You're going to hear a lot this week about payback; about how the Green Bay Packers plan on exacting a bit of revenge for last year's NFC championship game loss in Seattle. But when the Packers host the Seahawks in a Week 2 showdown on Sunday night, their only focus will be on Sunday night, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said, not on what happened at CenturyLink Field eight months ago.
"We're focusing on going 2-0, winning our first home game," McCarthy said on a conference call. "Everything we're doing, we're focusing on winning this football game."
If that sounds vaguely familiar, it's probably because Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has spent his entire tenure in Seattle driving home one of his key philosophies, which is to treat every week as a championship week.
The Packers lost to the Seahawks with a Super Bowl berth at stake, losing a double-digit lead in the final minutes of the game, but McCarthy wants his team focused on the 2015 Seahawks, not the way the previous season ended.
"Seattle's an outstanding football team," McCarthy said. "… We know it's going to be a physical football game Sunday night, and we're looking forward to it."
As is always the case in the NFL, both teams' rosters have changed since the two teams faced off in January. One of the more notable changes for both teams has come in the passing game, with the Seahawks adding tight end Jimmy Graham and the Packers losing top receiver Jordy Nelson for the season with a knee injury. Even without Nelson, the Packers have a potent offense, led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and they are confident in the ability of other players to step up with Nelson out.
"Jordy's a great player," McCarthy said. "It's disappointing any time you lose one of your players, especially for the season. So it's really opportunities for other players to step in and take advantage of that, and we adjust it accordingly."
Similarly, McCarthy expects a strong showing from Seattle's defense minus one of its stars, safety Kam Chancellor.
"He's an impactful player, but it's how this league goes," McCarthy said. "They're still outstanding on defense, we have a lot of respect for them... Schematically as far as the way they fly around. They do a good job of attacking the football, very good against the run, so the characteristics that have existed there under Pete Carroll's tenure."
A few new faces and a few missing ones aside, this week's game figures to be another closely contested battle between two of the NFC's top teams, but what it won't be is a game in which either team wants to revisit the last close meeting between the two.
Seattle Seahawks team photographer Rod Mar continues his Eye On the Hawks series bringing you behind the scenes during the thrilling NFC Championship game with the Green Bay Packers.
9:30 A.M., Sunday morning. Alone in the locker room, receiver Jermaine Kearse prepares his uniform for the NFC Championship Game. No way that he, nor any of the rest of us, could know what the day would bring both for the Seahawks, and himself personally.
These Seahawks fans were dressed for the occasion, topping their hardhats with cheese graters to, un, "honor" the visitors from Wisconsin.
Former Lake Stevens resident and current movie star Chris Pratt was all about his favorite team, and watched pregame warmups from the sidelines.
Kam Chancellor gets an affectionate tap on the helmet from teammate Earl Thomas before the defensive backs took the field for pregame warmups.
Reserve receiver Chris Matthews, playing in only his fourth game with the Seahawks, was another Seahawks who warmed up in pregame and had no idea the role he would eventually play in not only Seahawks, but Seattle sports history.
Rookie linebacker Brock Coyle studies in the final moments before leaving the locker room.
Richard Sherman focuses in the locker room in the moments before the team headed out for pregame introductions.
Offensive tackle Russell Okung fires up the Seahawks just before taking the field to face the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner stares into a television camera as he waits for his name to be called.
12s in the south end zone erupt as a defiant Richard Sherman stares after intercepting a pass by Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers.
Seattle's Russell Wilson is brought down trying to escape Green Bay's ferocious pass rush.
Seattle matched Green Bay's defensive intensity, with Kam Chancellor putting a hard hit on Packers tight end Richard Rodgers.
After falling behind early, cornerback Richard Sherman gathered his defensive teammates around him on the sideline, imploring them to stay together as they tried to weather the Packers storm.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks struggled on offense, with Doug Baldwin unable to make this catch along the sidelines.
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers shows his frustration after missing an open receiver in the second quarter. Despite short fields, the Packers only led 16-0 at halftime.
