Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers: Complete Week 8 Preview for Seattle

While things have certainly gone awry for the Seattle Seahawks over the last three weeks, they are still a ways away from being out of any playoff hunt. The Seahawks were never expected to go undefeated this year, but they have been exposed a bit in all three phases of the game.

Their opponent in Week 8 is seemingly going through some very similar issues: The defense is struggling compared to 2013, the offense is inconsistent and the special teams have had issues from time to time. The last time Seattle played Carolina was Week 1 of the 2013 season, in a defensive battle that saw the Seahawks come out on top 12-7.

As fast as things have gone south for the defending champions, there's still plenty of teams worse off. Despite the two teams having similar records, things may be worse for the Carolina Panthers. With 10 games remaining in the season for Seattle, it leaves plenty of time for the team to handle its downhill slide.

"(There are) dudes with a lot of heart in here," linebacker Bruce Irvin said, per The New York Times. "Like anywhere else, when you face adversity it's how you respond." The Panthers are allowing an average of 34.8 points per game over the last five weeks; there's an opportunity for the Seahawks to regain some confidence in this game.

Seattle Seahawks Week 7 Recap

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The St. Louis Rams earned a 28-26 victory over their 2013 division champions by avoiding key mistakes and executing well on nearly every key play in the game. Seattle's normally staunch special teams units came up short in several areas during the game due to a lack of preparation.

St. Louis was able to use Tavon Austin as a decoy on a punt return that resulted in a 90-yard touchdown return for Stedman Bailey. Later in the game, the Rams picked up a first down on a fake punt and had a 75-yard kickoff return that set up a quick touchdown after the team fell behind early.

Special teams don't get all the blame, however. Defensively, the Seahawks struggled with stopping the run for a second consecutive week. After Week 6, Seattle's run defense had allowed just 249 yards rushing or about 62.3 yards per game. In the last two weeks, the Rams and Dallas Cowboys have racked up a combined 264 yards on the ground.

The Cowboys' big day on the ground was more permissible as one of the league's top rushing games, but the Rams' success screams of the two-week stretch Seattle had last year. The Seahawks allowed a whopping 405 yards rushing during the latter time span. The two games proved to be outliers, however, and Seattle's defense regained its earlier form.

More so than ever before, Seattle's offensive success is resting on the shoulders of Russell Wilson. The events of Week 7's game only serve to confirm that. A battered offensive line, an adjusting receiving corps and a struggling run game have forced Wilson to take on being the team's top back in two of the last three weeks.

"I really don't want to run, to be honest with you," Wilson said, according to The New York Times. "I'm trying to throw it all the time and keep my eyes down the field."

The Seahawks are in a bit of an adjustment period due to injuries and the Percy Harvin trade. How they handle the next few opponents, including the Panthers, will go a long way toward figuring out their 2014 identity.

News and Notes

John Froschauer/Associated Press

Richardson Set to Pick Up Slack at Receiver

Wideout Percy Harvin was traded to the New York Jets last week and, after the initial shock of it all, the focus shifted to who would step up to fill the void. After one game, it appears rookie receiver Paul Richardson is the guy who will benefit the most from Harvin's sudden departure.

Richardson was on the field for 44 snaps against St. Louis last week, after receiving a maximum of 10 snaps in any of his prior appearances. Fellow rookie Kevin Norwood made the active roster for the first time in his young career, appearing on eight snaps. The two receivers' development should prove to be critical to the success or failure of Seattle the rest of the way.

Seahawks Claim Tight End Off Waivers

With injuries piling up at the position, the Seattle Seahawks made the decision to cut the recently signed RaShaun Allen and signed Brett Brackett away from the Tennessee Titans. The signing could be a signal that Zach Miller's injury may keep him out of the lineup a bit longer than expected.

Brackett had gone from the Titans' practice squad to their active roster in Week 6 as their team has been dealing with similar injury woes at the position. The journeyman tight end saw a total of 19 snaps in two games and used primarily as an extra blocker. Expect the same type of usage in Seattle.

Quote of the Week

Russell Wilson on rumors of infighting between himself and Harvin (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk:

"

Percy and I never had differences. He's a guy that, you know, we had a lot of similarities, probably, if anything. You know, guys that want to compete at the highest level, want to win every single time you step on the field. Want the ball in our hands, to make the big play and everything.

