NFC Championship Game 2014: Under-the-Radar Players Who Will Shape the Contest

January 18, 2014   ·   Scott Polacek   ·   Jump to comments

The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers facing off would make headlines on a high-school field in August.
Throw in the raucous 12th man at CenturyLink Field and the fact that a spot at the Super Bowl is at stake and what is arguably the NFL’s best rivalry is sure to produce an NFC Championship Game to remember.
It is easy to point to the litany of superstars that will be lacing it up for this one as the critical difference-makers. After all, it’s difficult to imagine the Seahawks winning this contest without contributions from Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman, and vice versa with the 49ers and Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore and Patrick Willis. 
However, marquee contests like this are often decided by under-the-radar players who make crucial plays under the bright lights. Let’s see a few candidates to fill that role on Jan. 19 in Seattle.
 
Donte Whitner
Defense will be the name of the game with these two squ...

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