Panthers vs. Seahawks instant analysis: Carolina survives, advances
Instant analysis from the Carolina Panthers’ 31-24 victory against Seattle in Sunday’s NFC divisional-round game:
Panthers survive and advance.
The Panthers led 31-0 at the half and somehow had to hang on to win following a furious rally by Russell Wilson and the Seahawks (11-7).
Veteran linebacker Thomas Davis recovered the Seahawks’ onsides kick attempt with 1:11 remaining to send the Panthers (16-1) to the NFC Championship Game for the fourth time in their history.
Wilson threw three touchdown passes and Seattle outgained Carolina 280 to 75 in total yards in the second half to make things interesting.
This was the fourth time this season the Panthers nearly blew a big lead. They won all four games.
On to Arizona next Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.
▪ Tight end Greg Olsen’s little things came up big.
The Panthers were shut out in the second half as Seattle cut a 31-0 halftime deficit into a 10-point game. But three times in the second half Olsen had catches that resulted in first downs, which allowed the Panthers to burn precious minutes off the clock.
Olsen banged his shoulder on one of those plays on a big hit by Kam Chancellor, and left the game to get checked out by trainers. But he came back in later and finished the game.
▪ Kawann Short set the tone defensively.
Luke Kuechly’s pick-six on Seattle’s second offensive play gave the Panthers a 14-0 lead before Cam Newton had even attempted a pass.
Kuechly’s score was the result of Short’s pressure on Russell Wilson. Short, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle, blew up guard Justin Britt and forced Wilson to throw well before he was ready. Marshawn Lynch turned around for the pass too late, and Kuechly ran in untouched for a 14-yard interception return.
Short, who had two sacks in the October game at Seattle, kept it up on Seattle’s second series. He knifed in to sack Wilson, one of five sacks for the Panthers, a playoff record.
This story was originally published January 17, 2016 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Panthers vs. Seahawks instant analysis: Carolina survives, advances."