The Seattle Seahawks have listed running back Marshawn Lynch as probable on their final injury report for Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff game at Carolina.
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The playoff game between the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks has the potential to be a classic, one of those that could be talked about for a long time.
The best game should be Seahawks and Panthers in the early game Sunday.
Marshawn Lynch’s mom Delisa Lynch also made the trip to Seattle for the weekend.
Both teams have physical defenses led by their middle linebackers – Luke Kuechly for Carolina and Bobby Wagner for Seattle.
I would counter by saying the Panthers had a breakthrough victory over the Seahawks in October, part of their 15-1 season, and last I checked, 15-1 is five games better than the Seahawks at 10-6.
But this time it’s a little different. Russell Wilson and the crew are a proven playoff team and their facing off against a unit in the Panthers that many people are still questioning.
Carolina will be led by quarterback Cam Newton, who has been the best during a banner season that is expected to earn him the league’s Most Valuable Player award. There is no true number one receiver, but I would imagine the Josh Norman will draw the Doug Baldwin assignment.
Marshawn Lynch is as tough as it gets to take down, and defenders often take “business decisions” when deciding if they should get in his way. The Panthers ended the regular season as the fourth ranked run D in the league, so Beast Mode certainly has his work cut out for him in an away game that could prove to be challenging. So for as much attention as there will be on Lynch, as big of a factor as anyting else will be what the line can do, as well. That’s good for second on the team behind 989 yards by tailback Jonathan Stewart, the one-time Timberline High standout. He’ll face a defense loaded with playmakers.
Lynch, who has missed the last seven regular season games while recovering from abdominal surgery, says he hopes to go this Sunday in Charlotte, though he and head coach Pete Carroll were also hopeful of him playing last Sunday in Minnesota. “Carroll said he feels Lynch, 29, has rediscovered his confidence that he can produce Sunday as he did from the 2011 through 2014 seasons”. Lynch hasn’t played since November against the Arizona Cardinals and has struggled to produce this season with only one game rushing over 100 yards.
Lynch texted ESPN’s Kenny Mayne on Thursday night with a two-word text, “I’m ready”. And the Seahawks are equipped to do it this year, having won their last six games on the road, allowing just one touchdown in a stretch covering 62 possessions. Wilson is quick and agile, and he’s always shown a knack for slipping out of trouble (see the fumbled snap that turned into 35-yard completion last week at Minnesota).
Duke had won 152 straight home games against unranked teams.
Well it’s crunch time in the National Football League, and the pressure to win is on. They’ve got a pair of athletic defensive ends in Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril, they’ve combined for 19 sacks and 4 forced fumbles.
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Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera is a defensive guy.
