Panthers’ running back Jonathan Stewart won’t be limited

Another hopeful sign for the Seahawks is that tight end Luke Willson is also looking to see time against the Panthers. He is listed as officially active for the game. Thomas Rawls ran for 209 against San Francisco in the Seahawks first game after Lynch’s injury.

When the Panthers take to the air, Rivera said he believes the team’s diversity is a strength.

Nothing screams “legitimate” like beating the two-time defending conference champion, especially one that comes in on a roll of seven victories in its past eight games that belies the Seahawks’ No. 6 playoff seed.

Last week, while there was a significant amount of luck in Walsh missing the field goal, the Seahawks wouldn’t have been in the lead if not for an 80-yard touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter and Kam Chancellor’s forced fumble that led to the winning field goal from Steven Hauschka.

When it comes to beating the Panthers, Seattle has likely been studying game film from Carolina’s only loss of the season, a 20-13 loss in Atlanta. Wilson had better numbers then the lead leading MVP Cam Newton. The game kicks off at 10:05 a.m., with coverage beginning at 6 a.m. on the home of the Seahawks, Q13 FOX.

Veteran linebacker Dwight Freeney said “it doesn’t matter” who the team plays, and that’s probably the best attitude to take given the Cardinals have zero say in who their opponent will be. Pete Carroll and the Seahawks know they got lucky in the wild card round and can’t afford to play the Panthers like they did the Vikings.

Carolina’s other inactives: wide receiver Brenton Bersin, cornerback Lou Young, safety Dean Marlowe, running backs Brandon Wegher and Fozzy Whittaker and defensive end Ryan Delaire. “You can see that he made an improvement”. He will face a Seattle defense loaded with playmakers.

The teams will meet for the sixth time in four years and for the second straight season in the NFC divisional playoffs today.

Sunday’s game will be a rematch of a week six showdown in Seattle, where the Panthers defeated the Seahawks 27-23 after Cam Newton connected with Greg Olsen for a 26-yard touchdown pass in the game’s final minute. If Jonathan Stewart was ever going to go over 100 against the Seahawks, Sunday would be the right day to do it. Lynch carried the ball 17 times for 54 yards and a touchdown while catching a pass for no gain.

The problem, however, is that Lynch was not especially effective even when he did play in 2015, averaging just 3.8 yards in only 111 rushing attempts in his seven games. “I don’t think there’s any question”, Carroll said.