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SPORTS Friday, January 8, 2016 East Oregonian Page 3B NFL Seahawks defense peaking at right time By TIM BOOTH Associated Press NFL’s stingiest D different ways, whether handing the ball off, or Pts Allowed getting him screens or 277 checking it down to him,” RENTON, Wash. — The 1, Seahawks 279 Seattle linebacker Bobby questions and concerns 2, Bengals 287 :DJQHU VDLG ³, GH¿QLWHO\ that dogged the Seattle 3, Chiefs Broncos 296 feel like he’s going to try to Seahawks’ vaunted defense 4, 5, Vikings 302 have a bigger presence in this in September and October 6, Panthers 308 game.” were silenced by the end of T7, Texans 313 Getting the scoring the season. T7, Cardinals 313 defense title was particularly That’s because the 9, Jets 314 important, but seemed Seahawks accomplished 10, Patriots 315 unlikely going into the something that hadn’t been ¿QDO ZHHN :LWK &LQFLQQDWL done since the 1950s. having allowed 16 to Balti- Seattle heads into will be a new, but somewhat PRUH LQ LWV ¿QDOH HDUOLHU LQ Sunday’s wild-card game easier task for the Seahawks the day, the Seahawks could at Minnesota on a roll defense. After playing all give up only eight points to defensively. The pinnacle of their NFC playoff games at Arizona to at least share the their late-season success was home the past two seasons, scoring title. holding Arizona to six points the Seahawks will be exclu- Enter DeShawn Shead LQ WKH UHJXODUVHDVRQ ¿QDOH sively on the road this time with the Seahawks holding to end up leading the NFL in around where it’s far easier a 36-6 lead in the closing scoring defense for the fourth for Seattle to communicate minutes and Arizona deep in straight season. According on the defensive side. “Maybe we focus better Seattle’s end. WR67$766HDWWOHLVWKH¿UVW The Seahawks had team since the Cleveland on the road, I don’t know already gotten one break Browns (1953-57) to lead what it is. I just think we’re a when Chandler Catanzaro’s the league in scoring defense better road team than we are a AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin ¿HOGJRDODWWHPSWDWWKHHQG in four or more consecutive home team this year,” Seattle Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) linebacker Bruce Irvin said. seasons. a stop against the Arizona Cardinals during RIWKH¿UVWKDOIKLWWKHXSULJKW Seattle also led the league celebrates 2YHUWKH¿QDO¿YHJDPHV the irst half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, and ricocheted back onto WKH ¿HOG 2Q IRXUWKDQG of the season, the Seahawks in rush defense at 81.5 yards 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. from the Seattle 12 with allowed only 55 total points. per game, giving up the And two of the touchdowns exact same amount of yards GLI¿FXOWWU\LQJWRVORZGRZQ season, holding him to 18 5:25 left, the Cardinals opted scored during that time were it did a season ago when the Adrian Peterson, who led yards on eight carries in to go for it rather than kick D PHDQLQJOHVV ¿HOG JRDO special teams and defensive Seahawks were third-best the NFL with 1,485 yards Week 13. in the league at stopping the rushing this season. “You can’t expect a guy Drew Stanton’s forced pass scores by their opponents. But Seattle’s already like that to get eight touches was intercepted by Shead, However long this post- UXQ 7KHLU ¿UVW WDVN LQ WKH season run lasts for Seattle, it playoffs could be their most stopped Peterson once this DJDLQ7KH\¶UH JRLQJ WR ¿QG igniting a huge celebration on the Seahawks sideline. “I was not aware at all. I heard them talking on the sideline in the fourth quarter about it but I didn’t really pay no mind to it until I got the interception and I came back to the sideline and Earl (Thomas) and (Richard Sherman) came up to me and were like, ‘Thank you, you saved the record,”’ Shead said. “I didn’t realize until WKHQ KRZ VLJQL¿FDQW WKH interception was. For my ¿UVW LQWHUFHSWLRQ DW WKH ODVW possible defensive drive in the regular season it could not have come at a better time. It’s a great feeling to know that I have legitimately been part of history.” Sherman