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
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME If there was ever a game of two halves, this was it. The Panthers raced out of the blocks, with a quick opening TD drive followed by a pick-six from Luke Kuechly to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead within five minutes. The Seahawks couldn't get anything going in the first half, and the Panthers added to the pain with two more TD's and a FG to take a 31-0 lead into the half time break. Then it was Seattle's turn to start the half well, as they got a big return on the opening kickoff, and turned that into a score within 90 seconds. The Panthers looked a little lethargic in the second half, and the Seahawks almost took advantage of that fact, as Wilson tossed three TD passes to get within 7 points. Alas, they couldn't recover the onside kick, so the comeback fell just short. Cam Newton didn't have his best game in this one, but it wouldn't matter as Jonathan Stewart rushed for 106 yards and 2 TD, including a 59-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Greg Olsen came up big for the Panthers, with six catches for 77 Yards, all of which resulted in a first down. Russell Wilson shrugged off a poor first half to finish with 366 Yards and 3 TDs. They didn't get anything from the running game however, which leant itself to the poor start. Jevon Kearse had another brilliant playoff game with 11 catches for 110 yards and 2 TD. Thanks for joining me for this clash, and be sure to stick around for the Broncos and Steelers in about 20 minutes!
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME PANTHERS 31 SEAHAWKS 24
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Cam Newton will just knee this one down three times, and the Panthers will host the Cardinals next week for a berth in the Super Bowl!!! SEA 24 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
KICKOFF SEA 35 1:12 This is the biggest play of the game so far. Hauschka is 2 for 8 on onside kicks in his career. The kick takes a big hop, but Thomas Davis comes down with it, and Carolina will win!!!! SEA 24 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
SEA 4TH & 15 CAR 18 1:16 Hauschka nails a 36 Yard Field Goal, and it's a 7-point game!!! The Seahawks will need an onside kick to have any chance. Anyone else reminded of last year's NFC Championship Game here? SEA 24 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
SEA 3RD & 15 CAR 18 1:16 Wilson overthrows Kearse in the End Zone, so they should kick the Field Goal here. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Wilson takes a delay of game penalty so that'll cost them 5 yards. SEA 2ND & 15 CAR 18 1:26 Wilson with an empty backfield. Another flag flies here, and Wilson overthrows his TE Willson in the End Zone. The flag is for Illegal Formation, but the Panthers decline it. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
SEA 3RD & 9 CAR 42 1:59 Wilson has a man over the middle for the first down, and they'll hurry up. Now another first down catch for Baldwin, and Wilson will spike it with 1:26 left. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
SEA 3RD & 4 CAR 37 1:59 Wilson out of the gun on 3rd down. There's a flag before the play, so this will be a false start against Seattle, and it's against the Wide Receiver Lockett. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
SEA 2ND & 10 CAR 43 2:05 Wilson will throw on second down, and he has Kearse for a short gain. That'll take us to the two-minute warning. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
SEA 1ST & 10 CAR 43 2:11 Wilson out of th egun yet again, and he'll air it out. Baldwin was open, but Kuechly comes across and makes a great play to knock it away. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
SEA 2ND & 2 SEA 43 2' 2:19 left now. Seattle still need two scores, but stranger things have happened. Wilson goes out of the gun, and he'll throw short to Willson, and he has a good gain up the left sideline. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
SEA 1ST & 10 SEA 35 2' Wilson passes out to the right, and Kearse makes a great catch along the sideline. Carolina will challenge, but this will stand for 8 yards. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
SEA 1ST & 10 SEA 22 2' Wilson has Baldwin over the middle for the completion, and a first down. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 4TH & 2 50 2' Nortman punts away, and Lockett has to take the fair catch at his own 16. There's a flag down here, but it's against Carolina. They'll add those five yards to the end of the kick. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 3RD & 7 CAR 45 3' Newton out of the gun, and he hands off to Tolbert, but he's short of the first down. Punt coming up. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 2ND & 10 CAR 42 3' Jonathan Stewart gets up the middle for 3 yards. Timeout Seattle. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 1ST & 10 CAR 42 4' Tolbert with the handoff now, but he gets nowhere. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 2ND & 7 CAR 34 5' Newton has Olsen out in the flat, and he'll pick up the first down. SEA 21 CAR 31
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Carolina's offence has gone cold here. After scoring on their first four drives, they've had to punt on their last four. They almost need a score here, because the Seahawks are coming. CAR 1ST & 10 CAR 31 6' Stewart takes the handoff, and he gains three yards over the right tackle. SEA 21 CAR 31