Panthers vs. Seahawks: TV Coverage, Live-Stream Schedule and Final Predictions

Two of the hottest teams in the NFL will surely deliver one of the weekend's top games on Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. ET from CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington.

The Carolina Panthers closed the season with four wins in December to clinch the NFC South. The way in which Carolina has been playing is remarkable considering how far the team has come since the beginnings of the season. Cam Newton and the defense are carrying the Panthers to within reach of the Super Bowl.

Despite an uncharacteristic beginning to the season, the Seattle Seahawks have marched into the playoffs on a high note. The Legion of Boom and the rest of the defense have been superb in the team's final six games, leading no one to question who the class of the NFC is at this point in time.

Throw records out the window when predicting this matchup. As two of the hottest teams in the NFL, the Panthers and Seahawks will partake in a hotly contested bout on Saturday. 

Below you'll find all pertinent viewing information, as well as the final prediction of the outcome.

When: Saturday, Jan. 10 at 8:15 p.m. ET

Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

Watch: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Final Prediction

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Newton and Russell Wilson are the faces of this clash, but the top story is undeniably the Seahawks' suffocating defense. NFL ESPN tweeted their dominance over the past six games:

Richard Sherman and the rest of the secondary have much to do with the success of the unit, but Bobby Wagner is the true anchor. He was an All-Pro selection despite missing five games this season, finishing second on the team in tackles.

Seattle has been second to none with Wagner at full strength, but ESPN's John Buccigross reminds us that the Panthers have a successful defense as well:

These two defenses will dictate both the pacing and the outcome. Newton and Wilson must manage to be both aggressive playmakers and smart decision-makers. Finding that balance is what separates the good quarterbacks from the great ones. Naturally, it's not an easy balance to achieve.

For Newton, all it might take is for the Panthers to completely unleash him, according to USA Today's Steven Ruiz:

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Surprising stat: Cam Newton has thrown fewer interceptions than Wilson in the quarterbacks’ three meetings. But that doesn’t really tell the whole story. Wilson has simply made more plays when the Panthers and Seahawks have played. The Panthers coaches have been hesitant to fully unleash Newton against Seattle’s defense, but they’ll have to on Saturday for Carolina to have a shot.

"

Newton was just so-so against Arizona last week, tossing two touchdowns and an interception while throwing for a pedestrian 198 yards.

He'll have to limit mistakes against a Seattle secondary that will pick passes off when given the opportunity.

Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen will be keys to his potential success, as they have been his most reliable options throughout the year. He needs those safety blankets to be there when the pocket collapses or when other options are tightly covered.

It's a tall task for a quarterback who has yet to take that jump to the next level, but fullback Mike Tolbert thinks Newton has the chops to get the job done:

Conversely, Wilson has proved that he is one of the top 10 quarterbacks in football. His run through the playoffs last season was remarkable, but it was his repeat showing during the regular season that proved he was able to maintain a high level of play.

He and running back Marshawn Lynch are the keys to the offensive attack. They must rack up yards on the ground against a tough team against the run, as the weapons at Wilson's disposal through the air are subpar.

Despite this inherent weakness for the Seahawks, they should be able to overcome it and roll into the NFC Championship Game. Wilson has made it work over the past nine weeks (over which time Seattle hasn't lost a game), and there's no reason to believe that the streak will stop now.

It'll be an emotionally charged affair given the stakes and hard-hitting defenses, but the defending Super Bowl champs will leave with a shot at repeating.

Prediction: Seahawks win, 28-13

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn