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SEATTLE - Richard Sherman and Russell Wilson sat at a table placed on the San Francisco 49ers logo at the 50-yard-line, chomping down on turkey in a made-for-TV moment.It was the latest jab in whats been the best rivalry in the NFC.That rivalry between Seattle and San Francisco, and what its been the last three seasons, could be at an end after the Seahawks host the 49ers on Sunday. San Francisco (7-6) must win its final three games — and get some help — to make the playoffs and continue a remarkable run of success since Jim Harbaugh arrived as head coach.Couple those slim playoff hopes with the uncertainty regarding Harbaughs future in San Francisco and Sunday could be the close of this chapter of the rivalry.Its tough man. The last three years, NFC championship the first year, Super Bowl, NFC championship, and now this year theyre making it difficult for us, San Francisco running back Frank Gore said. Weve had ups and downs. The games we should have won we didnt take control of.The evolution of the rivalry started with Seattle trying to emulate San Francisco, then accomplishing what the 49ers couldnt and winning a Super Bowl. Theyve been among the best teams in the NFC since Harbaugh and Pete Carroll took over their respective teams, but appear headed in opposite directions.While the 49ers are on the brink of playoff elimination, Seattles three-game win streak has it in a position that victories in the final three games would earn the NFC West title.(As) players we have a great respect for those guys, Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. Its hyped-up more so for the fans. The fans have this negativity toward each other, where the players, we have a mutual respect.Seattle (9-4) put itself in that position of control largely because off Thanksgiving night, a thorough 19-3 win that was so embarrassing for the home team that 49ers CEO Jed York issued a public apology on Twitter to the fans. Adding to the pain, the two interceptions thrown by Colin Kaepernick were both taken away by Sherman, their No. 1 nemesis.Weve definitely helped out (Shermans) stat sheet the past couple games, San Francisco offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman said.Heres what else to watch for as the Seahawks go for a third straight regular-season home win over the 49ers:HOUSE OF HORRORS: The past three trips to Seattle have proven mostly forgettable for the 49ers. It started at the end of the 2012 season when Seattle routed them 42-13. Then in Week 2 of the 2013 season, the Seahawks rolled 29-3.But Sunday will be the first time back in CenturyLink Field for the 49ers since Januarys NFC championship game.It was a great night at the stadium, memorable for the fans, the players, and the coaches because it was a perfect night of championship football and were fortunate to come out on the (winning) end, Carroll said.LOCKDOWN: The past three weeks have been a return to what became the norm for Seattles defence. The Seahawks have allowed 507 combined yards in those games. Thats the fourth fewest allowed by any team during a three-game span since 2006. But none of the other three that allowed fewer yards faced the same level of competition as Seattles wins over the Cardinals (9-1 at the time), 49ers (7-4) and Eagles (9-3).The Seahawks can become the first team since the 2011 Texans to hold three straight teams under 200 total yards against the 49ers.KAPS NIGHTMARE: Kaepernick has never enjoyed playing in Seattle. In his two regular-season starts, Kaepernick has thrown four interceptions, completed 50 per cent of his passes and has a passer rating of 47.1, the lowest at any road stadium. In the NFC championship game, Kaepernick was solid until the fourth quarter, when he threw two interceptions.It is a different atmosphere, but I feel like its like anything you do. The more you do it, the more youre there, the more comfortable you get with it, Kaepernick said. So, when we get up there, this offence should be fully prepared for what to expect.FIND THE QB: San Francisco was able to get pressure on Wilson two weeks ago, but that pass rush was nonexistent last week against Oakland. Derek Carr was sacked only once and had plenty of time to pass most of the game. The 49ers were credited with only two quarterback hits and the lack of pressure allowed Carr to throw for three touchdowns and complete 22 of 28 passes.Cranked up in the pass rush? Its going to be needed, Harbaugh said. I think we have the guys to do it. Look forward to a better performance in that area.___AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Air Max 90 Pas Cher Femme Acheter . The Senators will put the busy off-season and training camp behind them when they open their regular season on the road. They kick things off Friday against the Buffalo Sabres and then head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Saturday. Nike Air Max 97 Ultra Pas Cher a Vendre . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Defensive Depth TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs have considerable interest in unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle. http://www.outletairmaxpascher.fr/fausse...ax-97-plus.html. "If we only consider this season," Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, "there is just one club in Manchester -- and its ours. Air Max 270 Pas Cher Livraison Rapide . - This win was more the New Jersey Devils style. Air Max 270 Femme Moins Cher . Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, Shawn Marion had 22 and the Mavericks beat undermanned Philadelphia 124-112 Friday night, handing the 76ers their 10th straight loss.