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blstoker
Bill Bergen for HoF!
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Positives:
Marshawn Lynch - It's been a while since Lynch has been able to make a go of it, and that's a two headed coin. He could be rusty and out of game shape - but he could just be rested - which is a very scary thought for his opponents. Lynch has been, for lack of a better word, a BEAST in the playoffs during his career (917 yards 9 TDs 4.9 ypc) and he's gonna have fresh legs.
Russell Wilson - Wilson has been the most consistent player for this team all season - and last weeks -6 performance was more a weather issue than a Russell had a bad game issue. Carolina will be without their #2 & #3 CBs - so even if they use Josh Norman to take away Doug Baldwin - Kearse and Lockett will be dealing with guys who have mostly been buried on the sdepth chart.
7-3 - Seattle has dominated the series against Carolina, taking 70% of the matchups and outscoring the Panthers by 70 points over the last 9 contests (including the 4 point loss this season). Seattle has also not lost in Carolina since 2007. Having a temperature of 44 at kick off will feel like a summer day compared to last weeks horrific conditions.
Negatives:
Cam Newton - Calling Cam Newton a running quarterback does not do him justice, or give a true indication of how the Panthers use his unique skill set. I see Newton as a throwing RB, and the Panthers aren't afraid to run him on a double lead QB draw (as ridiculous as that sounds). Seattle hasn't had to face many truly mobile QBs this year, but they've been burned by some not so mobile ones from time to time, like Matt Cassel getting 40 yards on 4 carries. The defense will have to be disciplined and keep their heads on straight - especially on late hits on Cam, which can be a problem for our aggressive D.
Turnovers - Seattle's defense has struggled with getting takeaways this season - over half of the Ds total turnovers this season have come in 4 games - and they've managed just 11 in the other 13 games. They have been as good as anyone to force punts, but they will need to get a couple today and keep the Panthers from getting into a good rhythm. Cam has thrown 2 picks in each of his last 2 games against Seattle - and that's a trend that will hopefully continue today.
Greg Olson - Olson is the only receiving threat that Cam will have today. Ted Ginn (44/739/10) may or may not play (and if he does will his knee hamper his speed) and we all know that Benjamin has been out all year. Atlanta stifled the Panther passing game by not allowing Olson to get to them - and force Cam to throw to Brown and Cotchery. Easier said than done - since Olson hate the Hawks alive last time (7/131/1).
Matchups:
Kam Chancellor vs. Greg Olson - I usually hate putting a guy in the positives/negatives and then in the matchups as well - but this is the most important aspect to this game. Everyone knows the struggles the Seahawks had against TEs this season - including the game winning performance by Olson in week 6. Seattle has been better at this aspect of the game in recent weeks, allowing TEs only 22/207/1 over the last 7 games (15 TEs combined to make those numbers), after allowing 52/667/7 in the first 10 games.
Wagner/Wright/Irving vs. James Stewart - The last threat for Carolina is Stewart, who has at least 70 yards rushing in each of his last 3 games against Seattle - including 2 TDs earlier this year. If Seattle can force Cam to feel he has to beat them without relying on his best weapons - it could be a long day for the MVP candidate.
Kearse/Lockett vs. Finnegan/McClain - Carolina has been so decimated at CB that they've been forced to literally get guys off the street to fill in (Finnegan). Finnegan was once a very good CB, but he hasn't been that guy for at least 3 years. The fortunes of the offense may depend on whether Carolina will need to give help to either of these two guys.
Overview:
I am confident of this matchup. That isn't saying that it's a clear W for Seattle, because even when they were dominate in the past - playoff games tended to be close games that came down to one play. Carolina matches up well with Seattle - but Seattle also matches up well with Carolina (which isn't something the Panthers have dealt with much this year). Both teams are mostly healthy, and the weather will allow the game to be played without issues (unlike last week). This should be a slobberknocker, but it should be a very good game. The team that limits their mistakes and penalties could very well be the one who plays Arizona next week.
