Panthers vs. Seahawks: Complete Divisional Round Preview for Carolina
The Carolina Panthers (8-8-1) travel to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Seahawks (12-4) in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs on Saturday night. This will serve as a rematch between these two when the Seahawks bested the Panthers 13-9 in Charlotte earlier this season. However, this game will feature a different venue, and the stakes will be a lot higher.
Much like how Carolina exorcised its playoff demons against Arizona last week, the same can be said of this week's match at Seattle. After all, the Panthers lost to the Seahawks in the 2006 NFC Championship Game, and it only makes sense to rectify that loss.
Seattle is a heavy favorite this weekend, as Carolina will have its hands full in trying to stop the talented Seahawks and combating the noise level generated by the home crowd, also known as the 12th Man. This could realistically be the end of the Panthers' playoff run, but this team is determined to go down with a fight.
Carolina will rely on the defense to keep the game close. The Panthers haven't played in Seattle since 2010, but the last three matches have been close affairs with the Seahawks taking each game. Bucking the trend in the postseason would change things up in this recent rivalry and perhaps alter the perception of Carolina moving forward.
Cam Newton will be seeking his second postseason victory, and earning it over the defending Super Bowl champions would be a bright spot to his resume. It won't be easy against a strong Seattle defense and one that features the infamous Legion of Boom, but Newton is ready to take on all challenges that lie ahead.
With a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line, does Carolina have what it takes to pull off the biggest upset of the weekend?
The following game preview will explore the news leading up to this week's game, the matchups to watch and predict the victor between Carolina and Seattle.
Carolina Panthers Wild Card Round Recap
1 of 5
Carolina defeated Arizona 27-16 last week to close out its final home game of the season, sending its fans home with reason for optimism moving forward. The game was not as close as the final score would suggest, and the Panthers were denied a lot of credit for the win because the Cardinals were missing key players—most notably, Carson Palmer, Andre Ellington and Darnell Dockett. However, the Panthers were not the only team last week to secure a victory over an opponent who was missing certain playmakers.
The defense played spectacularly against Arizona, and had it not been for turnovers giving the Cardinals a short field, the score may have been drastically different. The unit held the Arizona offense to just 87 yards—a postseason record. Tre Boston stepped up again with another interception after it was deflected by Luke Kuechly.
Carolina dominated Ryan Lindley in the second half. The Cardinals quarterback was sacked four times and intercepted twice. Arizona was able to muster just 12 yards in the half altogether.
Cam Newton did enough offensively to clinch the win by tossing a pass in the flat to Fozzy Whittaker, who took it 39 yards for the touchdown. Later, Mike Tolbert scored on a similar play from one yard out after the Panthers special teams forced a fumble from Ted Ginn Jr. on the kickoff.
The win may not have earned the Panthers any respect for the postseason, but it did earn them their first playoff win since 2005.
News and Notes
2 of 5
A Rematch with a Different Look
While this game may be a rematch, the Carolina Panthers will be sporting a different look this time around. Carolina Huddle's Jeremy Igo noted that most of the snaps were taken by guys who are no longer starting or with the team.
Jason Avant, Darrin Reaves, Chris Ogbonnaya and Antoine Cason are among those who took snaps in that game, but are no longer with the Panthers. The following chart breaks down those who took reps but will not be playing (or starting) Saturday.
| Player | Position | Number of Snaps |
| Nate Chandler | OT | 36 |
| Fernando Velasco | OG | 62 |
| David Foucault | OT | 31 |
| Jason Avant | WR | 33 |
| Darrin Reaves | RB | 4 |
| Chris Ogbonnaya | RB | 2 |
| Antoine Cason | CB | 63 |
| Thomas DeCoud | S | 43 |
| James Dockery | CB | 33 |
It should be noted that Seattle came away with a slim 13-9 win in that meeting, and things will look drastically different in terms of personnel and performance. If the improved play of Carolina continues, an upset could be in order on Saturday night.
