Following one of the most exciting playoff games of the year thus far in Foxborough, the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers battled for the second divisional match-up of the night. At the end of the night, it was the Seahawks who came out on top as they defeated the Panthers by the final score of 31-17 to advance to their second NFC championship game in a row.
As many expected, the game started out with a defensive shootout. As Carolina possessed the ball to start the game, Seattle forced them to go three-and-out. Carolina then forced Seattle to a three-and-out before the back-and-forth exchange occurred once more.
After an equally hot start, the Panthers began to slip away when Cam Newton threw an interception to all-pro cornerback Richard Sherman on a deep pass attempt to wide-receiver Philly Brown.
Disaster continued for the Panthers offense when running back Jonathan Stewart fumbled, giving the Seahawks great field position. Unlike the result of the previous turnover, the Panthers were not able to keep Seattle out of the endzone as Russell Wilson hit wide-receiver Doug Baldwin for a 16-yard touchdown.
The Seahawks touchdown was the start of a shootout on the offensive side of the ball. Newton and the Panthers answered with a 79-yard drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass from Newton to rookie receiver Kelvin Benjamin.
On the Seahawks following drive, Wilson hit receiver Jermaine Kearse for a spectacular 63-yard one-handed catch and run for the score.
The first half ended with a series of crazy plays, including a Newton pick to Earl Thomas that would be overturned. Graham Gano would hit a field-goal at the end of the half, but not before two penalties shifted the field-goal attempt back and forth.
Seattle’s Kam Chancellor added to the excitement, barely missing a field-goal block on the first attempt after clearing the offensive line, and then getting the block in similar fashion on the second attempt. A penalty on Chancellor for bumping into Gano would eventually give Gano a third attempt at a score.
The second half was quiet for the Panthers and perfect for the Seahawks. Seattle extended their lead with a 25-yard Wilson to Luke Willson touchdown.
With little time left to change things around, Newton and the Panthers tried to rally, but a Newton interception that Kam Chancellor took 89 yards to the house to put a dagger in the game. Newton hit Benjamin for a late 15-yard touchdown, but it was not nearly enough to dethrone the champs.
The Seahawks will host the winner of tomorrow’s Cowboys and Packers showdown as they look to reach the big game once again.
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