Fans in the Hawks Nest weathered wind, rain and a disappointing first half.
Earl Thomas makes a diving tackle of Green Bay's Randall Cobb in the second quarter.
Green Bay's Ha Ha Clinton-Dix intercepts a Russell Wilson pass intended for Seattle's Jermaine Kearse in the second quarter.
Seattle's Byron Maxwell took the ball back for the Seahawks with his interception in front of a fitting "L.O.B." sign being carried in the north Red Zone suites.
Alice In Chains lead singer William DuVall lets it all hang out over CenturyLink Field during the Seattle band's halftime performance.
Seattle safety Earl Thomas, his left arm in a brace after he separated it in the first half, shows no fear as he prepares to lower it onto 230-lb Packers running back Eddie Lacy.
Seattle's Earl Thomas bounces away after using his injured shoulder to knock Green Bay's Eddie Lacy out-of-bounds in the third quarter.
Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch isn't going to be stopped by the jersey grab of fallen Packers defender Mike Daniels.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman exchanges greetings with Packers corner Tramon Williams during a break in the action.
Seattle offensive lineman Garry Gilliam lets out a yell after scoring the Seahawks first touchdown on a fake field goal.
From one passer to another, Russell Wilson congratulates Jon Ryan, whose 19-yard touchdown pass on a fake field goal gave the Seahawks their first score of the game.
Their team trailing late in the game, Seahawks fans still brought the noise, encouraging their team to a comeback.
Seattle's Jeremy Lane corrals Green Bay's Randall Cobb on a pass play in the second half.
Cornerback Richard Sherman injured his left elbow on this play as he and safety Kam Chancellor combine to knock Green Bay's James Starks out-of-bounds along the Seattle sideline.
Marshawn Lynch continued his beastly ways, carrying half-dozen Packers on his way to a first down as Seattle's offensive linemen provide an extra push from behind.
Richard Sherman, holding his elbow close to his body because of the pain of what would later be diagnosed as an elbow sprain, glares towards the Packers huddle between plays.
Seattle's well-known and well-respected crowd noise forced the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers into using simple finger-pointing to let their running backs know which way the play was being directed.
When the Packers Morgan Burnett intercepted a fourth pass thrown by Russell Wilson, he followed the advice of teammate Julius Peppers (56) and slid instead of seeking yardage. The decision was one that many would second-guess after the Seattle defense promptly forced a three-and-out and punt to regain possession late in regulation.
Quarterback Russell Wilson walks towards the sidelines after throwing his fourth interception of the day and his team trailing 19-7 with barely five minutes remaining in the game and a Super Bowl berth hanging in the balance.
Seattle's defense continued their aggressive play, and defensive lineman Michael Bennett lost his helmet tackling Green Bay's Eddie Lacy late in the fourth quarter.
Seattle fed the Beast, and Marshawn Lynch continued to find room to run, setting up Seattle's second touchdown.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looks for the end zone late in regulation, and his touchdown and the ensuing extra point left Seattle trailing 19-14 with 2:09 remaining.
Seattle elected to try an onside kick which was misplayed by member of the Packers' "hands team", ricocheting off his helmet and into the air.
Chris Matthews. Remember the name? Started the afternoon as the fifth receiver on the depth chart and ended his day by recovering the biggest onside kick in team history. His recover gave the Seahawks the ball near midfield with just over two minutes left and trailing by five points.
Kicker Steven Hauschka celebrates with special teamer Mike Morgan after the successful onside kick kept Seattle's hopes alive.
Seattle marched down the field and Marshawn Lynch used blocks by Doug Baldwin and Ricardo Lockette downfield to score on a 24-yard run to give the Seahawks a 20-19 lead.
Ricardo Lockette and J.R. Sweezy come to celebrate after Marshawn Lynch scored on a 24 yard run. The scoreboard clock reflects 1:25 left in regulation and the score has not yet been changed to reflect Seattle's 20-19 lead.
