Rematch! The Seattle Seahawks are Ready for the Panthers
By Ben Renner
In the second of what will hopefully be a series of rematches on the way to the Super Bowl, the Seattle Seahawks are ready to take on the Panthers in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Cam Newton beat the Hawks on a clutch pass to Tight End Greg Olsen, who was left wide open on a broken coverage late in the game. While the media has been gushing over presumptive MVP Newton and his flashy fashion sense, the Seahawks have quietly been preparing for revenge on the Panthers’ home field.
If the Seattle Seahawks plan on defeating Carolina this week, they’ll have to find a way to cover Olsen, who, in addition to scoring the game-winning touchdown against them back in week six, gashed the Legion of Boom for 131 yards. The Hawks have struggled against Tight Ends all year and Olsen is one of the best. Don’t think this information is lost on Safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. Look for these two key defensive contributors to try to run with Olsen while playing him physically over the middle of the field.
As his fantasy owners know very well, Ted Ginn Jr. has risen from the ashes this year to score 10 touchdowns in his ninth season. He had 11 in his previous eight years with the Dolphins, 49ers, Cardinals, and a previous stint with Carolina. His resurgence has greatly bolstered the Panthers’ thin receiving corps. Cornerback Richard Sherman figures to be the main defender in coverage of Ginn, who was held to one catch on four targets for 18 yards in week six.
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Russel Wilson will face the best defense he’s seen all season yet again this week. Panthers Cornerback Josh Norman has been a shutdown defender all year and matches up well with red-hot Wide Receiver Doug Baldwin. This can’t be another pick-up-a-botched-snap-and-throw-for-35-yards type of game. The key for the offense will be the running game. Running Back Marshawn Lynch has practiced in full this week and the coachspeak has been encouraging, but until he boards a plane for Carolina, I’ll hold off on proclaiming my elation that he’s back in the lineup. Christine Michael has been serviceable in his absence, fighting and punishing a stout Vikings unit for 70 yards. If he’s the starter again, he’ll find another tough test against the 4th best run defense in the NFL. Whether it’s Michael or Lynch leading the rushing attack, they have to balance the offense and take pressure off of Wilson and his receivers, who could have trouble getting open.
At 15-1, the Panthers roll into this rematch with confidence and a roaring home crowd behind them. Fortunately, the Seahawks have been playing their best football all season in recent weeks. Despite escaping Minnesota with a one-point win, they’re still playing lights-out defense and Wilson has been an absolute wizard. We knew the path to the Super Bowl wouldn’t be easy this year, folks. Expect another tough, physical, brutal game against a quality opponent in Carolina. Let’s fix those helmet headsets and get it on!