“Everyone doubted us, so many doubters”, said Carolina defensive tackle Kawanna Short, a main cog in the defense that stymied Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in the first half. We did things we were supposed to do, and won the football game.
Advertisement
Carolina welcomes Arizona to Charlotte next Sunday with a trip to Super Bowl 50 on the line.
Linebacker Luke Kuechly and tight end Greg Olsen also scored touchdowns for the Panthers, but Newton acknowledged after the game that his team will need to improve if they are to defeat the Cardinals.
The Panthers, winners of 12 straight at home, made all the right plays in building a 31-0 lead, then were dominated by the two-time defending NFC champs in the second half.
“The biggest disappointment I really didn’t want to play the game the way we did in the seoncd half”, Carolina coach Ron Rivera said.
The Panthers broke out on top early in the first quarter, taking their opening drive down the field for a score.
Slow starts are nothing new for Pete Carroll’s Seahawks. “Everyone in here just feels like we ran out of time”. Fitzgerald led in receiving with 176 yards and a touchdown in eight catches. There’s only four teams playing next week and we’re one of them. “I mean this is a complete team that we’ll play as well, and we’ve got to be on our game”.
Wilson is now the focal point of Seattle’s offense and will be even more so with the potential that Marshawn Lynch’s time in Seattle is nearing its end. “That was the whole thing with me coming back, being able to come back and be effective, not just to come back and go out there and grind it out”, Stewart said. “But this is the playoffs and that’s how it is”. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw a pick six early on in the contest, one of his two interceptions. Mike Tolbert added 17 yards on seven carries, but neither man found much room to run against the Seahawks’ tough run defense in the second half of the game. The five field goals tied an National Football League playoff record. When he held onto that bouncing ball Sunday, the longest-tenured Panther gave himself a second shot at the Super Bowl. With 1:12 left in the game, the Seahawks had kicked a field goal and come within one touchdown of tying the game. “That’s why to say it’s a microcosm of the season was pretty darn accurate”. “That’s why we came back”.
Newton and the offense didn’t seem as focused in the second half.
With a chance to pull closer, Seattle pulled off a fake punt and moved into Carolina territory before a sack of Wilson thwarted the threat. The Panthers rank fourth, holding opponents to 88.4 yards per game. Seattle hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 27 games….
Advertisement
Carolina’s second-half offensive snafus were of concern. “We’re not going to sit here and pout about them scoring some points”. “We also understand how much adversity we went through and the kind of fight this team has, and the kind of resolve our team has”. Two of those touchdowns went to Jermaine Kearse, who finished with 11 catches for 110 yards.
