NFC Championship Game 2015: Key Players, Injuries and Packers vs. Seahawks Picks

There's no questioning the potency of the Green Bay Packers offense, but good luck figuring out the fast, aggressive, suffocating defense of the Seattle Seahawks.

The NFC Championship Game pits the top two seeds in the conference against each other next weekend in a fight to get to the Super Bowl. Each team is talented enough to warrant a spot in the Big Game, but only the best squad will get there.   

Seattle is at the immediate advantage given Aaron Rodgers' calf injury, which has nagged him for weeks. With his mobility compromised, Rodgers will find it difficult to escape the NFL's most ferocious defense.

There are multiple factors in this game aside from Rodgers' calf. Continue on to learn more about team injury reports, key players and more heading into the contest.

Team Injury Reports

Updated NFC Championship Game injury reports have yet to be released. Below, you'll find the most recent reports, as of the NFC Divisional Round, as reference. Reports are via NFL.com.

Player	Position	Injury	Game Status
Brandon Bostick	TE	--	--
Josh Boyd	DE	Knee	Probable
Davon House	CB	Shoulder	Probable
Aaron Rodgers	QB	Calf	Probable
Josh Sitton	G	Toe	Probable
Seandre Richardson	S	Knee	Questionable

Player	Position	Injury	Game Status
Jeron Johnson	S	Elbow	Out
Michael Bennett	DE	Not Injury Related	Probable
Demarcus Dobbs	DE	Ankle	Probable
Cooper Helfet	TE	Ribs	Probable
Jermaine Kearse	WR	Hamstring	Probable
Marshawn Lynch	RB	Back	Probable
Byron Maxwell	CB	Illness	Probable
Tharold Simon	CB	Shoulder	Probable
Max Unger	C	Ankle	Probable
Anthony Moeaki	TE	Calf	Questionable

Eddie Lacy

If Rodgers can't run, then somebody has to do the heavy lifting on the ground.

Eddie Lacy is more than capable of shouldering the load, but do not use him out of the I-formation:

The second-year back has become a force out of the backfield for the Packers, especially with Rodgers incapable of making all the plays he can when in peak condition. Lacy has combined smart running with his bulldozing power to overwhelm opposing defenses down the stretch.

He isn't the fastest of running backs, but Bleacher Report's Matt Miller tweets that Lacy's other attributes more than make up for his lack of wheels:

His importance to this game is nearly immeasurable. Running the ball against Seattle isn't easy. The Seahawks rank No. 3 against the run, allowing just 81.5 yards per game on the ground. Lacy has rushed for less than 80 yards just once since Nov. 23 (Dec. 8 against the Atlanta Falcons). Something's gotta give.

If the Packers want Lacy to be successful, then they need to run him between the tackles. The speed of the Seahawks defense will eliminate any runs outside the tackles, resulting in wasted downs and long yardage for Rodgers to overcome.

As things stand now, keeping the offense fluid is Lacy's responsibility. Of course, the phrases "fluid offense" and "Seahawks defense" don't usually go hand in hand.

Doug Baldwin

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Russell Wilson doesn't have a No. 1 receiver to throw to, but instead, he has a collection of midtier receivers who often go under the radar. Doug Baldwin is one such wideout.

The fourth-year pro doesn't have exceptional physical skills. He runs crisp routes and uses his football intelligence to make himself a viable option through the air, and that has made him a No. 1 by default on this offense.

He has just six catches over his last two contests, though he does have the potential to explode from time to time. He caught seven balls for 113 yards three games ago.

Baldwin doesn't need to have a 100-yard performance to live up to his status as a key player. He doesn't even need to catch more than five balls. His importance lies in how much attention he attracts from the Packers secondary.

Jermaine Kearse is the home run threat, but he can't find the space necessary to make a catch-and-run if Baldwin isn't commanding the Packers' top corner. Even further, Baldwin's crisp routes can command two defensive backs if he is able to confuse the defenders. It's something he has done multiple times in recent weeks.

Baldwin is not a decoy, of course. He's a perfectly capable receiver who could feasibly have a huge game while also impacting the way his fellow receivers perform.

When the Seahawks offense is at its best, Wilson spreads the ball around and gives it almost equally to all his receivers. But Baldwin is the start of it all.

Seahawks Defense

The most dominant unit in the NFL will be on display this weekend, and it's not the Packers' offense.

There isn't a more intimidating defense in football. The individual players are disciplined yet tenacious, and the collective group can be described with one word: speed. NFL Network's Albert Breer tweeted his reaction to watching them against the Carolina Panthers:

Former NFL fullback Heath Evans told The Fan 1090 AM's Jason Churchill what that means for opposing offenses:

There you have it. Don't run outside against the Seahawks. That's why Lacy needs to stay inside the tackles. That's why Rodgers would be foolish to leave the pocket. That's why the variety of screens for wide receivers that the Packers run with their speedy receivers will prove ineffective.

The Seahawks' speed takes away so many of the Packers' bread-and-butter options, seemingly pushing this game into the defending champs' favor. Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy are versatile (and professional) enough to adapt the attack, but it's hard to picture the Packers straying too far away from what got them to this point.

As the most influential unit in football, the Seahawks defense is a key to every single game the team plays.

Prediction

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A great defense will beat a potent offense nine times out of 10. Chalk this one up to the majority.

If Rodgers were 100 percent, then perhaps this could be viewed differently. But without a perfectly capable Rodgers, Green Bay will struggle to move the ball consistently.

The Seahawks defense creates points for this offense, whether it be on defensive touchdowns or setting up the offense for scores. Short fields are common for Wilson, making his life much easier.

One would expect a more compelling result in a conference title game, but the Seahawks will wrap this up with ease.

Prediction: Seahawks win, 31-20

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn