Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers: Divisional Round Preview

Going back to Week 6 of the 2015 season, the Seattle Seahawks were in the midst of a puzzling chapter of their season. At 2-3, Seattle stared across at Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. The ultra-talented QB has led Carolina on a game-winning drive, a 15-1 season, and now hosting those same Seahawks. Or are they the same Seattle team?

Coming off a close, tight-knit victory over the Minnesota Vikings last week in the wild card round, the Seahawks now have the Panthers in their path with a trip to the NFC Championship game on the line. Here is the preview of this intriguing NFC battle.

More from NFL News

• Patriots News & Rumors: Ezekiel Elliott talks fun in Foxboro; Mills to Packers?
• NFC East Buzz: Isaiah Simmons trade, Deuce Vaughn praise, Eagles rumors & more
• Should Trey Lance be considered an NFL draft bust?
• Jonathan Taylor trade rumors: 3 most alluring fits for Colts star running back
• Tua Tagovailoa: keep ‘my name out of your mouth’; Dolphins QB sends strong message

Why Seattle May Win

Seattle QB Russell Wilson has already established himself as a franchise worthy QB by guiding Seattle to the Super Bowl the past two seasons. His play last week against the Vikings, in below freezing temperatures I might add, wasn’t pretty on the stat sheet. Despite that, Wilson made the necessary plays down the stretch to put his team in position for the victory. Wilson converted key plays including his wizardry on a key play in the fourth quarter to connect with WR Tyler Lockett and a first down that came on a scoring drive.

Wilson is 7-2 as a starter in the playoffs which also includes a 268 yard and three touchdown outing against Carolina in the NFC Divisional Round last postseason. Wilson will also welcome RB Marshawn Lynch back with open arms. Lynch only played in seven games this season due to various injuries one including recent hernia surgery. There’s no doubt that Lynch makes the offense more physical and open things up for Lockett, Doug Baldwin, and Jermaine Kearse.

The defense that Carolina beat in Week 6 is not the same defense that appears before us now. Seattle ended the season first in scoring defense, second in total defense, second in yards allowed per play, first in rushing defense…You catch my drift. They’re still good. Scary good.

DE Michael Bennett is a headache to block with his versatility, FS Earl Thomas is still making centerfield plays, CB Richard Sherman is still one of the best in the game, and SS Kam Chancellor is still intimidating.  Digging deeper into the defense, one of the keys to the defense is the play of CB Jeremy Lane who is starting to make plays which adds a different element to the defense. LBs KJ Wright and Bobby Wagner are also key with defending the rushing phase of Cam Newton’s game.

Why Carolina May Win

It doesn’t take long to watch the Panthers and realize that they are all about physicality. On offense, Newton is the straw that stirs the drink. Newton has not thrown an interception since the first week of December and has tossed 15 touchdowns to one interception since that first week as well. While most are enamored with his stellar arm, Newton continues to find ways to burn defenses with his rushing game as he rushed for his highest total since 2012 (636 yards, 10 touchdowns).

Newton has his starting running back returning and Jonathan Stewart is truly going to be needed against this active, physical Seahawks defense. Stewart hasn’t seen the field in about a month so it will be interesting to see how he performs with a considerable amount of time away.

Every defense had plans to take away TE Greg Olsen and not many had success with those plans. Olsen had to be relied on the as the #1 pass catcher the entire season and he fulfilled that role with 1,104 yards and seven TDs.

This game has a pair of smothering defenses and the Panthers have been that pretty much the entire season. A unit that is sixth in scoring defense and third in yards per play is led by quite possibly the best pair of linebackers in the game, Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis. Two linebackers who flow from sideline to sideline with ease and make things very difficult for offenses who try to attack the perimeter. The unit as a whole is first in the league in takeaways and in a defensive showdown that this game is billed as, a few turnovers could spell the difference in moving on in the playoffs and planning a fishing trip next week.

While Kuechly and Davis are first and second on the team in tackles respectively, FS Kurt Coleman has played a vital role as he placed third on the team tackles (53) as well as lead the team in interceptions with seven. CB Josh Norman has turned a corner and is now one of the better corners in the league. Norman pocketed four interceptions which included two returns for touchdowns.

Who Will Win

Arguably, this is the best game on the menu for the second round of the NFL playoffs. You have a team in Seattle that has gotten on a roll as of late and was handed a gift last week by the Vikings. That type of win, in those type of conditions, can boost any team let alone a team that has been to two straight Super Bowls. Then you have Carolina, a 15-1 team that although they possess an outstanding record, won’t be mentioned with 98 Vikings or even the 72 Dolphins.

Both teams are physical, both teams have a chip on their shoulder, both teams have something to prove. Two top six scoring defenses, two top ten scoring offenses. Something is going to give. It will all boil down to which QB makes the right plays at the right time. If you recall the week six matchup, Carolina needed two late TDs to win. Seattle was up 23-14 late in the fourth, which means Seattle outplayed Carolina until Newton became Superman. In Seattle’s last six road games, the defense gave up one touchdown. That’s right, one. That defense, with a healthier Lynch will be the difference. Give me Seattle in a defensive battle.

Seahawks 20 – Panthers 13