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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The loss of safety Earl Thomas to a season-ending injury left a gaping hole in the Seattle Seahawks formidable defense.The Green Bay Packers are more concerned about the considerable talent still left with the Seahawks.Life without Thomas begins Sunday when Seattle travels to Lambeau Field in an important game in the NFC playoff picture. The Packers (6-6) need a win to keep pace with first-place Detroit in the NFC North. The Seahawks (8-3-1) have two avenues to clinch the NFC West on Sunday, the easiest being a win over Green Bay along with an Arizona loss or tie.Whatever happens, coach Pete Carrolls club must play the rest of the season without Thomas, the former All-Pro safety who broke his lower left leg in last weeks 40-7 win over Carolina.You cant really replace him. All you can do is try to find somebody that can fit in in a role thats similar, that can do 80 percent or even 60 percent of what he does and can help us win the game, defensive end Michael Bennett said.Thomas job will be filled by Steven Terrell , who was mostly a special teams contributor until a few weeks ago when Thomas suffered a hamstring injury. Hes ready to be tested by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.Im prepared for that, you always think teams are going to take shots deep, Terrell said.But what the Packers have done best of late is attack defenses with quick passes on short-to-medium routes, with Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb giving Rodgers a trio of reliable receivers. Minus a consistent running game with Eddie Lacy (ankle) out for the year, coach Mike McCarthy has had to get creative to keep defenses guessing.But were not going to drop back and throw 50-yard post routes all day because theyve got a new free safety, McCarthy said. I dont think thats practical. I mean, you just see how the new guy fits in.Other notes and things to watch ahead of Sundays game:COOKING THINGS UP: The return of tight end Jared Cook from a foot injury three games ago gave Rodgers a big receiving target. The 6-foot-5 Cook, who could test the Seahawks over the middle with Thomas out, has experienced some success against Seattle while he played for the Rams.He has also experienced bone-crunching hits from Seattles other tough safety, Kam Chancellor.You just cant worry about it, Cook said. Youre going to get hit, youre going to have defenders in the middle of the field, so youve just got to catch and secure the ball.RUN IT OUT: Seattles run game is starting to find some traction, and that could help if it snows again in Green Bay.The Seahawks have rushed for at least 125 yards as a team in three straight games. Last week against Carolina was the peak, with the Seahawks running for 240 yards. Thomas Rawls rushed for 103 yards in the first half against the Panthers, becoming the second Seattle player this season to have a 100-yard game.ACHES AND PAINS: The injury bug on the Packers defense has now hit the linebacker position. Nick Perry (eight sacks) has been ruled out for Sunday with a left hand injury. He was also a solid run defender on the edge.Clay Matthews is working through a painful left shoulder injury. Starting inside linebackers Jake Ryan (ankle) and Blake Martinez (knee) also have been limited this week. The injuries in part have affected a run defense that has slackened since the opening month of the season.RUN IT OUT, PART 2: James Starks hasnt had much production on the ground for the Packers, but he has had his moments on screens and in the short passing game, and that might come in handy against Seattles effective pass rush. Christine Michael, who was claimed off waivers from Seattle a few weeks ago, has slowly been getting more carries as he gets up to speed in Green Bay. He had 19 yards on nine carries last week against Houston .WHAT WEATHER? Whatever the weather Sunday, it shouldnt be a problem for Seattle. A little snow, or a little cold seem easy to deal with after last Januarys NFC wild-card game in Minnesota, played in negative temperatures. You cant get any worse than we had in Minnesota, Seattles Richard Sherman said. Everything else is an oven compared to that.---AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Renton, Washington contributed to this story.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Michael Jordan Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Miami Heat Store . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. https://www.cheapheatonline.com/577h-joel-anthony-jersey-heat.html . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. Gary Payton Jersey . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. Daequan Cook Jersey . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. NEW YORK -- The WNBA admitted its officials missed an 8-second violation call in Game 4 of the Finals on Sunday night.The league released a statement Monday saying that a call should have been made in the game that evened the best-of-five series at 2-all.Minnesota led 79-77 and had the ball with 26.1 seconds left after a turnover. The Lynx didnt get the ball into the frontcourt in the required 8 seconds.After reviewing postgame video, we have determined that with 0:17.7 remaining in regulation time, Minnesota released the ball for a pass from the backcourt and the ball was still in the backcourt when the shot clock turned to 0:16, the statement said. An 8-second violation should have been called on Minnesota. This play is not a trigger to review via instant replay.After the ball made it to the frontcourt, Rebekkah Brunson was fouled by Candace Parker and hit both free throws to give the Lynx a four-point lead with 12.5 seconds left. The Lynx went on to win the game 85-79 and force a decisive Game 5 on Thursday night.Los Angeles guard Kristi Toliver said after the game that the officials had missed the call.Absolutely not, she said when asked whether Minnesota had gotten the ball over in time.dddddddddddd I think they forgot they had to get the ball over the line. But thats life. We cant leave it up to the officials to determine a series. We have to go take it, and thats what we plan on doing in Game 5.Los Angeles coach Brian Agler told The Associated Press in a phone interview Monday night that while he was happy the league reviewed the play, he didnt want to dwell on it.Champions dont make excuses. We had our opportunities, he said.It was the second consecutive year that Minnesota was involved in a blown call late in a playoff game.Last year in the Western Conference finals, the Lynx benefited from a foul call with 1.5 seconds left in a tied Game 2 against Phoenix.The Mercurys Noelle Quinn directed her inbounds pass to 6-foot-8 center Brittney Griner. Maya Moore deflected that pass, gained control of the ball and began going upcourt, and official Amy Bonner blew the whistle.Moore hit one of two free throws to lift the Lynx to the victory, ending the series.The WNBA admitted last year that a foul should not have been called. ' ' '