Ricardo Lockette and the official signal touchdown as Marshawn Lynch is congratulated on his touchdown run. The scoreboard clock reflects 1:25 left in regulation.
Head coach Pete Carroll and special teams coach Brian Schneider confer on the sidelines as Seattle lines up for a two-point conversion try, attempting to stretch their lead to a field goal with less than two minutes left in regulation.
Head coach Pete Carroll celebrates as in the bottom left corner of the frame, tight end Luke Willson crosses into the end zone for the two-point conversion. The two points meant that Green Bay could not win the game with a last second field goal, only tie to send the game to a possible overtime.
Seattle's two unlikely heroes Garry Gilliam and Chris Matthews get tangled and fall during the celebration on the Seahawks sideline after the Wilson-to-Willson two-point conversion gave Seattle a 22-19 lead.
Tight end Luke Willson is congratulated on the Seattle sidelines after his two-point conversion in the final minutes of regulation.
You just knew Green Bay would come back and tie it, didn't you? Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drove his team into field goal range and Mason Crosby's 48-yard field goal with :14 seconds remaining meant the game would go to overtime.
Referee Tony Corrente speaks with Seahawks representative Tarvaris Jackson at the crucial overtime coin flip. The coin came up "heads" and Seattle was awarded the first possession of overtime.
Seattle was indeed "Dangeruss" on Championship Sunday as Russell Wilson turned his fortunes around and led the Seahawks to victory despite throwing four interceptions.
Seattle's offensive line provided a clean pocket for Russell Wilson in overtime, and Wilson took complete advantage, passing three times and completing all three in the extra period.
Doug Baldwin got behind Green Bay cornerback Casey Hayward and his 35-yard reception put the Seahawks into scoring position at the Packers' 35-yard line.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin fiercely protects the ball as he fights for extra yards down to the Green Bay 35-yard line after his clutch catch on third down set up Seattle's game-winnng touchdown.
With Green Bay's Tramon Williams draped all over him Jermaine Kearse reaches out to haul in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to complete Seattle's improbable comeback and return to the Super Bowl.
Jermaine Kearse works to secure the ball as he heads to the end zone with the game-winning catch.
Fighting to the end, Jermaine Kearse drags Green Bay's Tramon Williams into the Seahawks blue-painted end zone to secure the victory and return trip to the Super Bowl.
Jermaine Kearse is mobbed by teammates including Luke Willson and crazed fans in the south end zone after his game-winning catch.
Seahawks receivers Jermaine Kearse and Doug Baldwin shout just moments after Kearse's 35-yard game-winning touchdown catch in overtime. Both Kearse and Baldwin had tough afternoons (Kearse targeted four times, all resulting in interceptions and Baldwin with a fumble and a drop) before each had big receptions in the final drive.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson celebrates with a 12 flag on the podium before the team was presented with the NFC Championship trophy.
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell celebrates with quarterbacks coach Carl Smith (left) and Sherman Smith (right) on the field after the game.
With blue and green confetti flying, quarterback Russell Wilson celebrates after leading his team to an improbable come-from-behind win to earn a return trip to the Super Bowl.
Quarterbacks coach Carl Smith and Russell Wilson smile for a selfie on the podium.
Head coach Pete Carroll accepts the Halas trophy from Terry Bradshaw on the podium as the team celebrates around him.
Quarterback Russell Wilson holds the trophy aloft for and salutes the fans. At right is receiver Ricardo Lockette.
The scoreboard at midfield of CenturyLink Field told the story -- Seattle 28, Green Bay 22, quarter "5" at the end of the game.
In the victorious Seahawks locker room, head coach Pete Carroll and the team celebrated their hard-earned second trip to the Super Bowl in a row, the result of a 28-22 come-from-behind win over the tough Green Bay Packers.
4:45pm. Safety and heart-and-soul of the Seahawks Earl Thomas III sits at his locker as his father Earl Thomas offers a quiet word before leaving his son alone with his thoughts.