So I'm not sure why the media tries to blow everything out of proportion, it's part of it, I guess. You have to deal with it. But you also ignore it, too. Like I always tell you guys, ignore the noise. You know, Percy's a Virginia guy and I wish nothing but the best for him.

"

Injury Report

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Player	Position	Injury Status
Alvin Bailey	G	Day-to-day
Kam Chancellor	S	Probable
Derrick Coleman	FB	Out
Jordan Hill	DT	Out
Jeremy Lane	CB	Doubtful
Cassius Marsh	DE	IR
Byron Maxwell	CB	Doubtful
Zach Miller	TE	Out
Russell Okung	OT	Probable
Eric Pinkins	DT	PUP
Tharold Simon	CB	Questionable
Max Unger	C	Day-to-day
Bobby Wagner	LB	Out
Luke Willson	TE	Questionable

*Rotoworld

The injuries continue to mount for the Seahawks with the loss of FB Derrick Coleman to injury. It's becoming more and more difficult for Marshawn Lynch to run the ball with an offensive line that is missing its starting center, its starting tight end and full back.

The offensive line is also starting a rookie at right tackle and has an injured left tackle and guard. The good news is Seattle's secondary is recovering, which should provide a significant boost to the team's defense.

X- Factors and Matchups to Watch

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RG J.R. Sweezy vs. DT Kawann Short

The Carolina Panthers haven't had a lot of standout performers on its once dominant defensive line, but Short has proven to be a handful for offensive lines all season. Yes, DE Mario Addison has been the guy racking up sacks for the Panthers, with five, but he's also been a liability in run defense.

Short has been able to consistently collapse the pocket and blow up run plays. Through seven games, Short has one sack, five QB hits, six hurries and two batted passes to go along with a plus-14.9 rating. Sweezy will be the Seattle offensive lineman charged with keeping Short at bay for most of this weekend's action.

The Seattle guard is one of the team's two linemen, the other being Russell Okung, who have shown a bit of improvement in their play over the past two weeks. With Star Lotulelei also playing at defensive tackle, it will be tough for the Seahawks to lean the centers help in Sweezy's direction but look for this to be an important battle in the game.

CB Antoine Cason vs. WR Doug Baldwin

Doug Baldwin showed that he's capable of stepping up to be the Seahawks' No. 1 against the St. Louis Rams, posting a 123-yard, one-score game in the first game without Percy Harvin. Seattle will need Baldwin to prove he can do it consistently, and his next opportunity is against a struggling Antoine Cason.

Cason has allowed a touch reception in each of Carolina's last five games while allowing an average of 69.2 yards per game. While he hasn't allowed a 100-yard receiver all season, look for Russell Wilson to exploit Cason as a liability in coverage early and often. 

Baldwin needs to play with the same fire he showed against the Rams, running crisp routes and showcasing his ability to make plays after the catch.

X-Factor: TE Greg Olsen vs. Seattle Linebackers  

At this point in the year, I'm sure I've pounded it into your heads enough times that Seattle struggles with covering tight ends. Greg Olsen poses perhaps the greatest threat at the position the Seahawks will see all year.

The Seahawks have allowed an average of just 44.2 yards per game to opposing tight ends this season, but their biggest issue has been with touchdowns. Seattle has allowed a league-high eight receiving touchdowns to tight ends, and Olsen has third-most touchdowns at the position with five.

Olson also is tied for the league lead in receptions at the position with 41 and leads in yardage with 493, as well. The Seattle linebackers and safeties will have their work cut out for them, trying to stop a guy who's become a favored target for Cam Newton this season.

Prediction

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Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, coming off a 313-yard passing day, is going up against a Carolina defense that has allowed an average of 268 yards passing per game over the last five weeks. Wilson, with an NFL-best 327 rushing yards for quarterbacks, is going against a run defense that ranks 26th in the league.

The Seahawks defense has had its fair share of issues as well. Its pass defense has dipped from being the best in the league last year to 16th, and their pass rush has been close to nonexistent at times. This is a pivotal game for both teams, with Seattle being 3-3 and Carolina at 3-3-1.

In the end it's too tough to have any confidence in a Carolina defense that has surrendered a whopping 34.8 points per game over its past five games.

Prediction: SEA 26, CAR 20

*All stats (including snap count) gathered from Pro Football Focus (subscription required).