Panthers Control The Clock And The Run Game In Upset Win Over Short-Handed Seahawks

The Seahawks were without starting defensive end Shelby Harris, who was a surprise inactive due to illness, then they lost nose tackle Al Woods to a heel injury during the game. And while run defense falls on all three levels of the defense, not just the line, it was clear the Seahawks missed the presence of two of its starting linemen, particularly Woods, who has a huge role when it comes to stopping the run.

And though the Seahawks defense played good in stretches, holding Carolina to a single field goal on its four possessions after the Panthers jumped ahead 17-0 early on, Seattle couldn’t stop the run and get off the field when it needed it most. After a Seahawks punt early in the fourth quarter, Carolina took over up by 3 points looking to burn some clock and add to the lead, and on a 10-play, 74-yard drive that took 5:26 off the clock, the Panthers ran the ball seven times for 68 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown run by Raheem Blackshear that gave the Panthers a 10-point lead.

For the game, the Panthers were able to rush for 223 yards, the fourth straight opponent to rush for at least 161 yards, and the second to go over 200 yards on the ground.