Now they’re finding out how much Thomas means to everything they try and accomplish defensively.

”Earl’s a unique player. He’s an extraordinary player, he’s proven that,” coach Pete Carroll said. ”No matter what position a guy plays, you miss that unique quality.”

Since Thomas was injured early in Seattle’s Week 13 win over Carolina, the Seahawks have become vulnerable against the pass.

In the final four games of the regular season, the opponent passer rating against the Seahawks was 105.0. In the first 12 games, it was 77.9. And while that final four-game stretch included stellar games by Aaron Rodgers and Carson Palmer in a pair of Seattle losses, it also included performances by Jared Goff, Case Keenum and Colin Kaepernick that didn’t lead to wins against Seattle but were probably better than most expected.

Now come the pass-happy Detroit Lions in the NFC wild-card round on Saturday.

”I wouldn’t say vulnerable, you know, they’re a heck of a defense,” Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford said. ”They do a great job. Obviously, Earl brings a mentality to them. He’s an extremely aggressive player. Trusts his eyes probably more than any safety I’ve ever seen and you know, the young guy they’ve got filling in for him doesn’t as much, but I mean they’ve got a great defense.”

Steven Terrell has been the one asked to step in for Thomas, even if there is no way to properly replace one of the best free safeties in the NFL. It’s the most Terrell has played in his brief NFL career. Before this season, Terrell had one career defensive tackle in his two seasons with the Seahawks.

”Just the experience, learning through the good, the bad, the indifferent, whatever. It’s just getting better and seeing where I’m at,” Terrell said. ”You kind of see where you’re at in the preseason but playing this year in the regular season it’s been a good opportunity.”

The experience Terrell is getting appears to be coming at a cost to Seattle’s defense.

In the first 11 games of the season, the Seahawks allowed 10 passing touchdowns. In the final five games, including the Carolina game when Thomas was injured early in the second quarter, they allowed six. Perhaps more telling is the lack of interceptions. Seattle’s last interception came on the first play of its 40-7 win over Carolina. Since Thomas was hurt, the Seahawks have zero picks.

The breakdowns have been noticeable: Ted Ginn Jr. getting deep for a 55-yard touchdown in the minutes after Thomas was injured; Davante Adams getting open for a 66-yard TD; J.J. Nelson running free through Seattle’s secondary, once for an 80-yard touchdown. They’re the kinds of big plays the Seahawks secondary simply has not allowed in the past.

Not all those plays are on Terrell. He’s made mistakes, but at the same time quarterbacks have appeared more aggressive in challenging Seattle’s secondary with Thomas not there.

If anything, the past month has highlighted how much Thomas’ presence has impacted Seattle’s defensive success.

”The thing I’ve been focused on is not trying to be Earl because I can’t be Earl. I can only be the best version of me,” Terrell said. ”That part hasn’t been too hard because I’ve been who I am and my teammates have been giving me good feedback. Just be you, be the best you that you can be and that helped out a lot. When you replace an All-Pro player it’s definitely something you don’t do every day. It’s a great opportunity though.”

The challenge for Seattle may not be so much this week, but what lies ahead should it get past the Lions. Detroit averages 37 pass attempts per game but only 7.3 yards per attempt. But a Seattle victory sets up a matchup with Atlanta and the third-best pass game in the NFL.

That’s down the road. The Seahawks have enough to worry about with Detroit.

”Earl is Earl, and now it’s Steve’s opportunity,” Seattle cornerback DeShawn Shead said. ”And Steve is a great player as well but you can’t ask Steve to be Earl. Steve is Steve and he does a great job.”

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AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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The Green Bay Packers are more concerned about the considerable talent still left with the Seahawks.

Life without Thomas begins Sunday when Seattle travels to Lambeau Field in an important game in the NFC playoff picture. The Packers (6-6) need a win to keep pace with first-place Detroit in the NFC North. The Seahawks (8-3-1) have two avenues to clinch the NFC West on Sunday, the easiest being a win over Green Bay along with an Arizona loss or tie.

Whatever happens, coach Pete Carroll’s club must play the rest of the season without Thomas, the former All-Pro safety who broke his lower left leg in last week’s 40-7 win over Carolina.

”You can’t really replace him. All you can do is try to find somebody that can fit in in a role that’s similar, that can do 80 percent or even 60 percent of what he does and can help us win the game,” defensive end Michael Bennett said.

Thomas’ job will be filled by Steven Terrell , who was mostly a special teams contributor until a few weeks ago when Thomas suffered a hamstring injury. He’s ready to be tested by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

”I’m prepared for that, you always think teams are going to take shots deep,” Terrell said.

But what the Packers have done best of late is attack defenses with quick passes on short-to-medium routes, with Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb giving Rodgers a trio of reliable receivers. Minus a consistent running game with Eddie Lacy (ankle) out for the year, coach Mike McCarthy has had to get creative to keep defenses guessing.

”But we’re not going to drop back and throw 50-yard post routes all day because they’ve got a new free safety,” McCarthy said. ”I don’t think that’s practical. I mean, you just see how the new guy fits in.”

Other notes and things to watch ahead of Sunday’s game:

COOKING THINGS UP: The return of tight end Jared Cook from a foot injury three games ago gave Rodgers a big receiving target. The 6-foot-5 Cook, who could test the Seahawks over the middle with Thomas out, has experienced some success against Seattle while he played for the Rams.

He has also experienced bone-crunching hits from Seattle’s other tough safety, Kam Chancellor.

”You just can’t worry about it,” Cook said. ”You’re going to get hit, you’re going to have defenders in the middle of the field, so you’ve just got to catch and secure the ball.”

RUN IT OUT: Seattle’s run game is starting to find some traction, and that could help if it snows again in Green Bay.

The Seahawks have rushed for at least 125 yards as a team in three straight games. Last week against Carolina was the peak, with the Seahawks running for 240 yards. Thomas Rawls rushed for 103 yards in the first half against the Panthers, becoming the second Seattle player this season to have a 100-yard game.

ACHES AND PAINS: The injury bug on the Packers’ defense has now hit the linebacker position. Nick Perry (eight sacks) has been ruled out for Sunday with a left hand injury. He was also a solid run defender on the edge.

Clay Matthews is working through a painful left shoulder injury. Starting inside linebackers Jake Ryan (ankle) and Blake Martinez (knee) also have been limited this week. The injuries in part have affected a run defense that has slackened since the opening month of the season.

RUN IT OUT, PART 2: James Starks hasn’t had much production on the ground for the Packers, but he has had his moments on screens and in the short passing game, and that might come in handy against Seattle’s effective pass rush. Christine Michael, who was claimed off waivers from Seattle a few weeks ago, has slowly been getting more carries as he gets up to speed in Green Bay. He had 19 yards on nine carries last week against Houston .

WHAT WEATHER? Whatever the weather Sunday, it shouldn’t be a problem for Seattle. A little snow, or a little cold seem easy to deal with after last January’s NFC wild-card game in Minnesota, played in negative temperatures. ”You can’t get any worse than we had in Minnesota,” Seattle’s Richard Sherman said. ”Everything else is an oven compared to that.”

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AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Renton, Washington contributed to this story.

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For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Peterson, who came within 9 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, and Watt, who led the NFL with 20 1/2 sacks, were selected by all 50 members of a nationwide panel of media members who cover the league.

Peterson is a three-time All-Pro, while Watt represents lots of new blood. He’s among 17 players making their All-Pro debuts.

“Obviously it’s a huge honor, especially for being such a young guy,” said Watt, a second-year pro. “It’s crazy to even think about. It’s very humbling and very motivating. It makes me want to do it again and again.”

Peyton Manning made his sixth team, the previous five while quarterbacking Indianapolis. He led Denver to the AFC’s best record, 13-3.

Also chosen for the sixth time was Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez, who this season moved into second place on the career receptions list. San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis made it for the fifth time in his six pro seasons.

The 49ers had the most All-Pros, six: Willis, fellow LBs NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith, guard Mike Iupati, safety Dashon Goldson and punter Andy Lee.

“As an organization, we take great pride in the success and recognition of our players,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said. “This type of acknowledgement only comes from hard work and a team-first mentality, which all six of these men exhibit on a daily basis. They play the game the way it was meant to be played, and are very deserving of this honor.”

Seattle was next with RB Marshawn Lynch, center Max Unger, cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas. All were selected for the first time.

Sherman was incensed when he didn’t make the Pro Bowl. He was thrilled with the news he made the All-Pro team “because that’s comparing the whole league.”

” That is taking individuals and saying they are the best in the NFL at that position and that’s what I wanted to be,” Sherman said. ” The Pro Bowl is taking three from each side, it’s more of a popularity contest. The All-Pro, you’re the best at your position. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fifth-rounder or fourth-rounder or undrafted. If you play the best, you’re All-Pro.”

Denver had three All-Pros: LB Von Miller, tackle Ryan Clady and Manning. No other team had more than two.

The NFC had 17 players and only 10 made it from the AFC.

One rookie, Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh, was chosen.

Also on offense were Baltimore fullback Vonta Leach, making it for the third straight year; Detroit WR Calvin Johnson and Chicago WR Brandon Marshall; Houston tackle Duane Brown; New Orleans guard Jahri Evans, making his fourth consecutive appearance; Baltimore kick returner Jacoby Jones; Miami DE Cameron Wake; Cincinnati DT Geno Atkins and New England DT Vince Wilfork; and Chicago CB Charles Tillman.

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