Kobayashi Maru 1.0 » he fact that they played so well the first-half

SEATTLE - Eventually, the paths of Green Bay and Seattle were going to cross again. After they opened the 2014 NFL season in early September, it seemed inevitable that Aaron Rodgers would get a second chance to throw at Richard Sherman — if he wanted to. That Russell Wilson would have to avoid Clay Matthews trying to chase him down. And that the Packers would get another opportunity to topple Seattle and be the elite of the NFC. They were the two best teams in the conference in the second half of the regular season. So its only fitting the Packers and Seahawks meet Sunday for the NFC championship and a trip to the Super Bowl. You can watch the game live on CTV with coverage starting at 2pm et/11am pt, or listen live on TSN Radio 1050 Toronto or TSN 1040 Vancouver. Its just the way it should be. It should be just like that right now, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. Dont be mistaken by their recent prowess, this wasnt a smooth ride for either franchise. Whether it was Rodgers telling Packers fans to R-E-L-A-X early in the season, or Seattle dealing with the expectations of being a Super Bowl champion, along with the stunning midseason trade of Percy Harvin, this was no cruise. It was a process throughout the year, Green Bay linebacker Julius Peppers said. You get better and better each week. That is the main thing you want to do each week, get better than you were before, and I think we accomplished that over the season. Green Bay has added one more obstacle in the post-season: Rodgers left calf injury that has limited his mobility. But Rodgers showed in last weeks divisional-round win over Dallas he can manage just fine, throwing for 316 yards and three touchdowns in the 26-21 victory. Now All-Pro Rodgers gets his first shot at an NFC title since winning at Chicago in January 2011. A Super Bowl victory over Pittsburgh followed. Its a different team, Rodgers said. I think its less than 20 guys still here from that team. Its only four years ago. But we have confidence that we can win on the road. Heres what else to watch for as Seattle tries to become the first defending champion in a decade to reach consecutive Super Bowls: CALF WATCH: Rodgers injury is slowing him from scrambling before throwing, one of his strengths. His right arm is just fine. Rodgers got hurt during the Dec. 21 game against Tampa Bay. He still completed 74 per cent of his passes in his last three games, including the win over Dallas. Coach Mike McCarthy has had Rodgers operating out of shotgun formations to help limit his movement. Perhaps just as importantly for the Packers has been the solid work of the offensive line much of the year. All-Pro fullback John Kuhn, an excellent blocker, has also seen more time of late. Rodgers will need top-notch protection against Seattles tough defence. SILENT SHERM: Sherman, another All-Pro, was bored when Green Bay visited in the season opener. Through the entire game, Rodgers refused to throw at the cornerback, instead turning to the other side of the field. Sherman took Rodgers approach as a sign of respect. It also left him frustrated. He described it as being a 12 on a 1-10 scale. Everybodys like, Man, thats cool, nobody threw to your side, Sherman said. But if youre a player, you want to make plays in the game, you feel you can help your team, you want the ball coming your way more. Sherman doesnt expect it the same this time. Im not surprised either way, Sherman said. But I expect them to execute their game plan, whatever that may be. Not sure what theyre going to do. ATTITUDE: Linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers draw the headlines and make big plays on the Packers defence. Lineman Mike Daniels supplies the attitude. A mainstay up front, Daniels demeanour sets a stern tone on game day. Theyll need Daniels and fellow lineman Letroy Guion to slow down bullish running back Marshawn Lynch just enough to allow linebackers Matthews and Sam Barrington, and safety Morgan Burnett to try to finish off tackles up the middle. Daniels has 14 tackles and two sacks over his last four games. COMING OF AGE: When Green Bay visited in Week 1, centre Corey Linsley, wide receiver Davante Adams and tight end Richard Rodgers were all making their NFL debuts. Now theyre integral parts of the offence. Adams was the star of Green Bays win over Dallas last week with seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. You expect those guys to hit some sort of lull during the year, as the college season is usually 12 or 13 games, Aaron Rodgers said. After the preseason, youre looking at midway through the season, thats a normal college season for these guys, and you havent seen it. THANKS BUFFALO: Seattle ultimately owes thanks to Buffalo for Sundays title game being played at CenturyLink Field. The Bills victory over Green Bay in Week 15 was the difference in Seattle winning the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Instead of Seattle being forced to deal with the freezing temperatures of Wisconsin, the Packers are about to enter the Seahawks cauldron of noise — certain to be even more amped than when Green Bay visited to open the season. Any time we get the home games, especially the NFC championship at home, and we get to play in front of the 12s, its exciting, Seattle safety Kam Chancellor said of the teams fan base. Its exciting for us, exciting for them, and I think we deserve it and they deserve it, as well. Martinas Rankin Jersey . 