Post by vive123654 on Apr 29, 2014 1:59:51 GMT -5
SEATTLE -- Once the doors to the Seattle Seahawks locker room opened, the music came blaring out. Players danced while still in uniform and donned hats reading "NFC West Champions." On their third try, the Seahawks finally got to celebrate after wrapping up the division title and home-field advantage in the playoffs with a 27-9 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Having failed two times previously, Seattle ensured the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through the Pacific Northwest. "We can check the NFC West off our list," quarterback Russell Wilson said, "but we still have a lot more to do." Malcolm Smith returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter to get Seattle started, Marshawn Lynch added a 2-yard scoring run in the second half and the Seahawks (13-3) matched the franchise record for wins in a season. By doing so, the favourites in the NFC for most of the season finally wrapped up the No. 1 seed after losses to San Francisco and last week to Arizona, which snapped a 14-game home winning streak. Seattle won the toughest division in the NFL behind the leagues best defence. The Seahawks home field is still feared, and they will host Green Bay, New Orleans or San Francisco in the divisional round in two weeks. Seattles combined record at home the past two seasons against those three teams: 4-0. "Its more of a sense of accomplishment," Smith said. "It would have been really sad if we didnt get that done, but were happy to be in the position that were in." Wilson finished 15 of 23 for 172 yards. Lynch finished with 97 yards on 23 carries, his best game since running for a season-best 145 yards against Atlanta in Week 10 Seattle capped the victory with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Golden Tate early in the fourth quarter that lacked the unsportsmanlike wave that got Tate flagged on a similar TD reception in St. Louis earlier this season. Tate finished with eight catches for 129 yards, both career highs in his final regular-season game before he becomes a free agent. But with home-field advantage wrapped up, there might be a few post-season games still to come for Tate and the Seahawks. "Its an awesome feeling. Its a great feeling to feel like you really helped in this game," Tate said. The only other time Seattle had home-field advantage was 2005, the only time the Seahawks have reached the Super Bowl. Theyll get a week of rest before hosting in the divisional round, and they might need the time off after a pair of key injuries Sunday to defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (groin) and tight end Luke Willson (leg). Willson was taken off the field on a cart in the fourth quarter with an air cast on his leg. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said the team believes its not broken. Still, the upcoming week off is needed. "I definitely need it. I was getting smacked today," Tate said. Seattles defence closed the season with one of its finest performances. It started with Smiths interception return for a touchdown a week after he was tackled at the 3-yard line trying to score on an interception return. But it went beyond just the two interceptions Seattle grabbed to finish the season with a league-leading 28. Led by Mebane, Seattles defensive line flustered Kellen Clemens. Zac Stacy, who needed 42 yards rushing to reach 1,000 on the season, was held to 15 yards on 15 carries. The Rams had 13 yards rushing, tied for the fewest allowed in Seattle history. "They had about nine guys down there in the box," Clemens said. "You only have about seven or eight to block and they did a good job." Seattle also kept its cool while St. Louis was losing its composure. The Rams (7-9) were penalized 12 times for 87 yards. St. Louis was flagged for four personal foul penalties in the span of two plays late in the third quarter -- two on Alec Ogletree and two on Kendall Langford. Langford was flagged for making contact with an official, which appeared inadvertent. Langford was ejected and became incensed, slamming his helmet to the turf as he left the field. Two plays later Lynch walked in from the 2, Seattle led 20-3 and the celebration was just getting started. "This whole thing just feels like a dream to me," Seattle safety Kam Chancellor said. "It feels good right now just to see my brothers happy." NOTES: Tate became the first Seattle player with at least eight receptions in a game since Doug Baldwin in 2011. ... Rams P Johnny Hekker set an NFL record for net yards punting for a season. Hekker had a 44.2 net average. The previous record was 44.0 by San Franciscos Andy Lee in 2011. ... St. Louis DE Robert Quinn had one sack and finished with 19 for the season. cheap jerseys . - Cory Boyd is making the most of his chances this season. cheap jerseys from china . Defensive back Jonathan Hefney apologized Thursday for offending fans with comments on the social media website. The tweet involved some lewd comments and a link to a photo of a partially naked woman. www.cheapjerseysrs.com/ . Benn missed five games while recovering from an emergency appendectomy. Hes expected to play in Sundays all-star game in Ottawa and be back in the lineup when the Stars return from the break Tuesday at Anaheim. cheapjerseysrs . Maholm (5-9) lasted six innings, allowing three runs -- one earned -- on five hits and three walks while striking out three. DArnaud went 2-for-5 and crossed the plate with the eventual game-winner in the fifth on a Neil Walker single. cheap authentic jerseys . -- Anthony Mantha increased his lead atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring race on Friday as his Val-dOr Foreurs blanked the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 3-0.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. With temperatures dropping and snow piling up outside the teams facility, Johnson wondered who had the bright idea to have Buffalo (4-7) "host" the warm-weather Atlanta Falcons (2-9) inside the climate-controlled confines of Torontos Rogers Centre on Sunday. "Yeah, they must have fixed the schedule or something out there in Atlanta. Its supposed to be out here at the Ralph," Johnson said Wednesday, referring to the Bills home, Ralph Wilson Stadium. "Who put the schedule together to have them come to Toronto?" Johnson and his teammates are finding themselves at a sudden disadvantage as Buffalo prepares for its annual trip north of the border to resume the "Bills in Toronto" series, which was first established in 2008 and renewed for another five years in January. The Falcons have been eliminated from playoff contention. The Bills come off their bye week still on the fringes of the AFC post-season hunt. Theyre 3-3 at Orchard Park, including a decisive 37-14 win over the New York Jets on Nov. 17. "It is what it is," Johnson said. "We cant really make excuses for it. We cant complain about it. We just got to go out and try to handle business." An added wrinkle to the game is news that Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment -- the company that controls the Leafs and NBA Raptors -- has aligned itself with New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi to make a push to bring an NFL franchise to Toronto. One logical option would be the Bills. In establishing the series, the Bills turned to their neighbours to the north in a bid to expand their region. The deal provides the Bills a much-needed boost to their small-market franchises revenue base by essentially leasing out a home game to Canadian communications giant, Rogers Communications. What the Bills lose, however, is a distinct late-season edge they would normally get playing in the cold and blustery conditions in Buffalo. "Yeah, wed love to get them outside in the elements. That would definitely be an advantage," centre Eric Wood said. "But this is a deal weve got to embrace. Its impoortant to our franchise.dddddddddddd You cant go up there with a bad attitude." Like it or not, the Bills are resigned to knowing they have no choice when it comes to making the two-hour trek to Canadas largest city and financial capital. Its a metropolis of more than 5 million residents, where the NHLs Maple Leafs dominate the sports pages, and a place better known these days for Mayor Rob Fords various attention-grabbing troubles. Wood drew headlines of his own last year after Buffalos 50-17 loss to Seattle at Toronto. Unable to make the trip because of a sprained right knee, Wood grew frustrated watching on TV and seeing the lack of support the Bills got from the crowd. He called it "a joke," and added: "Those non-Bills fans that go to the game are just cheering for plays as opposed to cheering for a team. And that kills you." Wood was in a more diplomatic mood this week when reminded of his comments. "It was a heat of the moment-type deal," he said. "I was excited about the opportunity to go up there and hopefully get a win. And Im approaching it the same way this year." Getting a win would be a start. The Bills are 1-4 in regular-season games at Toronto, with their lone win a 23-0 victory over Washington in 2011. The series opened with a dud, when Buffalo managed just 163 yards offence in a 16-3 loss to Miami. Turnout has been an issue in part because of expensive ticket prices and the perennial struggles of a Bills team thats not made the playoffs since 1999. Though the first four games were listed as sellouts, Rogers acknowledged the count included thousands of freebies. And those fans that do show up represent the mixed loyalties Canadians have toward the NFL. Though a majority of fans attending games wear Bills jerseys, its not uncommon to spot others wearing a wide range of colours -- from the Cowboys, to 49ers, and even the CFL Argonauts. First-year Bills coach Doug Marrone said its up to his team to generate an edge. "In order to create that advantage, you have to go up there and play well," Marrone said. "I think we do have some fans in Toronto. And I think if we play well, well create more fans." ' ' '