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Divisional Weekend is well underway, and Monday kicks off with a cracker between the Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:05am AEDT.
The Seattle Seahawks were one of the hottest teams in the final half of the season, but they’re a little lucky to be facing the Panthers this weekend.
Trailing most of the game against the Vikings last weekend, the Seahawks needed a spirited comeback and a missed 27-Yard field goal from Blair Walsh, to advance.
However, with two-straight NFC Championship appearances, the Seahawks have proven they can win in this situation.
The Carolina Panthers were the best team in 2015, led to a 15-1 defence by MVP Quarterback Cam Newton. It took 14 weeks for the Panthers to take their first loss in 2015, and they come into the playoffs full of confidence.
With a perfect 8-0 record at home in 2015, the Panthers will be heavy favourites to advance to their first NFC Championship game since 2006, a game that they lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle were underwhelming last weekend against Minnesota. Russell Wilson was poor in that game (13/26, 142 Yards), but came up with a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to bring Seattle back into the game.
With an elite Panthers’ secondary on the menu this weekend, Seattle’s franchise quarterback will have to step up his game if the Seahawks want to win.
The Seahawks will get a boost for this game, with running back Marshawn Lynch set to return from an abdominal injury. Tight end Luke Willson is also expected to play.
The Panthers have dominated teams in 2015 behind the play of quarterback Cam Newton. With 34 passing touchdowns, and 10 rushing touchdowns, expect a big showing from him in front of his home crowd.
Tight end Greg Olsen has been a big part of that success, as he enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2015 with 77 receptions for 1104 yards and seven touchdowns.
The defence has also played superbly this year, although the loss of cornerback Charles Tillman will hurt against Seattle’s receiving core.
The Panthers will start as slight favourites in this one, as most bookmakers have them as 2-point favourites. ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) also has them as 58.7 per cent favourites, so expect a close game throughout.
Prediction
This should be a hard-fought game, as both sides have playmakers on both sides of the ball. However, I think home-field advantage gets the Panthers over the line here, with a big game-winning drive from Cam Newton.
Panthers by 3
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