One of the most highly-anticipated 2016 NFL Playoffs games takes place today, as arguably the two hottest teams in the NFC face off in the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers. Don't miss any of the action; below is links to a free live stream, the TV schedule and a prediction for the game.
Game Time: 1:05 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Radio: Sirius XM
Paid Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
Free Live Stream Options: Stream2U or First Row Sports
Betting Line: -2.5 CAR; 44 O/U
Early in the year, the Seattle Seahawks were not playing up to expectations. After three-straight NFC championship runs and two Super Bowl appearances in a row, Seattle was expected to run away with the NFC West or at least compete with the Arizona Cardinals for the division crown.
Instead, we saw a defense that wasn't bad, but not a dominant unit at all; an offense that couldn't run the ball well or protect Russell Wilson in the pocket; a beast named Marshawn Lynch who couldn't stay healthy or be all that productive when he was.
All around, this team wasn't anything that mirrored the best team in the NFC that we had become accustomed to watching.
Fast forward to Week 11, a 4-5 team started a run that was led by its quarterback, Wilson, who would string together an extraordinary seven games that helped them to finish 6-1. He threw an astounding 24 touchdowns to only one interception, as he turned around their prospects almost by himself. Suddenly, this team is as hot as anyone, even after just a 10-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings a week ago on the road (remember that it was ice cold; it'll be different in Charlotte, N.C.).
On the other side of a field is a team that had an even more extraordinary run, however.
The Panthers won the last four games of the 2014 regular season before dominating 14 games to start 2015. An 18-game winning streak is immensley impressive, and they did it with amazing defense and a quarterback -- who while lacking up-to-par weapons -- who blossomed and blew the NFL away.
Cam Newton, as we all know him to be, will undoubtedly be the NFL MVP this season, and he more than deserves it. The Panthers' receiver corps wasn't much to look at before the season, and that was before they lost No. 1 wideout Kelvin Benjamin to an ACL tear. All season long, it was up to Newton to find guys like Greg Olsen (their only reliable target), Ted Ginn Jr., Devin Funchess, Jericho Cotchery and a couple of other out-of-the-blue receivers. Despite that, Newton put up career-best numbers with 35 touchdowns, only 10 interceptions and a 99.4 passer rating. He also ran for 636 yards and 10 more touchdowns, averaging an unfathomable 8.2 yards per rush.
Looking purely at the basic matchups of offense vs. defense, the Panthers offense is a wash with Seattle's defense, and the Seahawks offense is at a disadvantage to Carolina's defense. I see this being an exciting battle between two very good teams, but the Panthers are simply having a special year. Expect to see them in the NFC title game next week.
Prediction: Panthers 27, Seahawks 24
