Panthers need four quarters of intensity in NFC Championship

The Carolina Panthers were in no mood to apologize for their 31-24 victory over Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s divisional-round game at Bank of America Stadium. But Thomas Davis Sr. caught the onside kick to seal the win for the Panthers, who led at the half, 31-0.

The Carolina Panthers held Seattle to just 78 rushing yards while sacking Wilson five times – tying a franchise-high for the playoffs.

LYNCH A NON-FACTOR: Seahawks power back Marshawn Lynch returned from an eight-game absence following abdominal surgery but was never a factor. Quarterback Russell Wilson, who was under all kinds of pressure, put Seattle in a hole in the first half with a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six.

The ending to the Seattle Seahawks season was a microcosm to the year as a whole. “I’m a little frustrated by it, but I’m not anxious about it. Just want to get the offensive linemen enough reps together so that they grow and make the calls and be really sharp”. Greg Olsen, who had an injury scare in the game, led the team with six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Last year’s loss in the Super Bowl and the issues that followed had a direct impact on what ultimately turned out to be a disappointing 2015 campaign. “You’ve just got to be ready for any situation”.

He finished the game with 19 rushes for 109 yards, although he and the rest of the Panthers’ offense were held in check in the second half. Cam Newton finished the game, completing 16 of 22 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown, while also running for three yards on 11 carries. “Golden Boy” Wilson had a bad first half, throwing two interceptions. The victor advances to Super Bowl 50 at Santa Clara, Calif., on February 7.

The top-seeded Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals (14-3) on Sunday.

This is the third time since 2008 the Panthers have hosted the Cardinals in a playoff game.

“We’re nearly out of everything so next week, we’re definitely going to have to order more”, Manager Joe Arocho said. The Panthers got some measure of revenge a year ago when they defeated the Cardinals 27-16 in the wild-card round last season, although Arizona was on its fourth quarterback of the season in Ryan Lindley. That drive stalled, but with Carolina’s offense sputtering, Seattle later got closer on Kearse’s 3-yard catch of a jump ball against All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman. So you just move on and stay the course, and we did that today.

“I don’t know how that’s going to go”, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said on Monday.

“We can’t wait for (someone else) to make plays for us”. Also, 80 yards came in the overtime period.

“We’ve started to learn how to finish games”, Kuechly said.

With Newton waving the crowd into frenzied cheers on the sideline, the Panthers’ defense couldn’t stop a 60-yard drive capped by Steven Hauschka’s 36-yard field goal with 1:12 left as it suddenly was a seven-point game. The Panthers will throw traditional counter/power/trap stuff at the Cardinals but in the guise of dual- and triple-option ideas.