Although it may be relatively new to Ireland’s sporting vernacular, the notion of ‘paralysis by analysis’ has long since been a staple of the American discourse.

Some of the strangers stories doing the rounds around the world

The Carolina Panthers withstood a furious second half comeback from the Seattle Seahawks last night to win 31-24 and set up a National Football Conference championship showdown against the Arizona Cardinals.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has upheld Tom Brady’s four-game suspension for the New England Patriots quarterback’s role in the ‘deflategate’ scandal.

Sometime in the future, when professional sport has been closed down altogether, people will probably look back at the time America’s finest legal minds produced a rebuttal website on behalf of the New England Patriots that contained these sentences:

The New England Patriots escaped a winter blizzard to make their way to the Super Bowl city of Phoenix on Monday but there was no avoiding another storm as the mystery of the deflated footballs continued to swirl.

The Seattle Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl for the second time in two years after clinching a dramatic 28-22 win over the Green Bay Packers in overtime at CenturyLink Field.

All eyes will be on Denver tomorrow as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady face each other for the 15th time.

The long-awaited Harbaugh Bowl is suddenly a reality in the NFL.

The Atlanta Falcons survived one of the most outstanding comebacks in recent NFL memory, ending the Seattle Seahawks’ incredible season with a 30-28 victory that sets up an NFC Championship showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.

The New York Giants will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI after beating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime in the NFC Championship game last night.

GREEN BAY PACKERS coach Mike McCarthy has pledged to bring the Vince Lombardi trophy “back where it belongs” tomorrow night.

Croke Park director Peter McKenna has dismissed a report suggesting Superbowl finalists the Pittsburgh Steelers could play a regular NFL season game at Croke Park later this year — but confirmed the GAA have asked for the Government’s assistance in attracting such a fixture to headquarters.

CROKE Park director Peter McKenna has dismissed a report suggesting Superbowl finalists the Pittsburgh Steelers could play a regular NFL season game at Croke Park later this year — but confirmed the GAA have asked for the Government’s assistance in attracting such a fixture to headquarters.

THE NFL’s oldest rivalry will be played out on its greatest possible stage tomorrow evening as the Green Bay Packers visit the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game (8pm, Irish time).

“SAME old Jets,” Rex Ryan smiled, goading the naysayers who had dismissed his ‘Gang Green’ prior to New York shocking the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass on Sunday night.

NEW YORK has been buzzing this week ahead of Rex Ryan’s Jets’ AFC play-off showdown at their arch-rivals, the New England Patriots, tomorrow evening (9.30pm, Irish time).

NICK FOLK’S 32-yard field goal with time up ensured the New York Jets finally began to live up to their own billing as potential Super Bowl winners.

BRETT FAVRE, who ignored critics saying he was too old and enjoyed a record-smashing season, has lifted the Green Bay Packers one victory from an unlikely trip to Superbowl XLII.

JOSEPH ADDAI had just run through the New England Patriots’ team picture, the RCA Dome was delirious and the Indianapolis Colts had both momentum and the lead.

The New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers will meet at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas for Super Bowl XXXVIII.

TENNESSEE'S Joe Nedney made the most of his third chance Saturday, kicking the game-winner on his second overtime try as the Titans downed Pittsburgh 34-31 and left the Steelers crying foul in the NFLeague playoffs.

DONOVAN MCNABB, the National Football League’s highest-paid player, returns to quarterback for Philadelphia today when they take on another team with an explosive quarterback talent - Atlanta - in the playoff second round.