Panthers: We needed to keep foot on the gas vs. Seahawks

In every single team though, there are faults, and the Arizona Cardinals will have to exploit those weaknesses and crack those faults in the NFC Championship Game. The Seahawks knew they couldn’t just run the ball anymore, so they broke out their no-huddle offense and called on Wilson to throw 48 times, the most of his career. It was the largest halftime lead in the playoffs in more than a decade, and even when Carolina took its foot off the gas pedal in the second half, the lead was too much for the Seahawks to overcome.

There would be no second straight huge rally, like a year earlier when the Seattle made a wild comeback from a 16-0 deficit to beat Green Bay in overtime in the NFC title game.

The newer Newton, mad about a game in which the Panthers dethroned two-time defending NFC champ Seattle, is a nice counter-edge for Carolina. You play against great teams like that, you can’t afford to have mental mistakes.

“It gives us something to reach for, something to play for”, Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said on Monday. “We look at this game as a microcosm of the season. This is a complete team that we will play, as well, and we have to be on our game”.

The Panthers dominated Seattle’s offensive line for most of the day en route to the 31-24 victory, though their success tapered off as the game wore on. The two best teams in the NFC, the two best teams in the National Football League during the 2015 regular season period.

“That’s what this game is going to teach us”, said All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly, who returned a first-quarter interception for a touchdown.

Although the Panthers jumped out to a 31-0 lead in the first half, the Seahawks stormed back with twenty-four points in the second half.

Offensively, the Panthers were outgained 280-75 in the second half and outscored 24-0. “It’s insane”, said the Panthers quarterback.

This is the third time since 2008 the Panthers have hosted the Cardinals in a playoff game. I don’t know. Everything is just normal right now.

Along with his status as scariest runner in the NFL, biggest cheerleader on the Carolina Panthers’ sideline, corporate spokesperson and post-touchdown football gifter, Cam Newton is an underrated passer. “We didn’t get it done”, Sherman said. “We’ll get better at that”, Baldwin said. Three plays later, Stewart surged into the end zone.

“I will say this”.

After an injury-filled season where Lynch played in just seven regular-season games, the Seahawks must determine whether it’s time to move on or keep “Beast Mode” around for another season at a hefty cost. While Jonathan Stewart was on fire in his return from injury, Lynch only managed 20 yards on six carries while Wilson led the team with 32 yards on three quarterback scrambles. He was still very accurate in that second half; he just didn’t need to throw the ball as much.