was completely aware of what was at stake. He knew even before the game started how much the Seahawks could afford to allow. “It’s cool. I think it means we’re consistent in what we do. We’re really diligent in our preparation, and all our hard work has come to fruition,” Sherman said. “Everything we’ve wanted and everything we’ve tried, strived to do has come to fruition. We appreciate seeing the fruits of our labor.” (YHU\1)&WHDPKDVIDWDOÀDZEXWDOVRPDMRUUHDVRQVIRUKRSH just four times this season. If they IDOO EHKLQG TXLFNO\ WKHLU UXQ¿UVW formula featuring Adrian Peterson implodes and protecting Bridge- Carolina didn’t make it to the water behind a so-so O-line gets playoffs perfect, and maybe that’s a harder. Exhibit A: their 38-7 home good thing as they rest and recali- loss to Seattle a month ago. brate for the playoffs. —”We’re excited about the Arizona fended off Seattle, opportunity to play those guys again which came storming back from a in our house. They embarrassed us stumbling start. the last time we played them.” — The Vikings overtook the wide receiver Mike Wallace, on Packers in the North but Green Bay facing the Seahawks again. reached the playoffs once again, 4. REDSKINS: and the Redskins capitalized on a —Why they’ll hoist the bad division and a good quarterback AP Photo/Chuck Lombardi: Believe it or not, Kirk decision to return to the postseason Burton Cousins. The fourth-year QB is party. playing the best football of his Each of the half-dozen NFC teams still standing have reason to weeks with their pass rush and lost other QB. If Arizona can’t run, career at the most opportune time EHOLHYHWKH\¶OOSXWWKHLU¿QJHUSULQWV starting cornerback Charles Tillman the O-line could be overwhelmed — heading into the playoffs and on the Lombardi Trophy next for the season in Week 17 to a torn by the pass rush. Pressuring the heading into free agency. He led month. But each also has a major ACL. Tillman is the second corner- opposing quarterback, especially the NFL in completion percentage ÀDZWKDWFRXOGGHUDLOWKRVHGUHDPV back to suffer a season-ending without a blitz, has been a problem. DWUDQNHG¿IWKLQSDVVHUUDWLQJ The mid-season addition of Dwight at 101.6, set a franchise mark with The NFC gets going Sunday injury in the last week. ²´:H¿QGRXUHGJHLQSOD\LQJ Freeney helps, but he’s not an 4,166 passing yards, and threw for when the Seahawks (10-6) visit the 23 TDs and only 3 INTs over the Vikings (11-5). Then, the Redskins in front of our home crowd. Every- every-down disruptive force. —”It brings some guys down last 10 games. thing feels just right. We don’t have (9-7) host the Packers (10-6). —Why they won’t: This team The Panthers (15-1) and Cardi- to travel to a hostile environment.” to earth and get back to work.” ² 1HZWRQ RQ KDYLQJ KRPH¿HOG Palmer on the Cardinals’ 36-6 loss LV ÀDZHG LQ D QXPEHU RI ZD\V nals (13-3) each earned a bye. including a suspect running game Here’s a look at the biggest advantage, and playing in a stadium to Seattle last week. 3. VIKINGS: and a shaky defense. And if Wash- strength and weakness of each of where they have won 11 in a row. —Why they’ll host the ington beats Green Bay in the wild- 2. CARDINALS: the six NFC playoff teams: —Why they’ll hoist the Lombardi: Defense. With 14 sacks, FDUG URXQG LW ZRXOG EH WKH ¿UVW 1. PANTHERS: —Why they’ll hoist the Lombardi: NFL’s best offense. seven takeaways and two touch- victory all season for the Redskins Lombardi: Cam Newton. The Carson Palmer set franchise records downs over a three-game winning DJDLQVW D WHDP WKDW ¿QLVKHG DERYH Panthers scored more points than for yards (4,671) and TDs (35). streak to close the regular season .500. —”He’s been a great leader for any team in the league this season Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown and win the NFC North, this group behind the versatile Newton, a surpassed 1,000-yards receiving is in a groove. It’ll be even better us on offense. He’s exactly what leading MVP candidate. He became and Fitzgerald’s 109 catches broke if nose tackle Linval Joseph, who we need right now. We’re going to WKH¿UVW1)/TXDUWHUEDFNWRWKURZ the franchise mark he set a decade PLVVHG IRXU RI WKH ODVW ¿YH JDPHV NHHS¿JKWLQJEHKLQGKLP´²WLJKW for 35 touchdowns and run for 10 ago. Rookie David Johnson has a with a toe injury, returns to the end Jordan Reed, speaking about Cousins. VFRUHVLQWKHEHVWVHDVRQRIKLV¿YH team-high 13 TDs and is a big-play lineup. —Why they won’t: Iffy offense. threat as both a runner and receiver. 