With all the Carolina Panthers have been through this year, one would think that the Seattle Seahawks would feel sorry for them. NOT!!! This is a cold as a freezer league and nobody feels sorry for no one. Want to know how cold the NFL is? Gary Kubiak (he is the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens who lost earlier today to the New England Patriots) who suffered a heart attack during a Houston Texans game as their head coach in 2013, was fired at the end of that season by that same team.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks put it to the Panthers on offense and defense en route to a 31-17 AFC Divisional Playoff victory at CenturyLink Field.
The Seahawks will host the winner of tomorrow’s NFC Divisional Playoff match between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers.
The Seahawks (13-4) with this win are going back to the NFC Championship game for the second straight year. These are great times to be a Seahawks season ticket holder, or as a fan who gets to see the Seahawks play on television or in person when tickets are available at Will Call, Stub Hub! or some other ticket outlet.
Just think of all those hard working Seahawks who never appeared in an AFC Championship game (the Seahawks were in the AFC West from 1997-2001) as a member of the Seattle franchise from 1984 to 2001 like these guys:
- Safety Eugene Robinson (1985-1995)
- Linebacker Fredd Young (1984-1987)
- Offensive Guard Bryan Millard (1984-1991)
- Running Back John L. Williams (1986-1993)
- Inside Linebacker Brian Bosworth (1987-1989)—-Despite what everyone has heard or read about him, he did work hard to be the best he could be despite his off the field theatrics.
- The late and Center Grant Feasel (1987-1992)—-May he rest in peace.
- Linebacker David Wyman (1987-1992)
- Wide Receiver Tommy Kane (1988-1992)
- Wide Receiver Brian Blades (1988-1998)
- Running Back Derrick Fenner (1989-1991)
- Defensive Tackle Cortez Kennedy (1990-2000)
- Running Back Chris Warren (1990-1997)
- Defensive End Tony Woods (1987-1992)
- Defensive End Michael Sinclair (1992-2001)
- Offensive Tackle Andy Heck (1989-1993)
- Defensive Tackle Sam Adams (1994-1998)
- Center Kevin Mawae (1994-1997)
- Running Back/Kick Returner Steve Broussard (1996-1998)
- Wide Receiver Joey Galloway (1995-1999)
- Offensive Guard Pete Kendall (1996-2000)
- Quarterback Warren Moon (1997-1998)
- Cornerback Shawn Springs (1997-2003)
- Running Back Ricky Watters (1998-2001)
So, the point of that list (and there’s many more names where that list came from) was to show how grateful Seahawks fans should be for what is transpiring these days for their franchise. The Seahawks have a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champions; they have never had it this good for most of their 39 year history.
As for the game, future Pro Bowl wide receiver Doug Baldwin (3 catches for 38 yards and 1 score) kicked off the scoring for the Seahawks, when he got behind Panthers (8-9-1) free safety Tre Boston and the rest of the defense, to secure a 16 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson. It was 7-0 Seahawks with just 56 seconds left in the first quarter.
It would have been nice if the Panthers could have went on time-consuming drives like the one which led to their first scoring drive of the contest. Because if they did, they might have won this game and kept the Seahawks potent offense off the field. This drive took 14 plays and 8:12 of game clock. The forever drive culminated with a Cam Newton laser pass to rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (7 catches for 75 yards and 2 scores) between double coverage from free safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Tharold Simon. The score was tied at 7-7 with around 7:45 left in the second quarter.
But Seattle countered with a short 5-play, 74 yard scoring drive. Wilson who went 15 of 22 for 268 yards, 3 touchdowns and no picks on the night, dropped back deep in the pocket on 3rd and 7 from the SEA 37, and let go off a deep pass aimed at wide receiver Jermaine Kearse. Kearse caught the pass despite tight coverage from cornerback Bene Benwikere who ended up losing track of Kearse with the receiver then speeding down the left sideline and into the end zone, despite the best efforts of Boston to push him out of bounds.
The 63 yard scoring play was the longest play of Kearse’s three-year career and his score gave the ‘Hawks a 14-7 lead with 4:54 left in the second quarter. Kearse would finish the game with 3 catches for 129 yards and 1 score.
Up 17-10 early in the fourth quarter after a Steven Hauschka successful 37 yard field goal, the Seahawks embarked on their next scoring drive. The drive climaxed with a Wilson 25 yard touchdown strike to tight end Luke Willson (4 catches for 68 yards and 1 score) who beat single coverage and a low-body tackle into the end zone. The score was now 24-10 with 10:26 left in the game.
Then the killer. Later in the fourth quarter, cold-as-ice strong safety Kam Chancellor (8 tackles and 1 interception) of the Seahawks and who was robbed of a 2015 Pro Bowl invite, ended up robbing Newton of Playoff glory, as he intercepted the quarterback’s pass and raced 90 yards unscathed down the left sideline for a touchdown. That was the first interception in the Playoffs of Chancellor’s five-year career with the ‘Hawks. And it couldn’t have come at a better time. The score was now 31-10 Seattle with around six minutes left in the game.
The Panthers got a garbage touchdown late in the game, courtesy of a Newton 15 yard touchdown reception to Benjamin, that the receiver stretched his arms out for near the left-back pylon of the end zone versus Simon, who was beaten earlier for a touchdown by Benjamin. The score was 31-17 Seattle with 2:36 left in the game. Newton finished 23 of 36 for 236 yards, 2 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions.
The ‘Hawks really ended the Panthers hopes, on a time consuming and game-ending drive culminated by three Wilson kneel downs.
