The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will kick off the 2014 NFL season tonight when they host Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in a rematch of the famed "Fail Mary" game of 2012. Adidas Zx 750 Pas Cher . You can watch the game live on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5 and all of TSN Radios stations at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt, with coverage beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Things have changed dramatically since that contest, however. The Seahawks are now the big bullies on the block, a group champing at the bit to build on the franchises first championship season in what has become the NFLs most difficult place to play, CenturyLink Field. Seattle is an imposing 17-1 on its home field since third-year quarterback Russell Wilson took over the team and the clubs fans, known as the 12th Man, create the loudest environment in all of pro football. "Weve all been waiting to get this thing started," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "The stage will be great," Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson added. "You always like playing on national TV because everyone is watching you. It is a great opportunity for all of us. It will be a good time." Last time the Pack made the trip out to the Pacific Northwest, Wilson found ex-teammate Golden Tate for a 24-yard touchdown on the final play of the contest to give the Seahawks a 14-12 win. Tates TD was hardly the story, though, as the contest proved to be the impetus for the NFL to make up with its full-time officials, who were locked out at the time due to a labor dispute. Then-Packer M.D. Jennings and Tate both got their hands on the ball on the game-winning play with the replacement zebras ruling simultaneous possession, therefore awarding the TD and the game to Seattle. Prior to the catch, though, Tate clearly shoved a defender with both hands, which the NFL later acknowledged should have drawn an offensive pass interference penalty, an outcome that would have negated the touchdown and resulted in a Packers victory. This time around the "real officials" will certainly be on hand but they will bring with them a directive to put an "enhanced emphasis" on certain penalties, including illegal contact and defensive holding. That could affect the Seahawks, who are fresh off a 43-8 drubbing of Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII against a Broncos team which just happened to be the first NFL in history to score over 600 points in a season. That meant little to Seattles physical defence, however, which helped build a 22-0 halftime lead, and a humbling 36-0 advantage before finally allowing the Broncos first score on the final play of the third quarter. The Seahawks stingy stop unit scored a safety on the first play from scrimmage -- the quickest score in Super Bowl history -- before tacking on an interception return for a score from linebacker Malcolm Smith, who also recovered a fumble and made nine tackles en route to being named Super Bowl MVP. When the carnage was finally over the Broncos were held to nearly 30 points below their scoring average and five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning had thrown two picks. Fast forward to the 2014 preseason and the NFL reacted to Seattles dominance by ****ing down on penalties believed to be "under-officiated," including the aforementioned illegal contact and defensive holding calls. Many believe that directive was a nod to the Seahawks success last season, almost a warning to "The Legion of Boom," the ultra-physical defensive backfield which consistently beat up on opposing receivers en route to the Lombardi Trophy. Despite being the most penalized team in the league in 2013 the Seahawks reached the pinnacle by forcing officials to throw the flag in key moments, something Carroll correctly surmised most wouldnt be willing to do. Penalties, however, were up to a ludicrous degree at times during the preseason, something the Seahawks coach hopes changes when the regular season gets underway. "I hope that the league office will be open to the conversation," Carroll said earlier this preseason. "It doesnt seem quite right. It seems like there are too many calls being made and too many incidental calls that seem to be affecting the game. So, well see -- Its obviously different. So, the question is: Is it better? I dont know." For now, the league insists that the renewed emphasis on these particular penalties will continue throughout the regular season. "Were not going to change how were calling the games once the regular season starts," NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino told MMQB.com. Blandinos belief, however, is that teams will adjust to the stricter rules and play accordingly, meaning the extra flags will disappear, a scenario the league has tried to sell from the beginning of this process. "Coaches adjust, and players adjust," Blandino