CAROLINA PANTHERS vs SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF
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| Panthers are NFC South Champs |
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If you
listen carefully, you may be able to hear a growl emanating from Charlotte, North Carolina. The Carolina Panthers
are celebrating 20 years in the NFL this year. Out of those 20 years, only five of them have resulted in a trip to the
playoffs. This year, as unlikely as it
once seemed, is one of those years. Starting out 3-8-1, things looked dismal as they went seven weeks without a win
(their odds were 750-1 of making the Super Bowl), but the Panthers are now on a
five-game winning streak. They revived
their season, winning the NFC South in the last regular season game at Atlanta, refueled it
last 
week in a home playoff win vs. Arizona, and now are hungry for more heading into Seattle for Saturday's (Jan.10) NFC divisional playoff game.
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| Thumbs Down to ESPN |
The sports team at ESPN has picked the
Seahawks to win by anywhere from 8 to 18 points. Oddsmakers have Seattle as an 11-point favorite. No big surprise. The Seahawks are defending NFL Super Bowl
champs, and are 12-4 and NFC West division champs in 2014. Plus they’ve won the last three games with
the Panthers, all close, low-scoring games, the most recent matchup during this
year, by a score of 13-9. While the
Panthers are on a five-game winning streak, most observers miss the fact that
the Seahawks are on a six-game winning streak themselves. The Seattle defense allowed only 6.5 ppg
during this stretch, while the Panthers allowed 10.8 ppg, ranking 1ST and 2ND
in the league.
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| PANTHERS ARE RED HOT |
So, while overall,
these teams appear to be somewhat of a mismatch (team records of 12-4 and
8-8-1), in reality, these are two different teams than those that started the regular
season. You could look at this as a
matchup of two undefeated teams (over the last 5-6 games). Both the Seahawks and the Panthers are red
hot in December, playing their best football when it has counted the most.
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| Error Free |
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I can say one thing
with almost a certainty—the team that wins this game will most likely be the
one with not just the most points (duh!), but the least amount of
turnovers. Cam Newton had two turnovers
in the Arizona
game, and while they changed the momentum temporarily, the outcome was never
really in question. I believe this time,
while the turnover stat will be important for both teams, it will be even more crucial for Carolina. It seems more feasible for me that the
Seahawks could have a fumble or interception and still win the game. But the Panthers must play error free
football. Of course, one stat that
doesn’t really appear in the box score is –WHERE- a fumble or interception
occurs on the field. While no turnover
is a good one, they become worse when they happen inside of a team’s 20-yard
line, automatically putting the opponent in scoring position. The bottom line is—while the Panthers need to
move the ball down the field and score, they also need to protect the ball first and foremost.
If the Panthers win, I see Cam Newton having
a great game, but I also see a defensive player having an excellent game,
possibly Luke Kuechly or Charles Johnson, or one of the young defensive
backs. If they can hold the Seahawks to
a couple of touchdowns, and possibly force a couple of turnovers, it will pave
the way for a Panthers win.
So what is my prediction? Most people are predicting a Seahawks win,
possibly by a close margin. I see it
differently. I know that I’m sticking my
neck out here, but I see a blowout coming.
It might be Seattle
rolling over the Panthers, but I’m predicting it the other way. If Carolina
can execute its best game of the season, with the offense playing relatively
error free, and the defense exerting pressure on the Seahawks, I see the
Panthers winning big.
Panthers 31, Seahawks 17.
NEXT GAME-- ?
You got the scores correct, but backwards!
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