Fallen Star
The Carolina defense suffered a blow earlier this week when Star Lotulelei suffered a fractured foot in practice. The injury will keep Lotulelei out for at least two weeks, but for now, the Panthers have the depth to compensate for his absence. A steady rotation of Dwan Edwards, Kawann Short and Colin Cole should pick up the slack. Rookie Kony Ealy could find some playing time on the inside, as he has progressed late in the season.
Stopping Seattle's Marshawn Lynch won't be easy, but the guys filling in for Lotulelei have proved to be adequate when called upon.
Stephen Hill Could Debut
The status regarding Philly Brown's availability is up in the air, and Thursday, it was revealed that Stephen Hill will travel with the team to Seattle and serve as a replacement if Brown is unable to play. Hill would be the speed and deep threat if he is able to play. He was a former second-round pick of the New York Jets, who released him after two disappointing seasons.
He has been with the Carolina practice squad all year and has looked good in practices. His level of impact won't be known unless he sees time on the field, but he could a potent weapon against an unsuspecting Seattle secondary if he can evade the coverage.
Special Teams Need to be Special
Last week's game against Arizona featured some scary moments from the Carolina special teams and some good moments. The good moments featured the punt team pinning Arizona deep inside its own territory. This allowed the defense to have the upper hand and get the Cardinals offense to go three and out on several series.
Perhaps the biggest moment on special teams came when the Panthers forced a fumble on a kickoff following Fozzy Whittaker's touchdown reception, which Melvin White was able to recover at the Arizona 10-yard line. That play set up another Carolina score to increase the lead.
However, there were some concerns.
Brenton Bersin had an adventurous day on the punt return team and seemed to struggle catching the ball. He misjudged a ball that had hit the ground and made contact with him. That resulted in Arizona recovering it and having great field position for its next series. Eventually, the Cardinals would turn the mistake into a touchdown.
The rest of the day he looked uncomfortable fielding punts, but he didn't turn it over. He should be the return man again this weekend and will look to have a better performance.
Injury Report
3 of 5
| Player/Position | Injury | Game Status |
| Philly Brown, WR | Shoulder | Questionable |
| Thomas DeCoud, S | Hamstring | Questionable |
| A.J. Klein, OLB | Ankle | Questionable |
| Star Lotulelei, DT | Foot | Out |
| Melvin White, CB | Ankle | Questionable |
As mentioned on the previous slide, Star Lotulelei will miss this week's game. There is enough depth to make up for his absence at defensive tackle, and he is the only one on the report to not practice in some capacity this week.
Philly Brown could be a game-time decision, but his absence would be sorely missed, as it would take away from the offensive game plan as it pertains to reverses and other trick plays. Brenton Bersin would most likely step up in his place, but if the Panthers want to go deep, expect to see Stephen Hill take the field.
Thomas DeCoud, A.J. Klein and Melvin White round out the rest of the list. DeCoud and White have been limited to depth chart players, although White did make a big play on special teams last week when he recovered a fumble. Klein would be a welcome addition, but if he can't go, Adarius Glanton will resume taking over in his place.
Injury report courtesy of Panthers.com.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
X-Factor and Matchups to Watch
4 of 5
Carolina Panthers vs. Red Zone/12th Man
Technically, it's not a conventional matchup, but it's one that will come into play on Saturday night. The Panthers have struggled in the red zone as of late. The offense can seemingly move the ball from its own territory, across mid-field and get to the 20-yard line without too much of a problem.
From there, things get a bit difficult. The drive stalls and Carolina has to kick a field goal. While three points is better than no points, not scoring a touchdown during red-zone opportunities can lead to defeat.
It's not just one player that is the cause of the red-zone woes either. Dropped passes, ineffective blocking, poor field vision and a lack of discipline have kept the Panthers from punching the ball into the end zone. That needs to change against a Seattle team that will not give them too many breaks.
The noise level will be difficult to overcome as well. The 12th Man has been a valuable part of the Seahawks' home success and can make it difficult for opposing teams to communicate on the field. Carolina has been doing all it can to prepare for the noisy environment, but it's difficult to simulate that kind of atmosphere.
Taking control and jumping out ahead early will take the crowd out of it and allow the Carolina offense to work more effectively. Of course, doing either of those things in Seattle is a tall order.
Carolina Defensive Line vs. Marshawn Lynch
Lynch is one of the league's best running backs. Keeping him in check won't be easy, but if the defensive front can close the gaps up front and wrap him up at the line of scrimmage, Seattle will have its offensive game play dramatically reduced.
Carolina saw its defense finish among the top 10 when the regular season ended. Improved rush defense played a part in that. The linebackers will be there in support, but it will be the hog-mollies at the line that will be depended on to deny Lynch and the other Seattle running backs from picking up big yards.
Kelvin Benjamin vs. Richard Sherman
The rookie did well in the first meeting against arguably the best cornerback in the league. Benjamin had four catches for 94 yards, including a grab between Sherman and Earl Thomas. However, Benjamin was benched after what Ron Rivera described as an accountability measure. It didn't help that the rookie dropped a pass in the end zone that could have turned the outcome of the game to Carolina's favor.
Benjamin has had a great season as far as rookies go, but he has missed some golden opportunities to make big plays because of bad hands. Sherman is a smart defensive back and does not make too many mistakes. Because of that, Benjamin will have to play his best game ever. He could be the offensive playmaker who is the difference in the Panthers advancing or going home.
Carolina's X-Factor of the Week: Luke Kuechly
Defense has been the defining unit of the Carolina Panthers of late. Kuechly leads that unit and will spend Saturday night matching wits with Russell Wilson. The Pro Bowl linebacker will have to keep his attention on Wilson and keep him from escaping the pocket.
If Kuechly serves as a spy for much of the game, then Wilson may not have too much room to run. However, if Kuechly drops back in coverage, the exceptionally mobile Wilson can take advantage of the separation to pick up a significant gain.
This matchup will be exciting to watch. Kuechly and Wilson are both intelligent and serve as the driving force of their respective units.
Prediction
5 of 5
"They keep nagging us. They end up making one more play than us, every single time," Josh Norman said following the 13-9 loss to Seattle earlier in the season.
The key to victory is to prevent Seattle from making that extra play. Carolina has proved it can play with the Seahawks, but those contests were in Charlotte. The Panthers' last trip to Seattle saw them lose, 31-14. However, that was a pathetic Carolina team in the middle of regime change and roster overhaul.
The Panthers have shown a lot of heart in recent weeks. They have been riding a wave of momentum into the playoffs and have a shot to advance to the NFC Championship Game. Certainly, an upset victory will give them a degree of credibility among the critics.
Cam Newton needs to be nearly flawless. He made some mistakes last week that probably would have sent his team packing if not for the terrific display of defense shown by the Panthers against Arizona. He shouldn't tempt fate a second time. He'll be more mobile than he was during the first meeting, but he will need to use Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen in the manner that allowed each receiver to reach 1,000 yards receiving on the season. He will need to spread the ball around and not single out one particular target.
Essentially, he has to continue to go with what has been working.
The offensive line looks different than the one Seattle saw earlier in the year, and the improved play has revitalized the running game. Jonathan Stewart could keep the Seahawks honest with a strong rushing performance.
As noted earlier, the defense has to play like it has during its current five-game winning streak. This means shutting down Marshawn Lynch, frustrating Russell Wilson and keeping the game a low-scoring affair.
Carolina will be fired up for this game. With so much riding on it, the Panthers will want to make a statement. Keeping Seattle from covering the spread would give them some respect, but this team wants to send a message to the league and the entire football world.
Prediction: Carolina 17, Seattle 14
Team and player information courtesy of Panthers.com, ESPN.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
