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SPORTSSaturday 23 January 2016
NFL Conference Championships on the line Sunday
Continued from page 17 What could change the undermined by the ab- when the Cardinals were must be accounted for first
flow of New England’s of- sence of injured linebacker racked by injuries. and foremost by Arizona.
leans heavily on the run- fense is if the oft-jumbled Jerod Mayo, and a back The Panthers are 1-2 in their Newton didn’t do much
ning game, and Denver’s line can’t protect Brady. issue hurting their best line- previous three NFC title as a runner last week in
top-ranked defense. Injuries have plagued that backer, Jamie Collins. But games, reaching the Super the win over Seattle be-
While he has only a 5-11 re- unit all season. Denver must try to lighten Bowl in 2003 before losing cause he didn’t have to,
cord against Brady, they’re Where the Broncos could the burden on Manning, 32-29 on a late field goal to as running back Jonathan
2-2 in the playoffs, includ- have an edge is in the run- whose team will start 3 New England. Arizona won Stewart set the tempo with
ing a win by Manning two his 59-yard burst on the
years ago in the same Mile Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) runs against Seattle Seahawks strong safe- first snap. But Newton can
High Stadium. ty Kam Chancellor (31) during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game in Charlotte, control a defense with his
The quarterbacks deserve N.C. The Panthers are favorites by a measly three points against the Cardinals this Sunday in the size, strength, speed, and
to be a focal point, but NFC Championship game - with a trip to Super Bowl 50 at stake. savvy as both a passer and
there’s a lot more to this runner. The Cardinals need
matchup than them. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone) to keep Newton in the
Brady is the master of pocket while forcing him to
these situations, in his 10th ning game through C.J. An- 1/2-point underdogs. in its only other NFC Cham- throw before he wants to.
AFC Championship game, derson and Ronnie Hillman. The Panthers are favorites pionship game in 2008 be- That means they will keep
seeking an astounding sev- Unlike the Patriots, Denver by a measly three points fore losing to Pittsburgh 27- bringing the blitz.
enth Super Bowl appear- always tries to establish the against the Cardinals, in 23 in the Super Bowl. Cardinals quarterback
ance. As he displayed in ground attack. Not that their first meeting since Quarterback Cam Newton Carson Palmer has had
last week’s win over Kansas the Patriots are easy to run the Panthers won their first- was involved in 45 touch- perhaps the best season
City, his ankle is little or no against, although they’re round playoff a year ago downs this season, and he of his 13-year career, and
issue, and when given time is in the conversation for
— as a timid Chiefs de- league MVP. But he comes
fense afforded him — he’ll off a mediocre perfor-
pick you apart. mance against Green Bay
He has the weapons now in which his decision-mak-
that wide receivers Ju- ing came into question.
lian Edelman and Dan- Perhaps he was nervous
ny Amendola, plus tight because he’d never won
end Rob Gronkowski, are a playoff game.
healthier. Because the run- Now that he has, Palmer
ning game is sub-par, Brady might go back to being the
is going to throw often, passer who can withstand
leaving the onus to stop the heavy pass rush he will
him on Broncos pass rush- get from the Panthers. Few
ers DeMarcus Ware, Von teams have as versatile or
Miller, and Derek Wolfe, deep a front seven; Caro-
plus whatever schemes lina had five sacks against
coordinator Wade Phillips Seattle.
designs to pressure Brady. When Palmer gets time,
he’ll first look for venerable
Seattle GM: wideout Larry Fitzgerald,
who had a sensational
Marshawn Lynch may be leaning toward retirement game against the Packers
of eight catches for 176
SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle pair of radio interviews after an injury-filled 2015 Lynch time and leeway to yards and a touchdown.
Seahawks running back Friday. Schneider said in season. decide what he wants to Cornerback Josh Norman
Marshawn Lynch may be separate interviews with Schneider first appeared do, but added he was “un- is likely to get most of the
“leaning toward retire- KIRO-AM and KJR-AM that on KIRO, the team’s flag- der the impression,” Lynch coverage assignments
ment,” general manager he believes Lynch is leaning ship station, saying the was leaning toward retire- against Fitzgerald, and that
John Schneider said in a toward calling it a career team was going to give ment. q will be a highlight matchup
on Sunday.q
