It doesn’t get much bigger than this. In fact, the only thing bigger than this is exactly what’s on the line: The Super Bowl.

The Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers in a battle of bitter NFC rivals for the conference championship Sunday at CenturyLink Field. The winner goes to Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2 in New Jersey; the loser goes home.

The 12th Man will undoubtedly be a huge factor Sunday at the NFL’s loudest and most raucous stadium, but Seahawks fans surely are nervous about what is arguably the biggest home game in Seattle sports history. The Hawks are one of the league’s best teams, and have been all season, but have shown vulnerabilities since facing the Niners in Week 14 at Candlestick Park.

Since that Dec. 2 game in San Francisco, the Seahawks have gone 3-2 (including last weekend’s playoff win over the Saints). Meanwhile, the 49ers are on an eight-game winning streak and have shown no signs of slowing down. Seattle and San Francisco split their regular-season matchups 1-1, with each team winning its own home bout.

The Seahawks will face their dangerous divisional rivals without the playmaking abilities of wideout Percy Harvin, who suffered a concussion last weekend against New Orleans and was not able to pass the NFL’s readiness tests this week. But the absence is not unusual, as Harvin missed all but one regular-season game after undergoing off-season hip surgery, and made just his second appearance of the season last Saturday in the Saints victory.

Nevertheless, the Seahawks do have a surprise returner in starting linebacker K.J. Wright, who broke his foot during the last Hawks-Niners matchup and wasn’t expected to make a full recovery until just before the Super Bowl. His early return could be huge for the Seattle defense, which faces as great a challenge it has all year in San Francisco.

Though Seattle is favored in Vegas by 3.5 points, the 49ers and Seahawks are very evenly matched. Both have suffocating defenses, both have smash-mouth running games and both have young, dynamic quarterbacks. And where the Niners have a leg up on Seattle in passing offense, the Hawks have a leg up in passing defense.

While a war wages in the AFC Championship Game between veteran QBs Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, it’s a clash of the new class in Seattle on Sunday afternoon. Russell Wilson has led the Seahawks to a 16-1 home record since taking the reins as a rookie last year, frustrating opposing defenses as a dual threat both on the ground and through the air. But he has been slumping in recent weeks while San Fran’s Colin Kaepernick has been tearing it up.

Yet Kaepernick has played poorly in his two games at CenturyLink Field, where the 12th Man has appeared to rattle his nerves. The Seahawks have blown out the 49ers the past two times they’ve played in Seattle, yet have fallen in close battles at the ‘Stick these past two seasons.

What kind of game will we see Sunday? Well, kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Pacific time at CenturyLink Field. The game will be televised on Fox, and of course we will have real-time and postgame coverage here on seattlepi.com.

But first, we want to hear what you think will happen in the NFC Championship Game.

Who will win the NFC title: the Seahawks or 49ers? Seattle will do what it does best at the CLink: destroy the Niners.

It'll be a closer battle than before, but the Seahawks will prevail.

This one's too close to call. I'm very nervous.

The 49ers are too hot right now and will escape Seattle with a close victory.

San Fran will shock the Hawks and run away with the NFC crown. View Results

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Related gallery — Five things to watch: Seattle Seahawks host San Francisco 49ers in NFC championship clash









