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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2015)
Page 16 January 21, 2015 S PORTS Super Bowl Bound -- Again! Seahawks win thriller in overtime (AP) — The loudest stadium in America was silent. A return trip to the Super Bowl was slipping away. Time for the Seattle Seahawks to show why they are champions. "You have the belief these guys have in one another, there is noth- ing you can't do," coach Pete Carroll said after an implausible comeback for a 28-22 victory over Green Bay in the NFC championship game Sun- day. Plagued by turnovers and outplayed much of the day, the Seahawks staged a stunning rally built on resilience. Russell Wilson, who struggled until the final min- utes, hit Jermaine Kearse for a 35- yard touchdown 3:19 into the extra period to win it. The Seahawks became the first defending champion to make the Super Bowl in 10 years, and will play the AFC champion New England Patriots, who routed Indianapolis 45-7. How Seattle got there was stun- ning. "The will and the drive of these men is unbelievable," Wilson said. "We always find a way to finish." Seattle Seahawks' Jermaine Kearse celebrates after catching the game-winning touchdown during overtime of the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday in Seattle. The Seahawks won 28-22 to advance to Super Bowl XLIX. (AP photo) Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews looks for room to maneuver against Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore during Monday’s NBA basketball game in Portland. (AP photo) Aldridge Injures Thumb in Win (AP) — Even after losing All- Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge to an injury, the banged-up Portland Trail Blazers found a winning com- bination. Damian Lillard scored 22 points, including the go-ahead basket with 1:20 remaining, and Portland ended a three-game losing streak Monday night at the Moda Center with a 98- 94 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Lillard had six points during the final 80 seconds and helped rally the Trail Blazers (31-11) from an 11-point, second-half deficit. Wesley Matthews scored 17 for Portland. The news wasn't all good for the Blazers, though, because Aldridge exited in the second quarter with a left thumb injury. Portland coach Terry Stotts said the status of Aldridge, who leads the team with averages of 23.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, was "under further review."