1 Caroline Wozniacki and three-time champion Serena Williams cruised into the semifinals, while last years runner-up Vera Zvonareva succumbed to Aussie Samantha Stosur in Thursdays womens quarterfinal action at the U. Sammie Coates Jersey . Louis Cardinals, the team will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the opening of the SkyDome. Jays legends Jimmy Key and Ernie Whitt, members of playoff and World Series-winning teams of the past, will be on hand for the festivities to look back at what was the beginning of the Jays halcyon years. http://www.footballtexansgearsshop.com/Black-Jordan-Akins-Texans-Jersey.html?cat=967 . With Washington teammate Nene drawing double-teams coming off his big game against the Lakers, Gortat scored 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Wizards to a 100-92 win in overtime over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Justin Reid Texans Jersey . -- Max Gilbert captured his first pro victory at the Tour Championship of Canada. Jordan Akins Jersey . The 34-year-old averaged 10.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 82 games played in 2013-14 with the Utah Jazz. Jefferson has averaged 14.5 points, 4.LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Kevin Ware needed just 17 seconds to show Louisville fans he can still play. Ware, the sentimental figure during the Cardinals title run last season, scored Friday night on the first touch of his official return since shattering his leg during last seasons NCAA tournament. The third-ranked Cardinals posted a school-record 19th straight win while welcoming back Ware in a 99-54 victory over Cornell. Ware, who played in an exhibition this season before sitting out Louisvilles first two games, entered with 14:06 left in the first half. He split defenders on a drive to cap a 20-point run that made it 22-2. "I was pretty upset at myself that I didnt dunk that one," Ware said. "I thought the big man would jump so I was looking for the contact. Im just glad that Im playing and just understanding myself again." Ware finished with five points and had two rebounds in 13 minutes. "Hes obviously not afraid to take it to people," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. "He looked good out there." Wares first game action since his injury came in a Nov. 6 exhibition, 220 days after the lower bone in his right leg came through his skin after a spill in the NCAA tournament. Ware didnt play three days later against College of Charleston as Pitino said the 6-foot-2 sophomore was "still limping a bit" and planned to keep in him on the bench until he recovered. "I didnt feel it, but even my mom and my sisters who came to that practice were telling me that I was limping," said Ware, who also missed Tuesdays win against Hofstra. "At the time I was denying it completely like, Nah, Im fine, Im going to play, but Coach knew what he was doing." Ware showed his athleticism on a rebound he took all the way for a pretty left-handed finish to give Louisville a 39-11 lead with 6:24 remaining in the opening half. Wayne Blackshear led the Cardinals (3-0) with 20 points, hitting 4 of 5 3-pointers. Channe Behanan added 13 points and 12 rebounds.dddddddddddd Nolan Cressler scored 10 points for Cornell (0-4). The Cardinals broke the school record for consecutive wins set by the champion 1979-80 team. Louisville won 16 straight in taking its third title last season. This win marked the 1,700th victory in the programs 100th season. Louisville ranks 12th on the all-time win list. Cornell lost to a Top 10 for the second time in seven days, having fallen at Syracuse 82-60 after leading by 14 early in the game. "Youre going against the best teams in America, so you kind of get a barometer of where you may be as a program and as a group," Cornell coach Bill Courtney said. "Our team is so young that were still trying to figure ourselves out." Louisville forward Luke Hancock said the Big Reds fast start against the Orange was a factor in the teams preparation. "The fact that they played so well the first-half against Syracuse, it made us pretty nervous and made us on our toes," said Hancock, who finished with 12 points. A problem with the lights at the KFC Yum! Center caused a 15-minute delay prior to the start of the game. After that, it was all Louisville. Tied at 2, Louisville unleashed the latest of its patented "boom" scoring spurts less than 1 1/2 minutes into the game. Guards Russ Smith and Chris Jones helped the Cardinals score 12 straight points. That forced Cornell to take a timeout, down 14-2 with 16:08 remaining in the half. Two Louisville steals that led to dunks followed, forcing another timeout. Louisville erupted for a 35-2 run in Tuesday nights 97-69 win over Hofstra and closed its opening win against College of Charleston by scoring 22 of the games final 25 points. The Big Red used 15 players in the first half in an attempt to find any sort of success. They trailed 53-14 at halftime, shooting just 16 per cent (5 of 32) in the opening 20 minutes. Cornell shot 29 per cent for the game. ' ' '