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Photo: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Image 2 of 12 The last time they met: Dec. 8, 2013: Seahawks 17 at 49ers 19 To beat Seattle, you have to shut down the running game while running the ball effectively yourself, and that’s exactly what the 49ers did in the teams’ last matchup at Candlestick Park in Week 14. Unlike their first contest in Week 2, the 49ers were able to take an early lead and stay committed to the ground game. Running back Frank Gore racked up 110 yards on 17 carries, including a 51-yard burst in a key fourth-quarter scoring drive.That took the pressure off quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who only completed 15 of his 29 pass attempts. Conversely, the Seahawks were unable to establish any momentum running the ball, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Running back Marshawn Lynch carried 20 times (just above his season average of 18.8) but managed just 72 yards. Quarterback Russell Wilson and the passing game couldn’t make big plays against the 49ers defense, save for Luke Willson’s 39-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. Then there were the penalties. Oh, the penalties. The game was a flag-fest, with the teams combining to commit 16 infractions in total — nine on the Seahawks for 85 yards and seven against the Niners for a total of 70 yards -- and that doesn’t count the three that were declined. In short, it was an ugly slugfest that came down to a last-minute Phil Dawson field goal to win it. If the 49ers want to replicate the result, they’ll need to implement the same style they did in December. less The last time they met: Dec. 8, 2013: Seahawks 17 at 49ers 19 To beat Seattle, you have to shut down the running game while running the ball effectively yourself, ... more Photo: Brian Bahr / Getty Images Image 3 of 12 1. Can Marshawn Lynch carry the load? Simply put, “Beast Mode” is the Lynch-pin of the Seahawks' offense. (See what I did there?) Last week against New Orleans he put on a show, rumbling for a franchise playoff-record 140 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, a season high. Lynch is a fast starter in the playoffs, particularly at home. In 2011’s famous “Beast Quake” game — a wild card matchup against the Saints — he put up 131 yards on 19 carries. Last season at Washington he ran for 132 yards on 20 carries in another wild card contest. But Lynch hasn’t fared well following both of those tilts, managing a staggering two yards on four carries at Chicago in 2011 and a pedestrian 46 yards on 16 attempts in the Hawks’ season-ending loss in Atlanta last year. Will Lynch suffer a similar letdown on Sunday? Perhaps not, because there’s one big difference this time around: Lynch will be running at home, where he seems to feed off the 12th Man’s energy more than any other offensive player. Frank Gore, Lynch’s counterpart on the 49ers, is arguably just as important to his team’s success. But unlike Beast Mode, Gore hasn’t fared well at CenturyLink Field. Since head coach Pete Carroll arrived in Seattle in 2010, Gore has averaged just over 41 yards on nearly 14 attempts per game at the CLink. That simply won’t cut it on Sunday. The team that establishes the ground game will have the edge on Sunday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be just the running backs who get in on the action … less 1. Can Marshawn Lynch carry the load? Simply put, “Beast Mode” is the Lynch-pin of the Seahawks' offense. (See what I did there?) Last week against New Orleans he put on a ... more Photo: Jonathan Ferrey / Getty Images Image 4 of 12 2. Will Colin Kaepernick exorcise his Emerald City demons? … because the quarterbacks can help in that regard, too. Perhaps no player has more to prove on Sunday than 49ers signal-caller Colin Kaepernick. A phenomenon since supplanting incumbent Alex Smith halfway through the 2012 season and leading San Francisco to a Super Bowl XLVII appearance, Kaepernick’s strong arm and long strides have electrified stadiums throughout the NFL. Well, most stadiums. Not in Seattle, though. CenturyLink Field has been Kaepernick’s house of horrors. In two starts, he is just 32-of-64 passing for 371 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. He’s been more successful on the ground, racking up 118 yards on 16 carries, but much of that came after the Niners went down big in Week 2 of this season. Kaepernick’s running ability may be the aspect of his game that gives the 49ers a chance to win. If he can establish a ground threat early in the game, that may prevent Carroll and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn from leaving Earl Thomas free to roam the back end of the Seahawks secondary. And if Thomas isn’t playing deep to prevent big plays, it presents San Francisco receivers like Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis with the opportunity to capitalize. Then again, the Hawks boast athletic pass-rushing lineman like Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril, as well as space-eaters like Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant, who have the ability to collapse the pocket and prevent Kaepernick from breaking free. Regardless of how he gets the job done, Kaepernick needs to play better — or at least avoid a catastrophic mistake — for the 49ers to win. His rival on the other side doesn’t necessarily face the same challenge. less 2. Will Colin Kaepernick exorcise his Emerald City demons? … because the quarterbacks can help in that regard, too. Perhaps no player has more to prove on Sunday than ... more Photo: Gerry Broome / AP Image 5 of 12 Image 6 of 12 3. Can Wilson be @DangeRuss against San Francisco? The Seahawks have proven that they can win without quarterback Russell Wilson playing his best. In fact, the Hawks are 4-1 this season in games in which Wilson’s passer rating is less than 80.0, including last week’s divisional-round victory over New Orleans. Seattle doesn’t often ask Wilson to win the game for the team, relying instead on Lynch, the Legion of Boom secondary and the rest of the defense to secure victories. But it would sure be nice to see a complete game out of him for the first time in weeks. No one is arguing with Wilson’s early career success. His accomplishments in terms of wins and statistics put him up there with some of the all-time greats of the game, like Peyton Manning and Dan Marino. But to put it plainly, Wilson just hasn’t looked like himself over the past month or so. In fact, since the last matchup with the 49ers, his numbers are downright uninspiring: 589 passing yards for three touchdowns and two interceptions in four games. Like Kaepernick, Wilson can also beat an opponent with his legs, but he’s only put up 99 rushing yards in the last five games. But another thing Wilson is not doing is making mistakes. He’s thrown multiple picks only once this season — a Week 9 come-from-behind win over Tampa Bay — and after fumbling problems early in the year, he’s lost the handle just twice over the last 10 games. So while a 300-yard passing game would be nice to see, Wilson doesn’t have to put up gaudy numbers to lead the Hawks over the Niners. He simply has to play