This week the Seattle Seahawks visit the ailing Carolina Panthers in what could be the most important game for both teams so far this season. Seattle is looking to break Carolina’s league leading 10 game home win streak. Carolina is looking to get back to winning after two disappointing consecutive losses. Both teams are squarely in the playoff mix. What should transpire on Sunday is yet another competitive match between these two teams.
Offense
The Seahawks currently have the 11th ranked defense in the league, which isn’t great news for the Carolina Panthers as they look to find their offensive stride again. The only good news here for the Panthers is that Seattle is not all that great against the running game. The Seahawk defense currently ranks 28th in the league per rushing attempt. That fact alone should tell you the Carolina Panthers will try to slow the pace of the game and keep the ball on the ground with the clock running. In other words, much of the same as we have seen against the Seahawks in seasons past.
Defense
The Seattle Seahawks currently have the number one rushing offense in the league. They run the ball well and frequently. If there ever was a game Carolina’s interior defensive line finally needed to tighten up and play to its potential, this is it. So far this season defensive tackles KK Short and Dantari Poe have been a disappointment, to put it mildly. If the Carolina Panthers have any real aspirations for a postseason push, it will need to start with those two guys.
This is going to be a tight game that comes down to the final minutes. The difference in the game will be a turnover. In a case like this, I have to go with the home team.
Seattle Seahawks – 21
Carolina Panthers – 23
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