NFL Week 8 Preview: Panthers vs Seahawks
Everytime we turn around there are more and more Panthers hurt. The Panthers injury report lists these Panthers as out: Bene Benwikere, Chase Blackburn, Philly Brown, Amini Silatolu, Trai Turner, Fozzy Whittaker, and DeAngelo Williams. That would be the nickel back, both starting guards, a starting outside linebacker, the punt returner, and the starting running back. So it’s a good thing we are aren’t playing anyone big this week, isn’t it?
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Oh yeah, it’s the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks. Worse, it’s the Seahawks after a big loss trying to find direction and after having to trade Percy Harvin for undisclosed reasons. The only good news in that is no Harvin, which means the jet sweep probably leaves the playbook of the Seahawks. The jet sweep was used to hammer the Packers in week 1. It’s time for Panthers vs Seahawks.
Date: October 26
Time: 1:00 PM
TV: CBS (Why? This is a NFC conference game!)
Venue: Bank of America Stadium
Oct 19, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll yells after call against his team during the second half of a football game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Opponent: Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
The Seahawks are discovering what every team that has won the Super Bowl in the last ten years not named the Patriots has known. It is hard to repeat. The 1985 Bears had the greatest defensive reputation ever, but the 1986 Bears (who had the same guys) did not win the Super Bowl. Whether the Seahawks are dealing with complacency, Harvin related dissention, NFL reality (did you think they were a blowout better than the Broncos?), or Pete Carroll’s looseness making them too loose is too soon to say. This team is still dangerous.
Oct 19, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) carries the ball while under pressure from St. Louis Rams strong safety T.J. McDonald (25) during the second half of a football game at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
It all starts up front with Marshawn Lynch. If Beast Mode gets started, then the rest of the Seattle offense opens up. He has 420 yards this year and is averaging 4.3 yards per carry. The Seattle passing game is only dangerous when you have one eye on Lynch.
The other thing to do with Seattle is to contain Russell Wilson. Wilson is best when he has choices to make and those choices only exist out of the pocket. If Lynch keeps the offense on schedule with downs and distance then Wilson can find the last few yards on third down.
Oct 12, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) urges the crowd to make noise before a play against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of a 26-20 Dallas victory at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The Panthers secondary has been maligned lately by injury and poor play, and you should expect Seattle to take some shots. This would particularly true off play action.
Seattle’s defense is supposed to be the heart and soul of this team, and Cam Newton’s lack of healthy linemen will mean that Newton may be left to his own devices. Any Panthers running game would be helpful, because Seattle has one of the best secondaries in the League. Richard Sherman, who has been much criticized lately, will look to shut down who ever lines up in front of him. This means this smells like a Greg Olsen game.
Prediction:
87. Final. 20. 36. 14
ONJ Season Prediction Record: 22-10