Marshawn Lynch - It's been a while since Lynch has been able to make a go of it, and that's a two headed coin. He could be rusty and out of game shape - but he could just be rested - which is a very scary thought for his opponents. Lynch has been, for lack of a better word, a BEAST in the playoffs during his career (917 yards 9 TDs 4.9 ypc) and he's gonna have fresh legs.
Russell Wilson - Wilson has been the most consistent player for this team all season - and last weeks -6 performance was more a weather issue than a Russell had a bad game issue. Carolina will be without their #2 & #3 CBs - so even if they use Josh Norman to take away Doug Baldwin - Kearse and Lockett will be dealing with guys who have mostly been buried on the sdepth chart.
7-3 - Seattle has dominated the series against Carolina, taking 70% of the matchups and outscoring the Panthers by 70 points over the last 9 contests (including the 4 point loss this season). Seattle has also not lost in Carolina since 2007. Having a temperature of 44 at kick off will feel like a summer day compared to last weeks horrific conditions.
Negatives:
Cam Newton - Calling Cam Newton a running quarterback does not do him justice, or give a true indication of how the Panthers use his unique skill set. I see Newton as a throwing RB, and the Panthers aren't afraid to run him on a double lead QB draw (as ridiculous as that sounds). Seattle hasn't had to face many truly mobile QBs this year, but they've been burned by some not so mobile ones from time to time, like Matt Cassel getting 40 yards on 4 carries. The defense will have to be disciplined and keep their heads on straight - especially on late hits on Cam, which can be a problem for our aggressive D.
Turnovers - Seattle's defense has struggled with getting takeaways this season - over half of the Ds total turnovers this season have come in 4 games - and they've managed just 11 in the other 13 games. They have been as good as anyone to force punts, but they will need to get a couple today and keep the Panthers from getting into a good rhythm. Cam has thrown 2 picks in each of his last 2 games against Seattle - and that's a trend that will hopefully continue today.
Greg Olson - Olson is the only receiving threat that Cam will have today. Ted Ginn (44/739/10) may or may not play (and if he does will his knee hamper his speed) and we all know that Benjamin has been out all year. Atlanta stifled the Panther passing game by not allowing Olson to get to them - and force Cam to throw to Brown and Cotchery. Easier said than done - since Olson hate the Hawks alive last time (7/131/1).
Matchups:
Kam Chancellor vs. Greg Olson - I usually hate putting a guy in the positives/negatives and then in the matchups as well - but this is the most important aspect to this game. Everyone knows the struggles the Seahawks had against TEs this season - including the game winning performance by Olson in week 6. Seattle has been better at this aspect of the game in recent weeks, allowing TEs only 22/207/1 over the last 7 games (15 TEs combined to make those numbers), after allowing 52/667/7 in the first 10 games.
Wagner/Wright/Irving vs. James Stewart - The last threat for Carolina is Stewart, who has at least 70 yards rushing in each of his last 3 games against Seattle - including 2 TDs earlier this year. If Seattle can force Cam to feel he has to beat them without relying on his best weapons - it could be a long day for the MVP candidate.
Kearse/Lockett vs. Finnegan/McClain - Carolina has been so decimated at CB that they've been forced to literally get guys off the street to fill in (Finnegan). Finnegan was once a very good CB, but he hasn't been that guy for at least 3 years. The fortunes of the offense may depend on whether Carolina will need to give help to either of these two guys.
Overview:
I am confident of this matchup. That isn't saying that it's a clear W for Seattle, because even when they were dominate in the past - playoff games tended to be close games that came down to one play. Carolina matches up well with Seattle - but Seattle also matches up well with Carolina (which isn't something the Panthers have dealt with much this year). Both teams are mostly healthy, and the weather will allow the game to be played without issues (unlike last week). This should be a slobberknocker, but it should be a very good game. The team that limits their mistakes and penalties could very well be the one who plays Arizona next week.
