WEEKEND IN REVIEW

The AFC and NFC championship games on Sunday could not have been more different.

The Seattle Seahawks played poorly for much of their battle with the Green Bay Packers before snapping out of their funk in the fourth quarter and winning 28-22 in overtime. The New England Patriots settled into a nice groove in the first half and exploded in the second half to wear out the Indianapolis Colts 45-7.

The Seahawks, who are the defending NFL champions, meet the Patriots in Super Bowl 49 on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. If the Seahawks can repeat as champions, they will be the first team to do so since the 2004 Patriots. The Patriots are in a record-tying eighth Super Bowl and seek their fourth win, with all of the victories coming under the auspices of coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.

The Packers managed to lose despite building a 16-0 lead and intercepting Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson four times. No team had ever come back from more than 15 points down in a conference championship until the Seahawks did it.

Also in the NFL

The Denver Broncos appear to be on the verge of naming Gary Kubiak, who was once their backup quarterback, as their head coach. Kubiak previously coached the Houston Texans and was most recently offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. That hiring would leave only the Atlanta Falcons with a vacancy to fill and they are interviewing Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn on Monday for the second time.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

 
No. 1 Kentucky blew out Alabama 70-48 on Saturday. The 17-0 Wildcats allowed only 17 points in the first half. … No. 2 Virginia is also 17-0, having defeated Boston College 66-51 on Saturday.

BASEBALL

 
The Washington Nationals are reportedly close to a seven-year deal with free-agent pitcher Max Scherzer. Scherzer, 30, won the 2013 Cy Young Award with the Detroit Tigers and has a record of 91-50 in seven major-league seasons.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .