This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
First down
New England at Denver, 1:30 p.m., Ch. 2 • When the Oscar nominations were announced, the most agreed-upon "snub" was Tom Hanks' omission from the Best Actor category. It's a virtual expectation to see him there every year. Much like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the AFC championship game. Didn't it seem inevitable it would come down to these two? Sure, we had dalliances with the streaking Chiefs and the comeback Colts. Still, it would've been a bigger surprise for someone else to make it than for Hanks not to get recognized for "Captain Phillips."
Second down
San Francisco at Seattle, 4:30 p.m., Ch. 13 • While Friday's Lakers-Celtics game featured a dramatic finish, it didn't approach a matchup between those teams circa 1986, or even 2008. Proper rivals must feature both relatively equal talent bases and a healthy level of vitriol. Check and check, then, for the 49ers and the Seahawks. They've been pretty inarguably the top two teams in the NFC all year. And you can all but see the disdain and contempt they have for each other dripping off their tongues. And now a Super Bowl berth is added to the mix? This is a rivalry.