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blstoker
Bill Bergen for HoF!
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Positives:
CLink - It would be interesting to see what opposing QB's numbers are the first time they play in Seattle, cause I'm sure it can't be good. Cam hasn't exactly lit the game on fire when playing Seattle's D at home, so it should be even more difficult for him to get things off the ground in Seattle.
Marshawn - Way too much has been made of Carolina's shut down run defense (16th) of late, especially with the loss of Star Lotuleilei. Yes, the Panthers have allowed just 80 yards rushing per game the last 8 games, but they have faced only 1 top 10 running offense in that time - and this isn't just a top 10 running offense, this is the #1 overall and #1 per carry (Panthers are 27th per carry).
Winning Streak - Arizona was Carolina's first win against a team with a winning record since beating Detroit in week 2 (and we all know how decimated that Cardinals team was). Even with the Cardinals' record being used at face value (11-6), the Panthers have a pathetic .407 opponent's winning percentage during their 5 game win streak (.347 if you take the Cardinals' record from when Carson Palmer went down for the season). The Panthers haven't been winning against world beaters.
Negatives:
Jonathan Stewart - He's had 100 yards rushing 3 of their last 5 games (101.5 ypg in their last 6). He had nearly 5 yards per carry in the earlier meeting. If he wasn't so injury prone, Stewart's career may have turned out different - and for the moment he is healthy.
Luke Kuechly - If there is anything that can affect our running game today it'll be him. He's been a tackling machine since he came into the league. If we can get a body on him, he struggles shedding blocks (as in, if there is anything he struggles with, it's this) - but he's very good at avoiding those blocks to begin with (or at least making it difficult to getting solid blocks on him). With Star out, containing Luke could be the key to a good running day.
8-8-1 - If there can be a such thing as a trap game in the playoffs, this is it. Unlike when Seattle beat New Orleans in 2010, Carolina's win was against an Arizona team that couldn't have been in a worse situation. It could be easy to discount this win in a way that the Seahawks win in 2010 could be. I don't think that will be the case, but sometimes what should be the easiest wins, become the toughest losses.
Matchups:
Kelvin Benjamin vs. Richard Sherman/Byron Maxwell - Carolina like to force the ball to Benjamin, and I would expect them to target him 10 times or more today. He had 4 catches for 94 yards last time these teams met, including a 51 yarder. They will look to throw to him deep as well.
Greg Olson vs. Bobby Wagner/K.J. Wright/Bruce Irvin - Olson may not be as flashy as Benjamin but he led the team in catches (84) and tied Benjamin in yards (1008) all while catching nearly 70% of his targets. If they can limit his effectiveness in the passing game, it'll go a long way to shutting down the Panthers' offense.
Andrew Norwell/Ryan Kalil/Trai Turner vs. Tony McDaniel/Kevin Williams With the Seahawks missing their top 2 DTs for the rest of the year, it's gonna be up to these two to step it up (especially since there are fewer bodies to take snaps). These two are gonna need to plug the middle on run plays, and don't be surprised to see Michael Bennett take inside snaps on passing downs.
Overview:
This game has the chance to be a laugher. Carolina cannot afford to allow Seattle to get up on them, their offense isn't potent enough to hope to mount a comeback against this defense. Seattle needs to create some space in the first half and put the hammer down in the second. There's been a lot of talk that Carolina is the hottest team because of the last 5 games, but Seattle has put together an even better 10 game stretch against better competition (combined .497 opponents winning percentage the last 10 games compared to .407 for Carolina the last 5 games). During their last 10 games (9-1) the Seahawks average 387 yards on offense and allow an average of 232.7 yards on defense.
CLink - It would be interesting to see what opposing QB's numbers are the first time they play in Seattle, cause I'm sure it can't be good. Cam hasn't exactly lit the game on fire when playing Seattle's D at home, so it should be even more difficult for him to get things off the ground in Seattle.
Marshawn - Way too much has been made of Carolina's shut down run defense (16th) of late, especially with the loss of Star Lotuleilei. Yes, the Panthers have allowed just 80 yards rushing per game the last 8 games, but they have faced only 1 top 10 running offense in that time - and this isn't just a top 10 running offense, this is the #1 overall and #1 per carry (Panthers are 27th per carry).
Winning Streak - Arizona was Carolina's first win against a team with a winning record since beating Detroit in week 2 (and we all know how decimated that Cardinals team was). Even with the Cardinals' record being used at face value (11-6), the Panthers have a pathetic .407 opponent's winning percentage during their 5 game win streak (.347 if you take the Cardinals' record from when Carson Palmer went down for the season). The Panthers haven't been winning against world beaters.
Negatives:
Jonathan Stewart - He's had 100 yards rushing 3 of their last 5 games (101.5 ypg in their last 6). He had nearly 5 yards per carry in the earlier meeting. If he wasn't so injury prone, Stewart's career may have turned out different - and for the moment he is healthy.
Luke Kuechly - If there is anything that can affect our running game today it'll be him. He's been a tackling machine since he came into the league. If we can get a body on him, he struggles shedding blocks (as in, if there is anything he struggles with, it's this) - but he's very good at avoiding those blocks to begin with (or at least making it difficult to getting solid blocks on him). With Star out, containing Luke could be the key to a good running day.
8-8-1 - If there can be a such thing as a trap game in the playoffs, this is it. Unlike when Seattle beat New Orleans in 2010, Carolina's win was against an Arizona team that couldn't have been in a worse situation. It could be easy to discount this win in a way that the Seahawks win in 2010 could be. I don't think that will be the case, but sometimes what should be the easiest wins, become the toughest losses.
Matchups:
Kelvin Benjamin vs. Richard Sherman/Byron Maxwell - Carolina like to force the ball to Benjamin, and I would expect them to target him 10 times or more today. He had 4 catches for 94 yards last time these teams met, including a 51 yarder. They will look to throw to him deep as well.
Greg Olson vs. Bobby Wagner/K.J. Wright/Bruce Irvin - Olson may not be as flashy as Benjamin but he led the team in catches (84) and tied Benjamin in yards (1008) all while catching nearly 70% of his targets. If they can limit his effectiveness in the passing game, it'll go a long way to shutting down the Panthers' offense.
Andrew Norwell/Ryan Kalil/Trai Turner vs. Tony McDaniel/Kevin Williams With the Seahawks missing their top 2 DTs for the rest of the year, it's gonna be up to these two to step it up (especially since there are fewer bodies to take snaps). These two are gonna need to plug the middle on run plays, and don't be surprised to see Michael Bennett take inside snaps on passing downs.
Overview:
This game has the chance to be a laugher. Carolina cannot afford to allow Seattle to get up on them, their offense isn't potent enough to hope to mount a comeback against this defense. Seattle needs to create some space in the first half and put the hammer down in the second. There's been a lot of talk that Carolina is the hottest team because of the last 5 games, but Seattle has put together an even better 10 game stretch against better competition (combined .497 opponents winning percentage the last 10 games compared to .407 for Carolina the last 5 games). During their last 10 games (9-1) the Seahawks average 387 yards on offense and allow an average of 232.7 yards on defense.
