Matchups for the Super Bowl on Feb.
Danielle Hunter Vikings Jersey . 1 between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at University of Phoenix
Stadium:When the Seahawks (14-4) have the ball:If the Patriots can tame the
Beast, they will have a big head start toward a fourth NFL championship since
2001. RB Marshawn Lynch (24) will try to impose his will on a solid but not
overwhelming defence led by DT Vince Wilfork (75), DE Rob Ninkovich (50), LBs
Jamie Collins (91) and Donta Hightower (54). If Lynch is slowed, that leaves the
onus for running on QB Russell Wilson (3). While highly capable — he rushed for
849 yards and six TDs in 2014 — Wilson would prefer balance on offence.When he
throws, he must avoid the interceptions that plagued him vs. Green Bay for the
NFC title. Not that Wilson was always off-target, with two of his picks being
off tips by WR Jermaine Kearse (15). But he was not nearly as precise as
usual.Kearse, who caught the winning TD pass in the past two NFC title matches,
was targeted on all four interceptions against the Packers. Hell see plenty of
CBs Darrelle Revis (24) and Brandon Browner (39), a Seahawk last season, and
could struggle getting open deep. S Devin McCourty (32) also will help in
coverage on WR Doug Baldwin (89) and TE Luke Willson (82).One thing Seattle wont
do is lose faith even when things arent working on offence. And behind an unsung
offensive line led by LT Russell Okung (76) and C Max Unger (60), they wont back
off, either.When the Patriots (14-4) have the ball:Unquestionably the key
matchup, as it often is these days when the Patriots are on the field, will be
All-Pro TE Rob Gronkowski (87) against the legions trying to cover him. However,
for Seattles Legion of Boom, much of the assignment will fall to S Kam
Chancellor (31). Chancellor has the size (6-3, 232), speed and tackling skills
to somewhat neutralize Gronkowski.If he can do that, it frees All-Pro S Earl
Thomas (29) to help with versatile WR Julian Edelman (11), who mostly will draw
All-Pro CB Richard Sherman (25) in coverage. QB Tom Brady (12) is particularly
comfortable throwing to Gronk and Edelman, and the Seahawks want to force him to
look at others instead.But even if the coverage is strong, Seattle must get
pressure from pass rushers DEs Michael Bennett (72) and Cliff Avril (56) and LBs
Bobby Wagner (54), an All-Pro, and Bruce Irvin (51). Brady is most vulnerable —
which isnt very vulnerable — when he has to throw before he wants to and cant
set his feet.That means an unheralded offensive line featuring tackles Sebastian
Vollmer (76) and Nate Solder (77) needs to be steady.Green Bay showed the
Seahawks can be run on, so RB LeGarrette Blount (29) could wind up being a
featured player.Special Teams:Although the Seahawks were not great on special
teams this season, they were spectacular in beating Green Bay. A fake field goal
pass for a TD by holder Jon Ryan (9) — one of the NFLs most accurate punters —
and an onside kick that kept them alive for the NFC title wont be forgotten in
the Pacific Northwest.Generally, though, New England has the edge here. Coverage
is very good on punt and kickoff returns, led by Pro Bowler Matthew Slater (18).
Edelman (11) was second in the NFL with 12 yards per punt return and had one for
an 84-yard TD. Stephen Gostkowski (3) missed only two field goals and led the
NFL with 156 points.Coaching:Pete Carrolls revenge? Its not a major story line,
but it should be recognized that Carroll preceded Bill Belichick in New England.