5. PACKERS: year career. —Why they won’t: Protecting Teddy Bridgewater is 17-11 as a —Why they’ll host the —Why they won’t: Health. The Panthers are struggling in recent their passer and pressuring the starter but he passed for 250 yards Lombardi: No one wants to face By ARNIE STAPLETON Associated Press Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton throws a pass during prac- tice for the NFL football team in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday. Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs. When healthy, the offensive line is capable of opening holes for bullish running back Eddie Lacy. The defense and special teams have been strengths for most of the year. —Why they won’t: The offense has been searching for consistency all season, especially since they were exposed by the Denver Broncos on Nov. 1, sending them WXPEOLQJWKURXJKD¿QLVKDIWHU DVWDUW7KHFKDQFHVRI¿QGLQJ D ¿[ IRU WKHLU ELJSOD\ ZRHV DIWHU 17 weeks are slim and injuries have ravaged their O-line. —”We’re 16 games in, so you kind of are who you are, but we’ve JRWWR¿QGDZD\WRSXWLWDOOWRJHWKHU for four quarters.” — Rodgers. 6: SEAHAWKS: —Why they’ll hoist the Lombardi: Russell Wilson is hot and Marshawn Lynch is back from abdominal surgery. The two-time defending NFC champs know what it takes to win in the playoffs even if they have to hit the road to do it. They’ve won six of seven, including all three road games. Wilson has 24 TD passes and one interception in that streak. —Why they won’t: St. Louis showed the blueprint for stopping the Seahawks with its Week 16 win in Seattle. The Rams hounded him, dominated the line of scrimmage and disrupted the entire Seahawks RIIHQVH6HDWWOHIDFHVDGLI¿FXOWURDG at Minnesota in frigid conditions and, if it wins, at Carolina, both for early West Coast starts. ²´7KHVHJX\VDUHFRQ¿GHQWWKDW we can go wherever we got to go,” coach Pete Carroll. AFC playoff squads have glaring imperfections to overcome ¿QLVKHG1RLQWRWDOGHIHQVH IRUWKH¿UVWWLPHLQIUDQFKLVH history. They led the league DENVER — Each of the in sacks and were tops NFL teams still standing has DJDLQVWWKHSDVVDQG¿QLVKHG reason to believe confetti, a 33 yards shy of being best nice parade and some really against the run, too. —Why they won’t: Their big rings are headed their way. Each also knows the O-line can’t protect the locker room clean-out could passer, whether it’s Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler. come this month. The AFC gets wild-card Tyler Polumbus replaced weekend started Saturday reeling right tackle Michael when the Kansas City 6FKR¿HOG ZKHQ 0DQQLQJ Chiefs (11-5) ride a 10-game supplanted Osweiler on winning streak into Houston Sunday, and cracked that to face J.J. Watt and the he thought the crowd was Texans (9-7), who upended cheering for him. It should the injury-ravaged Indianap- have been. He kept Manning upright and keeps the job. olis Colts to win the South. —”As long as this foot- Then, the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6), who slinked ball team is winning games, into the playoffs when the shoot, I don’t care who’s New York Jets stumbled playing quarterback.” — against Buffalo last weekend, Brock Osweiler. 2. PATRIOTS: visit longtime adversary —Why they’ll hoist the Cincinnati, where the Bengals (12-4) are seeking Lombardi: Tom Brady and WKHLU ¿UVW SOD\RII ZLQ LQ D Bill Belichick. The four-time Super Bowl-winning coach quarter-century. Denver (12-4), which is and quarterback know what knee-deep in a quarterback it takes to win it all. With a quandary, and New England healthy Rob Gronkowski, (12-4), with a hobbled quar- nothing else matters. Plus, terback, get the weekend off. they’re still mad about that Here’s a look at the thing with the air in the biggest strength and weak- footballs during last year’s ness of each of the six AFC playoffs. —Why they won’t: Well, playoff teams: something else matters. 1. BRONCOS: —Why they’ll hoist The offensive line has been the Lombardi: Dominant VKXIÀHG WKURXJK LQMXULHV defense. The Broncos leaving Brady vulnerable. By ARNIE STAPLETON Associated Press AP Photo/Rick Osentoski, File In this Sept. 27, 2015, ile photo, Denver Broncos quar- terbacks Peyton Manning (18) and Brock Osweiler (17) get ready for the Broncos’ NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit. The receivers and running EDFNVRQWKH¿HOGFRPHIURP deep among their backups. — “It isn’t really important how one year relates to another year or some other game or some other season from way back when. What difference does it make?” — Bill Belichick on whether the team’s injury problems have made this path to the playoffs PRUHGLI¿FXOWWKDQLQWKHSDVW 3. BENGALS: —Why they’ll host the Lombardi: Defense wins championships, and the Bengals have one of their best ever. It yielded the fewest points in franchise history and led the AFC in fewest points allowed. Vontaze %XU¿FW LV DOO WKH ZD\ EDFN from knee surgery, Carlos Dunlap had 13 1-2 sacks and Geno Atkins added 11. —Why they won’t: Quar- terback, whoever it is. Andy Dalton broke his right thumb on Dec. 13 and it looks like AJ McCarron will get the nod. Although the Alabama alum has had some big-game experience on Saturdays, the NFL is another animal. He was 2-1 as the starter, but showed his lack of experi- ence at times. —”We’ve been there before. It’s time to right the ship. You know — exorcism.” — Coach Marvin Lewis. 4. TEXANS: —Why they’ll hoist the Lombardi: J.J. Watt. With his NFL-best 17 1-2 sacks, he joined Reggie White as the only players with 15-sack seasons in three of their ¿UVW ¿YH \HDUV 8QLW FDPH on strong down the stretch, allowing just 12.7 points RYHU WKH ¿QDO QLQH JDPHV Whitney Mercilus had a career-high 12 sacks, and Jadeveon Clowney is healthy and disruptive again. —Why they won’t: Lack of an elite QB. Houston has played musical chairs with the quarterbacks all season, starting — and winning — with four different players. Brian Hoyer is back in the starting role but the 30-year-old has been a backup for most of his seven-year career. They haven’t really replaced Arian Foster since he got hurt, and they lost left tackle Duane Brown to a season-ending thigh injury Sunday. —”This is do or die, so guys’ attention is a little higher than it would normally be.” — wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. 5. CHIEFS: —Why they’ll hoist the Lombardi: Because they’ve already established themselves as miracle workers. After a 1-5 start, they won a franchise-record 10 consecutive games to reach the playoffs. They did it with a ferocious pass rush — All-Pro linebacker Justin Houston should be back from a knee injury — and a balanced, versatile offense that rarely makes mistakes. —Why they won’t: Their luck has to run out eventually. They won a series of close games during their remarkable winning streak, taking advantage of a soft late schedule. But there are no soft opponents in the playoffs. —”I couldn’t honestly care less about what anybody says outside of this locker room. We know that when we line up against anybody, ZH¶UH FRQ¿GHQW WKDW ZH¶UH going to get the job done.” tight end Travis Kelce. 6: STEELERS: —Why they’ll hoist the Lombardi: They have Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlis- berger and you don’t. Brown caught 136 passes for 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns, numbers that could have been even better if Roethlisberger hadn’t missed a month with a sprained left knee. Forget that no receiver has ever won the honor, Denver coach Gary Kubiak said he’d vote for Brown as MVP. —Why they won’t: An all-or-nothing defense. The Steelers posted their most sacks (47) and interceptions (17) since 2010, when they won the AFC title. The problem? When they aren’t getting to the quarterback, they’re not doing much. 3LWWVEXUJK ¿QLVKHG WK against the pass.
