Forumsregeln » which won for only the third time in its past nine games.

Believing theyre better now for having navigated an early Super Bowl hangover, the Seattle Seahawks hope to take a step toward becoming the first repeat champions in 10 years. With their defense seemingly back in title form, the Seahawks look to extend the NFLs longest winning streak to seven games by stopping the Carolina Panthers surprising run Saturday night in the NFC divisional round. Watch the game live on CTV starting at 8pm et/5pm pt. You can also listen to the game on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto. Seattle has come a long way since splitting its first six games while the defense looked nothing like the unit that dominated high-scoring Denver in a 43-8 victory in Super Bowl XLVII. Through the first seven weeks, the Seahawks ranked 19th in defensive scoring at 23.5 while allowing 324.5 yards per game. At that point, they didnt appear capable of becoming the first team since New England in 2005 to repeat. Its been difficult for people, and the history of it shows you that its hard to come back and get yourself back into this kind of position again, coach Pete Carroll said. Carrolls squad has done that by getting back to its ball-hawking ways. The Seahawks allowed three touchdowns, 39 points and kept five of six opponents to seven points or less while winning their last six games to finish 12-4. They did not allow a point in the fourth quarter during that stretch, surrendering 66.0 yards rushing and 136.2 yards passing per game to finish with the leagues top-ranked defense for the second straight season. The Seahawks will have to continue that effort in the playoffs without defensive tackle Jordan Hill (calf), who had been a force inside with 5 1/2 sacks over the final six games. We figured it out; it just took us a long time, Carroll said. It just took us longer than we would like, but the thing that happened this year just happened in different order than it did last year. Seattle, which has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, seeks its eighth straight postseason home win and fifth consecutive victory overall in the past five seasons against Carolina (8-8-1). The Panthers have only managed one offensive touchdown in the past three meetings after Cam Newton went 12 of 22 for 171 yards with an interception and a lost fumble in a 13-9 home loss Oct. 26. Since throwing an interception in eight consecutive starts, Newton has seven touchdowns and two picks in his last four. He tossed two TDs in last Saturdays 27-16 home win over Arizona in the wild-card round, but also had an interception that led to a touchdown and coughed up a fumble. We have to play better than we have, said coach Ron Rivera, whose home sustained significant damage from a fire two days after the win. We just have to be smarter than some of the things we did out there. We have to protect the football. Carolina became the first team to go more than two months without a win and reach the playoffs with four straight victories - including one without Newton after he was injured in a car accident Dec. 9. The Panthers also have turned things around on the defensive end, allowing 11.8 points and 238.2 yards per game in their last five. Led by linebacker Luke Kuechly, they gave up 78 yards last weekend - the fewest ever allowed in the playoffs. Defensive end Star Lotulelei has been critical to the improved play down the stretch, but he wont be available after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot. It isnt the prettiest thing, but we got a date to the prom at the end of the day, safety Roman Harper said. Were here. Shes probably not the best-looking one; shes not going to win prom queen, but well have a good time. The Panthers will look to contain Seattle playmakers Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch as they try to advance to the NFC championship game for the first time since a 34-14 loss to the Seahawks in 2005. Wilson has thrown for nine touchdowns with two interceptions over his last seven games and led the league with 53.1 rushing yards per game among quarterbacks. Newton ranked third at 38.5. Wilson, though, has totaled 54 rushing yards while completing 71.1 percent of his passes with three scores and three picks in three meetings with Carolina. He found tight end Luke Willson for the winning 23-yard scoring play with 47 seconds remaining in October. Lynch has a league high-tying eight rushing touchdowns and ranks fourth with 94.6 rushing yards per game since Week 10. However, he hasnt run for more than 85 yards in five games against the Panthers, going without a TD in the past three. Seattle will get a lift with the return of center Max Unger following a six-game absence due to knee and ankle injuries. Discount Custom Jerseys . Kerber will next play Estonias Kaia Kanepi, who beat American qualifier Victoria Duval 6-1, 6-3. In other first-round matches, Lucie Safarova beat 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4 and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canadas Eugenie Bouchard. Cheap Custom Wear . UCI President Brian Cookson said Wednesday the commission will investigate allegations "that the UCI has been involved in wrongdoing in the past -- allegations which have done so much to hurt the credibility of the UCI and our sport. http://www.customjerseysnearme.com/ . Both sides came closest to scoring in the first half, when Roma had a goal from Mattia Destro waved off for offside and Inters Rodrigo Palacio headed high. "A draw was a fair result. Neither squad had many chances," Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic said. Custom Football Jerseys . Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves to backstop the Penguins to a 2-1 victory over the Flames, handing Calgary its team record sixth consecutive home regulation loss. Clearance Custom Jerseys . Listen to the Rangers vs. Kings live on TSN Radio starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. You can also stream the post-game press conferences live on TSN.PITTSBURGH -- Tony Sanchez knows hes heading back to Triple-A soon enough. The Pittsburgh Pirates backup catcher will be going to Indianapolis when Russell Martins strained left hamstring is healed. Its a reality Sanchez can deal with so long as he makes a contribution while given the chance. At the moment, thats hardly a problem. Sanchez tiebreaking single off Baltimores Ryan Webb in the bottom of the seventh scored Starling Marte to give the Pirates the lead for good in a 9-8 win on Wednesday night. Coming off an embarrassing 9-2 loss on Tuesday and desperately in need of something positive, Sanchez helped Pittsburgh earn a split of the brief two-game interleague set. "Its almost a must win," Sanchez said. "We didnt have a really good road trip. To start off this homestand and go 0-2 it wouldnt have been pretty. Thats huge for me." Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 4 with an RBI and his first two extra-base hits in more than two weeks for Pittsburgh, which won for only the third time in its past nine games. Marte and Ike Davis had three hits and two RBIs apiece for the Pirates. Bryan Morris (4-0) earned the victory after allowing the Orioles to tie the game in the top of the seventh. No biggie. Mark Melancon worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save, one that capped a weird night in which the teams combined for 14 runs in the first two innings while starters Wandy Rodriguez and Chris Tillman took turns getting hit hard. It ended in more orderly fashion after Marte led off the seventh with a bunt single, moved to third on a single by Davis and scored when Sanchez laced a Webb offering into right field. "Its a game-winning hit, hes got a few of them," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Sanchez. "Hes got extreme confidence." Nelson Cruz hit his 14th homer of the season and drove in three runs for the Orioles. Nick Markakis, Chris Davis and JJ Hardy had two hits and one RBI apiece but Baltimore left 10 men on base. "You had two early exits from starters and it became a game out of the bullpen and they pushed one across there late," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "But our guys, we had a couple opportunities to score somee more, but I cant fault the offence.dddddddddddd" Pittsburgh began the night eight games under .500 in part because of a struggling starting staff that has hardly looked like the group that led the team to the post-season last fall. Things didnt get much better, but the bullpen briefly recaptured its touch. Vin Mazzaros worked 3 1-3 innings of hitless relief to steady things after Rodriguez made a mess of things during 1 2-3 poor innings. The veteran left-hander has struggled with his command and his conviction all season and did little to convince Hurdle he was ready to turn the corner despite being spotted a 4-0 first-inning lead thanks in part to a two-run triple by Marte. The 35-year-old Rodriguez, in the final year of his contract, promptly gave the big lead away as Cruz led off the second a blistering solo home run and added a two-run double later in the inning to put the Orioles in front. Rodriguezs throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Tillman meant he was only charged with one earned run for his 1 2-3 innings of work, dropping his ERA from 6.84 to 6.75. Hurdle said it was too early to discuss whether Rodriguez would make his next start, though Rodriguez insists hes healthy after missing time early this season with a left knee injury. Tillman couldnt take advantage of the reprieve. Coming off a shutout win over Kansas City in his previous start, Tillman only managed to get three outs. He failed to retire a batter in the second as the first six Pittsburgh batters reached base. Brad Brach came on in relief to get out of the inning, but not until after the Orioles trailed 8-6. NOTES: Pirates closer Jason Grilli could return as early as Saturday. Grilli has been on the disabled list since sustaining a left oblique strain on April 20. He threw 20 pitches in a simulated game on Tuesday without incident ... The Orioles sent LHP Wei-Yin Chen back to Baltimore ahead of the team on Wednesday as a precaution due to concerns over weather in Pittsburgh. Chen (5-2, 3.69 ERA) is scheduled to start on Thursday against Cleveland. ... The Pirates begin a four-game series with Washington on Thursday. Edinson Volquez (1-4, 4.71) starts for the Pirates against Washingtons Blake Treinen (0-1, 0.77). Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '