National Football League playoff schedule: Arizona Cardinals headed to Carolina, conference championships set

The Seattle Seahawks know all too well after losing a divisional playoff game, 31-24, Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

The top-seeded Panthers, now 16-1, will prepare for the NFC championship game next Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals in Charlotte, while the Seahawks, who had designs on a third straight Super Bowl appearance, return to Seattle to contemplate what happened in the first half. Jonathan Stewart dominated the ground with his 106 yards, mostly in the first half, and two touchdowns in 19 carries. Two plays from scrimmage after that, it was 14-0 when Luke Kuechly intercepted a Wilson pass and ran it back for a touchdown.

Then, Seattle showed its pedigree and climbed back within seven points. This time, Hauschka’s onside kick bounded into the arms of Carolina Pro Bowl linebacker Thomas Davis.

The Panthers are playing host to the NFC title game for the first time in their history. Greg Olsen and Jerricho Cotchery have combined for 99 receiving yards and one touchdown while Ed Dickson has two receptions. But we just didn’t make enough. “He had a hard year physically”. With core players on long-term contracts and Wilson only becoming better with age, the only difference we may see next season is an ending in the memorable Marshawn Lynch era. He returned after the injury to catch an important first down pass from Newton in the second half to eat up necessary minutes.

The Panthers’ offense shut down and the defense allowed Russell Wilson and Seattle to repeatedly march down the field in the second half to nearly pull off a comeback that would have ended Carolina’s season. He became the first back to go over 100 yards rushing against the Seahawks in 27 games. He did throw two interceptions though.

The Arizona Cardinals have what it takes to get to Super Bowl 50, and it’s extremely possible. Carolina had 14 more points than Seattle had yards and led 31-0. They are a well coached football team with a dynamic quarterback. “But you just have to find ways to get your groove back going and we need a bit more of that next Sunday”. “They’ll make you pay, and they made us pay today”.

He completed 21 of 31 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns in the second half and scrambled twice for 23 yards. Following the field goal, Carolina’s Tre Boston sacked Wilson for an eight-yard loss on second down.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 339 yards at Sports Authority Field in Denver despite torn ligaments in his throwing arm and seemed to be leading the visitors on a fourth-quarter scoring drive that would have put further pressure on the Broncos. Stewart, who had missed four weeks, had a gain of 59 on the game’s first play (behind nice blocks by Trai Turner and Mike Tolbert) and a touchdown run three plays later. That’s from Seattle’s second preseason game.