said. "They have to, and they know it. And well correct our officials when we feel theyre being overzealous with certain calls." As for the Packers, they will enter the 2014 season understanding what life was like without Rodgers for an extended period of time. And the results were hardly pretty. A broken collarbone sidelined the Green Bay superstar for seven straight weeks in 2013 as the Pack floundered before A-Rod returned with his Superman cape in tow to lead Green Bay to a season-ending victory over Chicago, a triumph which secured the teams third straight division title despite a pedestrian 8-7-1 record in the downtrodden NFC North. The Pack was 5-2 and likely on the way to 6-2 when the Bears Shea McClellin sent Rodgers to the MASH unit, a play which literally slammed the brakes on the clubs campaign last year. Things completely fell apart with Scott Tolzien and Matt Flynn at the helm as Mike McCarthys team failed to win again until Week 14 when they barely squeaked by an injury-riddled Falcons club that had already tapped out of what was a dismal season for them. These two clubs have met 16 times, including the regular season and playoffs. Green Bay leads the regular-season series 9-6 and took both playoff meetings (2007 Divisional, 2003 Wild Card) at Lambeau Field. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Perhaps no one in the history of the game throws the back-shoulder fade better than Rodgers which will put the leagues intent to pay closer attention to illegal contact and defensive holding -- as well as offensive pass interference for that matter -- under the spotlight immediately. Rodgers is also the rare pocket passer who excels when extending plays with his feet and throwing on the run. In his last healthy season Rodgers led the league in passer rating (108.0) for the second consecutive year, becoming the first QB to do so since Manning led the NFL in the category in three straight seasons (2004-06). Meanwhile, his combined passer rating of 114.9 from 2011-12 was the best two-season passer rating in NFL history. Rodgers was "slumping" a bit before going down last season and finished the campaign with a sterling 104.9 rating. Rodgers top target is Nelson, a big, physical receiver who can snap the football out of the air. "Hes a fantastic play maker," Carroll said when discussing Nelson. "You put the ball anywhere near him and hes likely to come up with a way to make the catch." Its strength against strength, however, as the Seahawks defensive backfield, led by star cornerback Richard Sherman and all-everything safety Earl Thomas, is by far the best in all of football and spearheaded a unit which led the NFL in scoring defence (14.4 points per game) and average yards allowed (273.6). Sherman matched his career high with eight interceptions and became the first Seahawks player to lead NFL in interceptions since 1993 a season ago, while Thomas set a career high with 100 tackles and tied his career high with five interceptions. The other Pro Bowl-type in the defensive backfield is massive strong safety Kam Chancellor, who is regarded as one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the NFL, amassing 278 tackles since 2011. The runt of the litter so to speak is CB Byron Maxwell, who took over for the suspended Brandon Browner last year, starting the last five games. If anything Maxwell has better coverage skills over Browner, who is now in New England, but he is not as physical and far more likely to bail out into coverage at the line of scrimmage. "They play with a lot of confidence, have a little swagger about them," Rodgers said. "And its a tough place to play." A-Rod will be helped by the fact his offence is much more balanced now because of second-year running back Eddie Lacy, a powerful one-cut, downhill runner. The former Alabama star was dominant at times as a rookie, gaining 1,178 yards on the ground and adding 35 receptions and 11 touchdowns. "Hes an obvious element now," Carroll said of Lacy. "Hes a big deal now. He can get tough yards, he can break tackles, he makes long runs, he does not go down easily." Offensively, Seattles Wilson mirrors Rodgers in at least one way -- the third-year pro plays with an uncommon self-assuredness, fueled by an innate ability to keep his eyes up and always looking downfield. Wilson has the requisite speed and elusiveness, along with the arm strength to be a dangerous dual-threat under center. His feel and natural instincts for the game leave him well-prepared for any adjustments opposing defensive coordinators make. Wilson already has 28 wins in two years (regular season and postseason), the most in NFL history for a starter through two campaigns, and became the third-youngest QB to win the NFL title last year. "The sky is the limit for that guy," Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin said when discussing his QB. "Anybody that has been watching the preseason, hes been lights out." "Im thrilled about what we are seeing," Carroll