Panthers vs. Seahawks: Score and Twitter Reaction for Sunday Night Football

The Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks squared off in the playoffs in each of the last two years, with the winner eventually representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. Don't expect a rubber match in the upcoming postseason, because the Panthers looked like anything but a Lombardi Trophy contender Sunday at CenturyLink Field.

Seattle handled Carolina with ease during a 40-7 win in a game filled with storylines that extended beyond the action on the field.

The Seahawks, who lead the NFC West, are now 8-3-1 and 6-0 at home, while the Panthers dropped to 4-8 and remained in last place in the NFC South.

However, it was a costly win for Seattle.

The Seahawks announced safety Earl Thomas suffered a lower-leg fracture in the first half, and Thomas tweeted an emotional message after leaving the game:

Running back Thomas Rawls was also evaluated for a concussion, per Stephania Bell of ESPN, before ultimately returning to the game and putting the finishing touches on an impressive performance with 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Rawls wasn't the only offensive star for the Seahawks. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 277 yards with a touchdown and an interception while adding 29 yards on the ground.

Tight end Jimmy Graham caught a touchdown pass, while Tyler Lockett posted 75 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards, 46 kick-return yards, 12 punt-return yards and a touchdown on the ground.

On the other side, Carolina shocked plenty of observers by starting Derek Anderson at quarterback instead of reigning MVP Cam Newton.

NBC's Michele Tafoya reported the one-play benching was for a dress-code violation (h/t Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer).

Jeff Darlington of ESPN reacted to the benching:

Naturally, Anderson threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage, and Seattle parlayed it into a field goal.

"Maybe hindsight, but leaving the reigning MVP on the sidelines to start the game seems bad," Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com tweeted.

Mitch Goldich of Sports Illustrated congratulated the boldest bettors:

Newton was under center for Carolina's next drive but struggled to maintain consistency against Seattle's stingy defense throughout the game.

He finished 14-of-32 for 182 yards and a touchdown.

Seattle's offense went to work against a Carolina defense that was without linebacker Luke Kuechly (concussion), defensive end Mario Addison (foot) and safety Kurt Coleman (concussion). Rawls capped off a 92-yard drive with an eight-yard score after Wilson found Lockett for 40 yards to enter Carolina territory.

The NFL shared a replay of the touchdown run:

"

That @TRawls810 guy is BACK.

So smooth for the @Seahawks TD! #CARvsSEA https://t.co/AEdMav4tn6

— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2016"

A turnoverfest broke out after that.

Charles Johnson sacked Wilson on fourth down, but Jonathan Stewart fumbled it back to Seattle on the next play. Wilson couldn't take advantage, as Tre Boston notched an interception three plays into the Seahawks' ensuing drive.

Thomas went down on Carolina's subsequent drive, and Newton attacked the weak spot in the secondary on the next play with a 55-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr., as the NFL captured:

Carolina's momentum lasted all of three plays. Lockett returned the ensuing kickoff to Seattle's 43-yard line before Rawls tallied gains of 12 and 45 yards on the ground, the second of which went for a touchdown.

The NFL also passed along footage of Rawls' big run:

"

Watch out, @Seahawks opponents.@TRawls810 is running WILD!

45 yards to the house. #CARvsSEA https://t.co/qAOZJLPS0K

— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2016"

Seattle tacked on two Steven Hauschka field goals and took a 23-7 lead into halftime.

The pattern of game-breaking plays continued on the first snap of the second half, when Lockett ran 75 yards for a score.

NFL Network captured footage of the end-around:

Carolina threatened late in the third quarter, moving into the red zone before turning it over on downs.

The result was well in hand, but the Seahawks added on in the final quarter, when Wilson found Graham for a one-yard touchdown to finish a 10-play, 84-yard drive.

As the touchdowns and yards kept rolling in for Seattle, Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com underscored how striking the turnaround was after the Seahawks' 14-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12:

As if things couldn't get any worse for Carolina, backup quarterback Trevone Boykin did more than just finish the game for Seattle in garbage time. He found Jermaine Kearse down the sideline for a third-down conversion, setting up Hauschka's fourth field goal of the contest, which put the Seahawks ahead 40-7.

The clock ran out on Carolina's final drive, and Seattle took another important step toward a favorable postseason spot.

What's Next? 

The Seahawks have a winnable closing stretch against the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Those opponents are a combined 16-31-1 without a single winning record, so Seattle has a chance to compete for a first-round bye.

The Panthers have a more difficult stretch against the San Diego Chargers, Washington, the Atlanta Falcons and the Buccaneers. Those teams are a combined 25-22-1—and all but the Chargers are above .500—and the best Carolina can finish is 8-8.

Postgame Reaction

Newton said he supported coach Ron Rivera's benching, per the Panthers: "Coach has rules in place and we have to abide by them."

He also added, "We did not lose this game because of a tie," per the Panthers.

As for the Seahawks, cornerback Richard Sherman reflected on Thomas' tweet, per Stephen Cohen of SeattlePI.com: "I think all of us consider retirement just about every game."

Sherman continued, per Cohen, "When you get injured like that, a lot of stuff goes through your mind."

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Thomas would be out six weeks, per Tony Softli of 950 KJR in Seattle.

Wilson discussed the impact of losing Thomas, per Gregg Bell of the News Tribune, "You lose one of the best safeties to ever play the game…a devastating thing."

While Seattle will miss Thomas' presence at the back end of its defense, it can still win plenty of games if it plays like it did Sunday.