Quarterback Cam Newton, who combined for just 164 total yards (161 passing, 3 rushing) and one touchdown on the day told ESPN after the game that “it was a tale of execution and that you have to find ways to get your groove back on”.
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The Panthers beat a Seahawks team that knocked them out of the playoffs a year ago and moved a step closer to the franchise’s second Super Bowl appearance. Despite a hard-fought comeback in the second half, the Seahawks fell by a 31-24 final score, making for a long plane ride back to the Pacific Northwest.
That was evident Sunday, when the Seahawks gave up 59-yard run to Jonathan Stewart on the game’s first play.
But Carolina led the National Football League in scoring, Newton threw for just as many touchdowns as Palmer (35), threw one fewer interception (10) and, most importantly, won two more games.
Ultimately, despite Wilson’s renewed excellence, the defense pitching a shutout for the final 2 1/2 quarters, and the Seahawks (11-7) at their most resilient best, Seattle couldn’t overcome being down 31 points.
The visitors then closed to within a touchdown thanks to a 36-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka, although the home crowd’s concern turned to relief when the Panthers recovered an onside kick with 1:12 left in regulation.
The Panthers (16-1) will be home next Sunday night against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC championship game. Cam Newton’s team will now face the Arizona Cardinals next weekend, with the victor facing either Denver Broncos or New England Patriots in next month’s Super Bowl 50. Three plays later, Stewart surged into the end zone.
Meanwhile, the Panthers’ offense, which scored on its first four possession, had trouble generating any momentum.
Wilson’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Kearse pulled the Seahawks to within 31-21 with 6:04 left. Seattle scored 24 unanswered and were one onside kick away from attempting to tie the game. “At times, you get a big lead and you kind of take your foot off the pedal”. It was the largest halftime lead in the playoffs in more than a decade, and even when Carolina took its foot off the gas pedal in the second half, the lead was too much for the Seahawks to overcome. The Panthers’ time was limited in the second half as he suffered a shoulder injury and was listed as questionable to return. The Cardinals had a little harder of a time with the Green Bay Packers however, having the game go into overtime due to a insane hail mary from Aaron Rodgers. “They played better than us”.
“In all honesty, [the Seahawks] have been the watermark here in the NFC and we have an opportunity that we want”, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. “We just have to be more consistent”.
On the Seahawks’ second play from scrimmaged a pressured Russell Wilson served up a room-service interception that Luke Kuechly returned 14 yards for a touchdown. Defensively, Arizona is allowing 20 points and 386 yards per game.
“They have played in games where they have been down and have come back and won”.
“We are not done yet, we need to continue to keep fighting” said Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, whose likely will be covering Fitzgerald.
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Wilson hit wide receiver Tyler Lockett for a 33-yard score on the Seahawks’ next possession, so it was 31-14 midway through the third quarter.