added when addressing question on Wilson. "I didnt know how much farther he would go from that year to this year. It seems like he is really, really in control of what is happening." A hip injury limited the explosive Harvin to one regular-season game in 2013, but he recovered from that and was perhaps the best player on the field in the Super Bowl, rushing twice for 45 yards and returning the second-half kickoff 87 yards for a TD. Having him for an entire season makes the Seattle offence that much more formidable. "I think you have to be very impressed with their offence," McCarthy said. "On Russell Wilson and their ability to stay in favorable down and distance and keep the mix of the run and the pass. Theyve always been outstanding running the football (with Marshawn Lynch), but they look like theyre a lot more balanced now." The Packers defence, meanwhile, is not nearly as formidable as their offence, especially after nose tackle B.J. Raji went down with a torn biceps in the preseason. The hope is veteran edge player Julius Peppers recaptures his Pro Bowl form to give Green Bay a mirror to star pass rusher Clay Matthews on the edge. Adidas Zx 750 Bleu Pas Cher . -- Clippers star Blake Griffin fired off some harsh words for the Golden State Warriors after being ejected on a Christmas night turned spirited. Adidas Originals Dragon Trainers . Vidal underwent surgery on his right knee days after his club Juventus had mathematically secured the Italian league title. On Saturday, club doctor Fabrizio Tencone said "he will be available for the World Cup.JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- South African prosecutors pressing a murder charge against Oscar Pistorius secured a meeting Thursday with Apple officials in the United States over accessing potentially crucial evidence on the double-amputee athletes locked iPhone, they said. Pistorius claimed he forgot the password for the cellphone, one of a number found at his upscale villa after he shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Feb. 14, 2013. Investigators have been seeking help from Apple through the F.B.I. since last year to get access to the phone, a spokesman for South Africas National Prosecuting Authority said. Investigators from South Africa would now meet with Apple officials Thursday at the tech giants headquarters in California, spokesman Nathi Mncube said. Pistorius trial starts Monday, giving both prosecutors and Pistorius defence team just four days to analyze any information on the iPhone. Prosecutors would be obliged to also give any evidence they find to Pistorius lawyers. "It can only add on the evidence we already have," Mncube said in an interview with TV station eNCA. "It cannot be prejudicial to our case. The people concerned, should the evidence be favourable to us, are the defence. Then we have a responsibility to make it available to them as soon as we have it so they can also prepare for the trial." Mncube also confirmed the meeting and the reason behind it separately to The Associated Press after his telephone interview with eNCA. The prosecution maintains that Pistorius had a fight with Steenkamp before killing her, a cornerstone of its case, and information oon the Olympians phone may shed light on events before the pre-dawn shooting last Valentines Day. Adidas Neo Homme 2015. Pistorius says he shot the model and reality TV star after mistaking her for a dangerous intruder. South African prosecutors hope to have the information from the phone by late Thursday, Mncube said, adding that they would make any evidence from the phone available to Pistorius defence lawyers. He wouldnt comment on what prosecutors might be looking for on the phone. But even without access to Pistorius iPhone, Mncube said the state had enough evidence to support the premeditated murder charge. Court documents indicate prosecutors are expected to build much of their case against the world-famous runner on witnesses who the state claims will testify to hearing a woman in Pistorius house screaming before the sound of gunshots. That suggests a fight and contradicts Pistorius version of events. Prosecutors also will likely try to use the trajectory of the bullets from the four shots fired by Pistorius through a toilet door to show he intended to kill Steenkamp and was not fearful and acting in self-defence. "We are very confident that we have sufficient evidence," prosecution spokesman Mncube said. "And that the evidence we have already will be more than sufficient to secure us hopefully a conviction in this matter." Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Pistorius should he be convicted of murder in Steenkamps killing, meaning he would have to serve at least 25 years in prison before being eligible for parole. There is no death penalty in South Africa. Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Authentic Cheap Jerseys Authentic Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys NFL China Cheap Jerseys ' ' '