and fell hard as he charged Josh Rutledges sinking

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. 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 Sam Darnold Jets Jersey . Mako Vunipola was promoted from the reserves, with Matt Mullan called up to the bench on Thursday. "It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time," England coach Stuart Lancaster said. LeVeon Bell Jets Jersey . The Los Angeles Clippers showed them just how ugly that life could be. Jared Dudley scored a season-high 21 points, Chris Paul added 16 points and 17 assists, and the Clippers jumped all over the Bulls in Roses absence for a 121-82 victory Sunday. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Joe-Namath-Jersey/ . The Broncos quarterback earned the offensive award Wednesday after passing for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-21 win over the Raiders Monday night. Manning completed 32-of-37 passes and had a passer rating of 135. Mark Gastineau Womens Jersey .com) - The San Francisco Giants delivered plenty of big hits to tie the World Series. Curtis Martin Youth Jersey . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan.DENVER -- Drew Stubbs had a tiebreaking RBI single in the 12th inning to lift the Colorado Rockies past the San Diego Padres, 7-6, on Saturday night. D.J. LeMahieu doubled off Jesse Hahn (7-4) to start the 12th and Charlie Culberson sacrificed him to third. Hahn then intentionally walked Charlie Blackmon and San Diego manager Bud Black aligned three defenders between third and second base in hopes of cutting off any grounder and getting the runner at the plate. But Stubbs singled sharply down the third base line and into left field, allowing LeMahieu to score the winning run and send the Padres to their fourth loss in a row. Nick Masset (2-0) picked up the victory with an inning of scoreless relief. Justin Morneau finished with four hits, including a home run, and two RBIs for the Rockies. LeMahieu added a two-run single as Colorado won for the fourth time in five games. Joe Wieland had a rocky return to the big leagues after a nearly 2 1/2-year absence following reconstructive right elbow surgery. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 2 1-3 innings in his first appearance since May 6, 2012, against Miami at Petco Park, but did not figure in the decision. Jorge De La Rosa, who signed a two-year contract extension earlier this week, left in the sixth with a 6-3 lead but the Rockies bullpen couldnt hold it. The Padres evened the score at 6-all in the eighth on former Rockie Seth Smiths RBI single off reliever Rex Brothers. McKenry homered off Weiland in the second and tacked on an RBI single during a three-run third that also included Morneaus two-run shot for his 15th homer of the season.dddddddddddd San Diego, blanked in a 3-0 loss the night before, broke through in the fourth on the first of two RBI singles by Jedd Gyorko. Tommy Medica homered to start the fifth, and pinch-hitter Cory Spangenberg had a two-run homer off reliever Tommy Kahnle in the seventh, pulling the Padres to within a run. TRAINERS ROOM Padres: LF Abraham Almonte was shaken up when he slipped and fell hard as he charged Josh Rutledges sinking liner that dropped for a double in the third inning. Tended to by team trainers for several minutes, Almonte got to his feet and remained in the game until the sixth. RHP Joaquin Benoit, working to return from soreness in his pitching shoulder, played catch Saturday. Manager Bud Black said he came out of the light workout fine. Benoit has missed the last 10 games but the Padres are hoping hell be able to return before the end of the season. Rockies: X-rays taken on the left ankle of LHP Christian Friedrich revealed no structural damage. Friedrich twisted the ankle duing an appearance in Tuesdays game with San Francisco, falling down on the mound when he took a bad step during his follow-through. UP NEXT Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (13-12) comes into Sundays series finale with a streak of 14 consecutive quality starts, the longest such streak in team history. Rockies: LHP Franklin Morales (5-7) will be seeking his first win since July 8, which came against San Diego. Hes 0-3 with five no decisions and a 6.09 ERA in eight outings since then. However, hes 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in his two previous starts against the Padres this season. ' ' '