the kind of football he’s played all season. less 3. Can Wilson be @DangeRuss against San Francisco? The Seahawks have proven that they can win without quarterback Russell Wilson playing his best. In fact, the Hawks are 4-1 this ... more Photo: Ted S. Warren / ASSOCIATED PRESS Image 7 of 12 4. Which elite defensive group carries its team? Two position groups at the top of their game will be on display in Sunday’s contest: the 49ers’ linebacking corps and the Seahawks’ Legion of Boom secondary. Whichever of these is able to impose its will upon the opposing offense should come away victorious. The San Francisco linebacking corps is made up of three homegrown superstars: Inside ‘backers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman and hybrid pass-rusher Aldon Smith. Willis was long considered the best all-around linebacker in the league, but Bowman now holds that honor. Smith, though faced with legal issues stemming from a September DUI arrest and weapons charges, was still a terror on the outside. The fourth starter is former Bengal Ahmad Brooks, who came to San Francisco with a reputation as a talented but undisciplined player and has grown into a well-rounded force opposite of Smith. This group does an excellent job against the run — particularly Willis — but really excels at rushing the passer. Bowman’s ability to bring heat up the middle could disrupt Russell Wilson’s ability to get the ball out in rhythm. Meanwhile, the Hawks boast the best secondary in the league; hands down, bar none. Everyone knew coming into the season that Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor were going to make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks and receivers. But what we didn’t know was just how well reserves like nickel back Walter Thurmond, Byron Maxwell — pressed into stating duties after Brandon Browner’s injury — and Jeremy Lane would fare. The bad news for the 49ers — as well as every other NFL franchise — is that they’ve been nearly as good as the starters. If the LOB plays up to its lofty standards again — and frankly, there’s no reason why it shouldn't — it could be long evening for Kaepernick and Co. less 4. Which elite defensive group carries its team? Two position groups at the top of their game will be on display in Sunday’s contest: the 49ers’ linebacking corps and the ... more Photo: Ted S. Warren / AP Image 8 of 12 5. How does the NFL’s best rivalry work itself out on the field? Only four times since 1990 have division rivals met in their conference championship games. The bad news for Seahawks fans? Only once in that span — when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008-09 playoffs — did the home team win. Gulp. Sportswriters and armchair analysts often make too much of psychology in professional sports. After all, these are grown men getting paid millions of dollars to play a sport most of us give up after grade school. Does it really matter who “wants it more” or “takes it one game at a time?” In this matchup, it might. These teams really don’t like each other. The players — who usually treat each other as brothers in a hard-won fraternity — hand out only the most perfunctory praise for their counterparts on the other sideline. The coaches can hardly stand to meet at midfield to shake hands after each contest. The fans have bought in completely, playing either the disrespected upstarts or the dismissive aristocracy. This year each team won on its own turf, and on Sunday one team will end the other’s season. There is so much hype surrounding this game among the the fan bases, coaches and players themselves that it’s easy to see where some might shrink under the immense pressure, while others rise above it. less 5. How does the NFL’s best rivalry work itself out on the field? Only four times since 1990 have division rivals met in their conference championship games. The bad news for ... more Photo: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Image 9 of 12 Bonus: Who makes the big mistake in a raucous CLink? We touched on this with Wilson, but oftentimes it’s not who makes the big play to win a game that counts. It’s who commits — or doesn’t commit — a crucial mistake that can often spell the difference between victory and defeat. Last week, it looked like receiver Golden Tate’s mishandling of an onside kick attempt could be the Seahawks’ undoing. Only after Saints wideout Marques Colton made a equally egregious error — throwing an illegal forward pass instead of stepping out of bounds on what turned out to be the game’s final play — was Tate off the hook. This is the area where Seattle’s vaunted 12th Man could make the most difference. The well-documented noise level certainly impacts an opposing offense’s ability to communicate, and that can easily lead to a blown assignment on the offensive line, or rattled nerves that impair someone’s ability to make even a routine play. All of that might seem abstract or anecdotal, but a little digging illustrates the Hawks’ dominance at home, aided by the 12th Man: On the biggest stage with the biggest crowds at CenturyLink Field (i.e. nationally televised Thursday, Sunday or Monday night games and playoff contests), the Seahawks simply don’t lose in the Pete Carroll era, going 9-0 since 2010. less Bonus: Who makes the big mistake in a raucous CLink? We touched on this with Wilson, but oftentimes it’s not who makes the big play to win a game that counts. It’s who ... more Photo: Elaine Thompson / ASSOCIATED PRESS Image 10 of 12 Image 11 of 12 Bonus: How does championship experience play out? Playing this late in the season is nothing new for the 49ers, who will participate in their third straight NFC championship game Sunday. And after last year’s Super Bowl appearance, San Francisco knows what to expect even beyond this weekend. Conversely, none of the Seahawks' offensive or defensive starters have any Super Bowl experience. So are the Hawks doomed to defeat? Maybe not. The groupthink is that the team with the most experience should win, but that’s not always the case in the NFL. Perhaps the San Francisco squads under Jim Harbaugh are destined to be like Andy Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles teams, who went to five NFC championship games — including four straight from 2001-2004 — but made only one Super Bowl berth; a great regular-season team with mixed postseason success. And maybe the Seahawks are like the 2010 Green Bay Packers, who had little championship experience — until they won Super Bowl XLV. Pete Carroll knows a thing — or two — about championship runs after leading USC to AP national titles in 2003 and 2004, and he’ll surely communicate what he’s learned to a Seahawks group playing the most important football game of their careers to date. We’ll find out how they respond on Sunday. less Bonus: How does championship experience play out? Playing this late in the season is nothing new for the 49ers, who will participate in their third straight NFC championship game ... more Photo: Ted S. Warren / AP Image 12 of 12 Make your pick: Seattle Seahawks battle San Francisco 49ers for NFC championship 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

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