Rice’s conversion(s)

The setup: Seahawks facing third-and-5 from Panthers’ 36, 11 minutes, 5 seconds remaining in second quarter.

What happened: After completing a third-down out route to Sidney Rice on the left sideline earlier in the drive, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw an out to the right side for Rice, who caught it in front of Josh Norman and gained 11 yards.

Why it mattered: Wilson released the ball just before defensive end Charles Johnson hit him. A sack – and maybe even an incompletion – would have forced a punt. Instead, the Seahawks added a field goal four plays later to go up 6-0.

Newton’s scramble

The setup: Panthers with a third-and-10 from the Seahawks’ 49, with 1:42 remaining in the second quarter.

What happened: With no one open downfield and the pocket starting to collapse, Newton takes off around left end, makes a cut and runs for 15 yards to the Seahawks’ 34.

Why it mattered: Newton’s scramble extended the drive and helped set up Justin Medlock’s 32-yard field goal for the Panthers’ first score.

Williams’ fumble

The setup: Panthers take over on their 30 following a Seahawks punt, 2:37 remaining in the third quarter.

What happened: Running to his left, running back DeAngelo Williams is hit and stripped by cornerback Brandon Browner, who recovers the fumble, giving Seattle possession at the Panthers’ 27.

Why it mattered: After several stops by the Panthers’ defense, the Seahawks took advantage of the short field. Five plays after Williams’ fumble, Wilson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate to give the Seahawks a 13-10 lead.

Newton’s bad throw

The setup: Panthers with a fourth-and-goal from the 1, 3:47 remaining in fourth quarter.

What happened: Newton rolls to his right and sees backup tight end Ben Hartsock come open late. Newton tries to guide the ball to Hartsock, and it never gets to him, skipping off the grass in the end zone.

Why it mattered: Newton had driven the Panthers 79 yards and seemed poised to get his first signature fourth-quarter victory. Instead, the Panthers fell short.

Big Money’s missed tackle

The setup: Seahawks facing a third-and-7 from the Seattle 4, 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter.

What happened: Marshawn Lynch took a handoff and ran up the middle. defensive end Charles Johnson had a clear shot at Lynch short of the first-down marker, but Lynch bounced off Johnson for an 11-yard gain.

Why it mattered: The Panthers would have gotten the ball back with more than two minutes left had they stopped the Seahawks. Instead, Seattle milked more time off the clock and gave the ball back with less than a minute remaining. Joseph Person