He wasnt a bad coach there, either, going 28-23, but that pales compared to
Belichicks numbers.No team brings more energy to the field than the Seahawks,
and it stems from Carroll. He always has the pulse of his team: Carroll saw how
Seattle was suffering from a Super Bowl hangover early in the schedule. He not
only got the Seahawks to snap out of it, but reach peak form down the stretch —
at least until last week, when they got lucky, too.Belichick just surpassed Tom
Landrys mark for postseason victories (21). Regardless of the findings of the
NFLs probe into under-inflated footballs in the AFC championship contest, he is
known as an innovator — just as much as he is known for stretching the
parameters of the rulebook. Belichick keeps things fresh by finding new ways to
exploit the opposition.He will have something unusual lined up for Carroll and
the Seahawks.Intangibles:Seattle seeks to become the first repeat winner since
the Patriots managed it a decade ago. A victory would stamp these Seahawks as an
all-time great team, particularly having beaten Peyton Manning and Brady in
successive Super Bowls. The Seahawks also come off a mediocre performance in the
NFC title game, which should spur them on.New England, of course, doesnt want to
add a stigma of Super Bowl loser by dropping three in a row after winning in its
first three trips with Brady and Belichick. Brady can equal Terry Bradshaw and
Joe Montana with four Super Bowl rings, while Belichick can tie Chuck Noll with
four.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Tom Johnson Vikings Jersey . Cincinnati has lost back-to-back games in overtime, wasting a chance to take a commanding lead
in their division.
Everson Griffen Vikings Jersey . The Tournament of Champions, which starts Friday, is his first event since a freak
accident in Shanghai two months ago. Snedeker was on a Segway scooter during a
corporate outing at Sheshan International when he took a tumble and injured his
left knee.GLENEAGLES, Scotland - Rory McIlroy is No. 1 in the world of golf. At
the Ryder Cup, he sees himself as one of 12.McIlroy and the rest of the
Europeans have been hearing all week about how the Americans are targeting the
top players at Gleneagles. The concept is nothing new. For years, Tiger Woods
was the player everyone wanted to beat. Woods is recovering from back injuries
and is not at the Ryder Cup for the second time in six years.U.S. captain Tom
Watson has mentioned McIlroy and Ian Poulter as two key players to beat.You
knock off the big dog, that gives your team a boost, Watson said last
week.McIlroy has won the last two majors to establish himself anew as the best
player in golf. Poulter has the best record of any active player in the Ryder
Cup, winning 12 of his 15 matches including seven in a row.I know Watson has
been talking about targeting us two and whatever, but at the same time, its only
one-sixth of the team, McIlroy said Wednesday. Theres 10 other world-class
players that he has to worry about, as well, and they are just as capable of
putting points on the board for Europe. They can try and target us all they
want, but theres guys alongside us that can do just as good a job.Colin
Montgomerie once said beating Woods felt like it was worth more than one point.
McIlroy was having none of that.Someone beats me, they win a point — no more, no
less.This is nothing new for McIlroy. Two years ago, he won the U.S. PGA
Championship by a record eight shots, and then won back-to-back in the FedEx Cup
playoffs to reach No. 1 in the world going into Medinah. His presence might be
even greater at Gleneagles coming off victories in the British Open, UU.
Phil Loadholt Vikings Jersey. S. PGA Championship and a World Golf Championship, primarily because Woods isnt
around.Its not hard to pick out the best player in the world right now, Jim
Furyk said. Its Rory McIlroy. And Ian has obviously had a great record in
this.McIlroy was still buzzing on Wednesday morning over an evening spent with
former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.Boy Wonder caused a stir himself
during practice by using a new driver.Its rare for someone to make any equipment
changes the week of such a big event. Perhaps the most famous was in 2004, when
Phil Mickelson signed a new equipment deal with Callaway and changed out his
driver and golf ball at Oakland Hills. He was paired with Woods and they lost
both of their matches.McIlroy is aware of that incident — he was a 15-year-old
Junior Ryder Cup player who was in the gallery.Phil Mickelson nearly hit me off
the tees in 2004, McIlroy said. I was standing down the left-hand side, so Im
very aware of what he did that week. Hey, look, Phil changed from one equipment
manufacturer to another. This is a driver that Ive actually been using and
practicing with since June. I wouldnt be putting it in the bag if I didnt feel
it was better.It appeared to be working fine. McIlroy drove the green on the
par-4 14th.Everyone saw yesterday it was the only driver I had out there in the
bag, he said. Its looking likely that its going to be in the bag this
week.McIlroy then headed out for another day of practice. He was in a group with
Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer on the first full day of practice. On Wednesday,
he was sent out in a group of four with Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Victor
Dubuisson.
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