United Group Insurance

Sports Headline: Seahawks, Patriots advance…Grizzlies get Green from Celtics…Two Ducks suspended

Sports

January 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SEATTLE (AP) — Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes and Kam Chancellor returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown as the Seahawks beat the Carolina Panthers 31-17 to advance to the NFC title game. The Seahawks never trailed, but they weren’t able to pull away until they scored 17 straight points in the fourth quarter to go ahead 31-10. The Seahawks are the first defending Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game the following season since New England in January 2006.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England is in the AFC title game for the fourth straight year after Tom Brady threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell with 5:13 remaining to complete the Patriots’ comeback in a 35-31 triumph over Baltimore. The Ravens led 28-14 late in the third quarter before Brady threw two of his three scoring passes. The Pats tied the game on wide receiver Julian Edelman’s 51-yard pass to Danny Amendola with 4:20 left in the third quarter.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green in a three-way swap with New Orleans. A person familiar with the situation says Tayshaun Prince would go Boston and Quincy Pondexter from Memphis to New Orleans. The trade also would send Austin Rivers from the Pelicans to the Celtics, and Russ Smith from New Orleans to the Grizzlies.

DALLAS (AP) — Oregon coach Mark Helfrich says wide receiver Darren Carrington and running back Ayele Forde will not play in Monday’s national championship game against Ohio State after positive NCAA drug tests. Carrington tested positive for marijuana, and results of Ford’s test were not immediately clear.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have acquired infielders Ben Zobrist (ZOH’-brihst) and Yunel (yoo-NEHL’) Escobar from the Tampa Bay Rays for catcher John Jaso (JAY’-soh), cash and minor leaguers Daniel Robertson and Boog Powell. Zobrist is an All-Star who hit .272 with 10 home runs last season, while Escobar compiled a .258 average with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. Jaso batted .264 with nine homers and 40 ribbies before missing the last five weeks of the season with a concussion.