lluggg439

e first was a visit

Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch to face former Bills team at Rogers Centre

Marshawn Lynch won't have to prepare for a frosty reception Sunday in his Buffalo Bills homecoming.

The veteran running back will face Buffalo for the first time since being dealt to the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. But the Bills' 2007 first round pick will do so in the relative comfort of Rogers Centre and not the cold, rainy conditions that are forecast for Western New York.

"We won't miss that day at (Ralph Wilson Stadium)," Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said with a chuckle during a conference call Wednesday. "We'll be just fine.''

The game is the last under the inaugural Bills Toronto Series agreement which saw Rogers Communication Inc. pay Nike NFL Jerseys the Buffalo club a whopping US$78 million to stage three exhibition and five regular season games at Rogers Centre. Although no formal announcement has been made, the deal is expected to be extended through 2017 once Buffalo finalizes a new lease agreement for Ralph Wilson Stadium after the present one expires at season's end.

Buffalo dealt Lynch to Seattle in October 2010 following two off field incidents, including one that resulted in a three game suspension. But the former University of wholesale jerseys California star is apt to receive more cheers than jeers when introduced at Rogers Centre on Sunday.

Since 2008, Bills players have complained while Buffalo is the home team at Rogers Centre, the atmosphere in the domed facility doesn't come close to replicating the loud, ear splitting support the team gets at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

"The atmosphere is different and I think everybody knows that," Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "It's much different than the Ralph in terms of the noise and intensity and all that.

"But we're going to have more fans there than they will and we have to be able to take advantage of that."

Buffalo has also struggled to establish home field advantage at Rogers Centre, having posted a 1 3 record in regular season games there during the series. The Bills did win two exhibition games there, with a third scheduled for earlier this year being cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.

When told of the advantage visiting teams have playing in Toronto, Carroll acknowledged the difficulty Buffalo faces at Rogers Centre.

"If we had to play somewhere else at a different site and were playing up in Vancouver I would think that would be different," Carroll said. "It's going to be (a) different makeup in the crowd.

"But it's not going to factor into anything that we're doing or anything that we approach unless it does. If it does, we'll hopefully be a beneficiary of it. It's kind of like a bowl game, you go play in somebody else's place and see what happens."

Seattle will have a Canadian on its roster Sunday.

Punter Jon Ryan, 31, of Regina, is in his fifth season with the Seahawks and seventh in the NFL (2006 '07 with Green Bay). The former University of Regina star began his pro career with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bomber (2004 '05).

Former Calgary Stampeder Brandon Browner, a Pro Bowl cornerback, is in his second season with Seattle but won't play Sunday. The six foot four, 221 pound Browner is serving a four game suspension for using performance enhancing drugs and will miss the rest of the regular season.

Buffalo's lone regular season win in the series was a convincing 23 0 decision over the Washington Redskins last year before 51,579 spectators. Fortunately for the Bills, they were clearly the team of choice with the Toronto fans.

"Last year it felt like a home game," said Bills head coach Chan Gailey. "That's what you hope to create and continue to develop where that becomes like a game right here.

"If we can get that, that would be great.''

Buffalo's win over Washington proved to be the club's high water mark. After improving to 5 2, the Bills recorded just one more win the rest of the way to miss the playoffs for a 12th straight year, the longest drought in the NFL.

Buffalo's plight hasn't improved much this season at 5 8 the Bills' playoff hopes are paper thin. The club is coming off a disappointing 15 12 home loss to the St. Louis Rams and will need plenty of help to make the playoffs.

Much more was expected this season after Buffalo reached into the vault to sign free agent defensive linemen Mario Williams and Mark Anderson while re signing receiver Stevie Johnson. Buffalo lured Williams from the Houston Texans with a six year, US$100 million contract.

Seattle (8 5) remains in the thick of the NFC playoff race and is coming off a lopsided 58 0 victory over Arizona. Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson will make only his second trip to Canada the first was a visit to Vancouver and first to Toronto.

"I'm excited to go there and play there in a cool venue," he said. "I can't wait.''

Wilson also downplayed the advantage the visiting team has in Toronto.

"I don't think it has an affect on us either way," he said. "We have to play our best game against a Buffalo Bills team that has some tremendous player and we have so much respect for them.

"One hundred yards is 100 NFL Jerseys Cheap yards no matter where we play.''

However Gailey said the Bills aren't frustrated with losing a true home date for a game that has the feel of a neutral site affair.

"Frustrating is not winning, frustrating is not where you play," he said. "You have to win wherever you are.

"You'd rather be at home, everybody would rather be at home but you can't play 16 at home. You play the way it's scheduled.''

if the Saints hope to ma

New Orleans Saints must learn from loss now that road to Super Bowl runs through Seattle

on Monday night felt more like 64 7 for the guys in Black

and Gold. Or 104 7.

There were no Who Dat chants from the scores of Saints fans who braved the cold, wet weather to attend the showdown between the NFC's two best teams at CenturyLink Field. It was readily apparent who dat was after the Seahawks' emphatic beat down before a nationally televised audience.

The Seahawks didn't just beat the Saints. They emasculated them.

This was total domination, the likes of which Sean Payton

and Drew Brees haven't experienced in more than half a decade.

It's been more than six years since the Saints were Kam Chancellor Jersey Authentic humbled

like this. The last and only time it's happened was 2007, when Peyton Manning

and the Indianapolis Colts strafed them 41 10. But that was Week 1, not Week

13. And that Saints outfit wasn't nearly as talented as this one.

You got the feeling midway through the second half that the Saints could have been given five downs, 12 players and the Seahawks' defensive playbook and they still wouldn't have been able to score.

"We'll look at the tape, but we had trouble Kam Chancellor Youth Jersey rushing the

football, we had trouble protecting www.nflseahawksofficialstore.com/31+Kam+Chancellor+Jersey+Cheap.html the passer, getting guys open," Payton

"We didn't do enough things in any one area. .

"We got beat good tonight."

Normally you'd want to burn the tape after a game like this.

But the Saints can't afford to this time. They likely will have to see the

Seahawks again. The road to Super Bowl goes through the Pacific Northwest. And

if the Saints hope to make their second Super Bowl appearance, they're going

to have to come back here at some point.

The Saints have seven weeks to figure out what

went wrong and get it fixed. The NFC championship game will be played Jan. 19, and barring

an epic meltdown it will be played in Seattle.

"We know they are a team we are going to have to deal with in the future," Brees "We are going to have to find a way to play better against these guys when that time comes."

The Saints have seven

New Orleans Saints must learn from loss now that road to Super Bowl runs through Seattle

on Monday night felt more like 64 7 for the guys in Black

and Gold. Or 104 7.

There were no Who Dat chants from the scores of Saints fans who braved the cold, wet weather to attend the showdown between the NFC's two best teams at CenturyLink Field. It was readily apparent who dat was after the Seahawks' emphatic beat down before a nationally televised audience.

The Seahawks didn't just beat the Saints. They emasculated them.

This was total domination, the likes of which Sean Payton

and Drew Brees haven't experienced in more than half a decade.

It's been more than six years since the Saints were Kam Chancellor Jersey Authentic humbled

like this. The last and only time it's happened was 2007, when Peyton Manning

and the Indianapolis Colts strafed them 41 10. But that was Week 1, not Week

13. And that Saints outfit wasn't nearly as talented as this one.

You got the feeling midway through the second half that the Saints could have been given five downs, 12 players and the Seahawks' defensive playbook and they still wouldn't have been able to score.

"We'll look at the tape, but we had trouble Kam Chancellor Youth Jersey rushing the

football, we had trouble protecting www.nflseahawksofficialstore.com/31+Kam+Chancellor+Jersey+Cheap.html the passer, getting guys open," Payton

"We didn't do enough things in any one area. .

"We got beat good tonight."

Normally you'd want to burn the tape after a game like this.

But the Saints can't afford to this time. They likely will have to see the

Seahawks again. The road to Super Bowl goes through the Pacific Northwest. And

if the Saints hope to make their second Super Bowl appearance, they're going

to have to come back here at some point.

The Saints have seven weeks to figure out what

went wrong and get it fixed. The NFC championship game will be played Jan. 19, and barring

an epic meltdown it will be played in Seattle.

"We know they are a team we are going to have to deal with in the future," Brees "We are going to have to find a way to play better against these guys when that time comes."

pass on a flea flicker from

Which Seahawks play was most memorable

The Seahawks victory over Atlanta on Sunday was full Kellen Davis Authentic Jersey of highlights if you a Seattle fan. The Seahawks ran the ball at will, passed deep often, played tough defense and even unveiled some trick plays.

But for me the highlight of the day was Marshawn Lynch inspired stiff arm in the first half.

I watched the replay several times Sunday and saw the great photo in our print edition by The Associated Press of Lynch right hand slamming back Atlanta safety William Moore head as Lynch cradles the ball in his left arm.

That play speaks volumes about the Seahawks determination and try and stop us attitude, something that had been missing for a few weeks but was on full display Sunday in Atlanta. It also reminded me that the stiff arm is something of a lost art in football but a powerful weapon that the Seahawks use well, better than most teams.

I seen Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson keep tacklers at bay with a well timed straight arm, and I even seen Seattle receivers use it, too.

But none used it as impressively as Lynch did Sunday. It almost seems unfair for the player nicknamed Beast Mode because of his punishing running style to be able to thrust one of his hands into the face of defender. Imagine for a moment that you a defensive back trying to take down Lynch who is listed as 5 feet 11, 215 pounds, but likely weighs more under a full head of steam. You finally got your hands on him and think you about to take him down. Then a battering ram of a hand pops you in the face mask and snaps your head back.

The stiff arm is perfectly legal and just another formidable weapon at the disposal of arguably the most physical running back in the NFL.

Seahawk receiver Jermaine Kearse catches a 43 yard www.nflseahawksofficialstore.com/87+Kellen+Davis+Jersey+Cheap.html touchdown pass on a flea flicker from Russell Wilson.

Seattle Times staff photo by John Lok

So that was the play that stopped me Sunday and left me shaking my head. It was a statement by a Seahawks player that when you try to Kellen Davis Jersey Womens take Lynch down, it won be easy.

Other plays were memorable, too, though. So I wondering what you considered the most memorable play from a game full of them. Vote in our poll and weigh in with a comment to this post.

the usual amount for a

Golden Tate fined for taunt Authentic Chris Clemons Jersey against Rams

Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) gets into it against Rams free safety Rodney McLeod (23) after Tate scored a touchdown against Seattle.(Photo: Michael Conroy, AP)

Story HighlightsNFL fined Golden Tate $7,875 for his flagrant taunting violationBengals LB Vontaze Burfict was fined $21,000 for unnecessary roughnessThe Falcons Osi Umenyiora and William Moore were each fined $15,750If you're going to taunt, you might as well go all out.

The NFL fined Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate $7,875 for his flagrant taunting violation in Monday's win over St. Louis Rams. www.nflseahawksofficialstore.com/91+Chris+Clemons+Jersey+Cheap.html

That's the usual amount for a first infraction, though Tate's taunt was anything but ordinary.

It happened on an 80 yard touchdown catch by Tate, who immediately raised the ball in his left hand and ran the last 30 yards or so waving goodbye to Rams safety Rodney McLeod with his right.

MIDSEASON: NFL predictions and awards

The act slowed down Tate so much McLeod nearly Chris Clemons Jersey Womens had a chance to knock him out of bounds before he reached the end zone.

The touchdown stood, per NFL rules, and the penalty was enforced on the ensuing kickoff. Tate later said he would apologize to the Seahawks' special teams unit and it wouldn't happen again.