Seattle Seahawks Overpower Carolina Panthers, Win 31-17
Something you hear a lot in the NFL is that anything can happen in any given game. Something you heard a lot leading up to this particular game was that there’s rarely if ever a team as heavily favored as the Seattle Seahawks were today at home against the Carolina Panthers. Everyone was bracing for a close, hard fought game. Instead, we just got another typical Seahawks performance.
More from Seattle Seahawks
- Seattle Seahawks: To rest or not to rest, that is the question
- Seattle Seahawks: 12s still waiting to exhale
- Seattle Seahawks: 4 Takeaways from 26-23 Loss to the 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks: Four Takeaways from Week 14 21-7 victory
- Seattle Seahawks: Three Takeaways from the Week 13 43-16 victory
Seattle’s seventh win in a row came in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs, a 31-17 shellacking of Cam Newton‘s Panthers. Russell Wilson was in top form at QB, overcoming some early jitters to put together a remarkably strong performance. The defense, finally all healthy and ready to go, picked Newton off twice in holding the Panthers at bay. Everyone was going on all cylinders. It was just another incredible Seahawks game.
It all starts with Wilson, who went 15 for 22 for 268 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. He was at his worst early, letting the ball fall through his hands and then forgetting to let go of the football on the next play. After those two quick errors, he was lights out. It was one of his best games ever, right when it was most needed.
Kam Chancellor‘s the defender – and for that matter, the player – who’s going to be given the most love for this game. His 90-yard pick six sealed the deal for Seattle and stands as the most iconic moment of the day. Which, considering the team-wide display of heroics, is saying a lot.
Jermaine Kearse got to be a hero, reeling in a one-handed catch for a 63-yard touchdown. He totalled 129 yards on the day, giving himself another big performance. Those have been coming a lot more frequently in recent weeks. Luke Willson hauled in a nice touchdown catch of his own, and had an outstanding game of his own.
Cliff Avril got his sack in, as usual. Ditto Bruce Irvin, as usual. Earl Thomas was an absolute monster throughout the entire game, crushing dudes and shutting down the Carolina offense. Tharold Simon played great. Bobby Wagner played great. O’Brian Schofield had himself a nice game. Everyone had themselves a nice game.
This is what “team effort” looks like. This was the entire team – well, maybe not so much Ricardo Lockette – contributing to a huge playoff victory. All the credit in the world to Jon Ryan for giving the Seahawks great field position on every damn punt. Kudos, Steven Hauschka, for a clean field goal and four perfect PATs. Seriously, everyone went off today.
CenturyLink Field is still the hardest place to play football on the face of the earth, the Seattle Seahawks are still reigning world champs, and the Carolina Panthers STILL have no idea how to be Pete Carroll’s guys. The Seahawks become the first defending Super Bowl champ since 2005 to win a playoff game, and the quest for a second consecutive title rages on.