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. Hi Ref! Been a long time Sens fan and stuck with them through the ups and downs. Ive always liked the fact that theyve made no excuses for their wins and their losses but their game with the Habs has me a tad irate with the what appears to be inconsistent calls. For example, there were a couple goalie interference calls against the Sens, like it or not, they were called, yet there were at least two non-calls for Robin Lehner being bumped including the game-tying goal at the end of regulation. Im not even going to go on about the non-call on the dive that caused that power play. My question is this: In the replay of the game-winning OT goal, the play moved into Ottawas end, a shot was taken that was stopped by Lehner and the puck was in/on/around his pads. The overhead camera angle showed the puck on the ice, not covered for a few seconds and then it was jammed in. Unless the referee is 35 feet tall and looking straight down at that angle, there is no way he could have even seen the puck free as the goalie had his back to him and there was a scrum of players there. Yet there was no stoppage even with the puck out of his sight for over five seconds (according to the game clock) and he later told Spezza that he didnt blow the whistle because of the noise level in the building. I would like to know if theres any disciplinary action for a referee who blows a call like that and then makes a "its too noisy to hear the whistle" comment as an excuse? Roger Smallman,St. Catharines, ON --- Hello, I just wanted some clarification - I thought when the goalie has the puck covered, the ref has to blow the whistle. Its my understanding that if the goalie has the puck covered, then an opposing player cannot jam at the goalie to knock the puck loose! Is that true or not? Josh Knowles Roger and Josh, Thank you for your questions following a very emotionally charged come-from-behind overtime victory by the Montreal Canadiens over the visiting Ottawa Senators. I want to share a general philosophy and understanding as to when the referee should blow the whistle. There is a misconception by some fans that a puck must be frozen for three seconds before the referee should deem it unplayable and then blow his whistle. This stems from language in Rule 85.2 when a puck falls onto the back of the goal netting and the referee is specifically directed to allow three seconds for it to be played unless the goalkeeper uses his stick or glove to freeze the puck on the back of the net, in which case the whistle is immediate. This three second application is also generally applied to determine a "frozen" puck between opposing players along the boards; although we often see the refs encourage play to continue with a non-whistle and audible command to "play it". The philosophy employed to kill play in and around the goal crease is somewhat consistent with Rule 69 (Interference on the Goalkeeper.) This rule was formerly called "Protection of the Goalkeeper" for good reason by recognizing, in part, the vulnerability of a goalkeeper given his unique position and the obvious impairment to defend his goal that would result through player contact. As such, the referee must first determine that the goalkeeper has control and coverage of the puck prior to his intent to blow the play dead in order to avoid a quick whistle. Of equal importance, is for a ref to be aware that an attacking player(s) does not dislodge or expose a covered puck by contacting the goalkeeper with a stick or any part of the body! Rule 85.3 (puck out of sight) states that should a scramble take place or a player accidentally fall on the puck and the puck be out of sighht of the Referee, he shall immediately blow his whistle to stop the play.dddddddddddd Truth is, there are many times during a scramble that the referee loses sight of the puck but does not blow his whistle immediately while he moves in an attempt to visually locate the puck. Every referee has had the embarrassment of blowing his whistle too quickly, only to have the puck slip through the goalies equipment and into the net causing a legitimate goal to be disallowed. Previous embarrassments such as this are always in the back of the refs mind. To avoid the quick whistle, but also to be aware of the potential for players to dislodge a covered puck, the referee must attack the net quickly from the best angle and react quickly to potential contact of the goalkeeper. Lets apply the above philosophies to the reality of the eventual winning goal scored by Francis Bouillon. Max Pacioretty, who was being checked by Jared Cowen, threw the puck at the Ottawa net from the bottom middle point of the end zone face-off circle to the left of goalie Robin Lehner. The shot was gobbled up in the right pad of Lehner, protected and appeared to be covered by Lehners blocker. The referee began to drive toward the net from his initial position some 30 feet from the right post. The closest Montreal player to the net, David Desharnais, was at the bottom of the end zone face-off T some 20 feet away and positioned on the outside of Sens player Bobby Ryan. Cody Ceci approached the centre of the goal crease from 15 feet out. This distance of other players from the net creates time and space for the goalkeeper to control and cover the puck. With all these parts of the puzzle moving quickly toward Lehner, who remained in a stationary position tight to the post with his blocker and stick down in front of the right goal pad throughout, my radar as a ref would go on high alert! The very last thing I would want to have happen is for the goalkeeper to be contacted and the puck dislodged. From the sight line the referee had at the time (and the multiple camera angles shown), I find it hard to imagine the puck was visible to him or anyone else at this point. Desharnais stepped to the inside of Ryan and jammed at Lehner with his stick and body as his momentum took the Hab forward behind the net. Ceci then made contact with the right side of his goalkeeper causing Lehners blocker to elevate off the ice and rotate. The contact by both players altered the position of Lehner sufficiently to expose the puck in front of Lehners pad. At this point, the puck would be clearly visible to the referee from his position closer to the net and as detected on the overhead camera shot. Pacioretty then came in hard from the side and jammed the puck outside the crease for an easy layup for Bouillon. When players crash the crease and jam at the goalkeeper, bad things usually happen. Typically, the refs will exercise the philosophy I described above and blow the whistle in advance of any deliberate contact exerted by an attacking player. This play was allowed to continue too long without visible evidence of the puck being uncovered prior to the contact exerted by Desharnais and then Ceci. In my judgment Josh, the whistle should have blown prior to that contact. Roger, if Stephen Walkom, Sr. V.P. of Officiating assessed this play as I did, he will review and discuss the play with the referee and make suggestions as to how a similar situation should be ruled upon in the future. There is no disciplinary action in place for officials beyond the ongoing rating and ranking system that every official is subjected to for playoff assignments and ongoing employment. One call or one game does not greatly impact the overall season performance rating of any official. Great calls are made and some are unfortunately missed. Thats the human element of the job. ' ' '