NFC Championship Game 2015: Latest Injury Report, Picks for Packers vs. Seahawks

It seems fitting that the close of the NFC slate should end exactly as it started. The top two teams in the conference will once against face off after 16 games to build upon the season-opener.

After earning the No. 1 seed with a strong close to the season, the Seattle Seahawks will yet again host the Green Bay Packers. When the two teams met in Week 1, Green Bay was sent packing after a 36-16 blowout.

This time around, the Packers are loaded offensively with Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Eddie Lacy and Davante Adams all serving crucial roles. If they plan to have any success, all four will need to thrive against the stout Seahawks defense headed by Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

Leading up to the huge showdown, below is a look at the latest injury report for both teams and a pick for the game.

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Game Status
Bennett, Michael	DE	Not Injury Related	DNP	FP	FP	Probable
Britt, Justin	T	Knee	DNP	FP	LP	Questionable
Johnson, Jeron	SS	Elbow	FP	FP	FP	Questionable
Lynch, Marshawn	RB	Not Injury Related	DNP	FP	FP	Probable
McDaniel, Tony	DT	Shoulder	DNP	FP	FP	Probable
Moeaki, Tony	TE	Calf	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Simon, Tharold	CB	Illness	-	-	DNP	Probable
Unger, Max	C	Ankle	FP	FP	FP	Probable

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Game Status
Boyd, Josh	DT	Ankle	LP	LP	FP	Probable
Lacy, Eddie	RB	Knee	-	LP	LP	Probable
Rodgers, Aaron	QB	Calf	LP	LP	LP	Probable
Sitton, Josh	G	Toe	LP	LP	LP	Probable

NFC Championship Prediction

The biggest game of the year between NFC opponents features two of the best quarterbacks in the entire league. Aaron Rodgers is arguably the top signal-caller, but Russell Wilson offers dual-threat ability like no other player.

Wilson, Seattle's lead man, has enjoyed success during his entire career with the Seahawks. At 5-1 in the postseason thus far, so much of what he has accomplished is typically accredited to the defense.

But as ESPN Stats & Info points out, some of that credit has to be given to Wilson's skill under center:

On the other side of the field will be a hobbled Aaron Rodgers, who sustained a calf injury during the season finale. Despite that ailment, Rodgers still threw for three touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys and looked surprisingly agile when necessary.

Two of his touchdowns came from outside of the pocket, something Rodgers has regularly done during his career. In fact, NFL on ESPN notes just how often he has rolled out to throw touchdowns:

The two quarterbacks share a backfield with a formidable pair of running backs. Lacy and Marshawn Lynch might be currently on the injury report, but both will still put on a show if they put the pads on.

In the divisional round, Lacy rushed for 101 yards despite suffering an asthma attack during the game. The second-year back spoke about the flare-up he had against Dallas, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk:

"

[I]t's a breathing thing. It’s not something you want to go out and risk...risk something bad happening.  There's nothing I can do about it.  It's a medical condition.  I take my inhaler, I do everything I’m supposed to do.  When it happens, it happens.

It’s worse in the winter time. I've had it since I was little.  Sometimes it’s worse than others.

"

An asthma attack might have slowed down Lacy, but Lynch was simply limited by a defense he has often struggled against. In the last four meetings with the Carolina Panthers, Lynch has failed to reach more than 85 yards or score a single touchdown during that span.

The season-opener against the Packers was a completely different story. Beast Mode was unleashed for 124 total yards and two touchdowns. Green Bay's rush defense will need to improve against Lynch, but Pro Football Focus points out why it might not be all about just the front seven against him:

In the end, the weapons around Rodgers will make up for any gimpiness on the field. Having stars in the defensive front like Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers will limit the Seahawks offense just enough to push the Packers through to the Super Bowl.

Final Score: Packers 23, Seahawks 20

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