Seahawks vs. Panthers: Gameday Predictions

The Seattle Seahawks are in the midst of a tail spin and need to right their ship before hopes of a postseason berth float away.

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After starting the season 3-3, Seattle will travel to Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday to take on the 3-3-1 Carolina Panthers, another team that was once expected to compete for a division title but is now just searching for a big win.

The Seahawks have an opportunity to put up points against a Panthers defense that has been in the bottom-10 in the NFL in a number of categories.

As a result, the Seahawks should come out on top — though I have said that each of the past two weekends and been utterly disappointed.

Something will change this weekend though, I feel it.

Here are some other predictions regarding Sunday’s Seahawks-Panthers game:

1. Russell Wilson has 250 yards passing, 75 yards rushing.

Is there a chance Wilson gets better every time he touches the ball?

The guy went off last week with 313 yards passing and 106 yards rushing yards, becoming the first player in NFL history to put up 300+ through the air and more than 100 on the ground.

Don’t expect quite those numbers against the Panthers, but expect something on that track.

Wilson will be playing against a defense that has given up an average passing rating of 118.7 over the course of the past five games and they have shown they have trouble stopping mobile quarterbacks.

Wilson should have another big game Sunday against a Carolina defense allowing 250+ passing yards and a little more than 137 rushing yards per game.

2. Marshawn Lynch breaks 100 yards rushing for the first time since Week 1.

Seattle finally started feeding the Beast last week against the Rams, but the St. Louis run defense was having none of it.

Luckily for Lynch and the Seahawks offense, the Panthers D is not nearly as talented.

Right now, they are giving up an average of 137.6 rushing yards per game, 26th in the league.

That’s great news for Lynch, who hasn’t rushed for the century mark since the season opener. He should get some big numbers against the Panthers weak defense.

3. Jermaine Kearse sets season-highs in catches and receiving yards.

Kearse has been nearly forgotten about in the Seahawks offense, which was focused on Percy Harvin all year, then Doug Baldwin last week.

This week, it will be Kearse’s turn to share a piece of the pie.

Kearse hasn’t had more than four catches or 62 receiving yards this season, and I expect Seattle spreads the ball around more against Carolina’s weak secondary.

Baldwin will still get his share of targets, but Kearse might serve as a nice playmaker on Sunday, something he hasn’t had the chance to do all year.

4. Seahawks hold Panthers to fewer than 90 rushing yards.

Carolina has been miserable running the ball this season, averaging 89.9 yards per game, 27th in the league.

Cam Newton, the team’s quarterback, is the leading rusher with 190 yards on the ground.

Seattle gave up 102 yards on the ground last week, including 85 to Tre Mason, but they should be able to step up and stop Carolina’s run game, which will already be without DeAngelo Williams (ankle), Fozzy Whittaker (quad) and Chris Ogbonnaya (groin).

Jonathan Stewart, who has 42 carries for 138 yards this season (3.3 ypg average), will get the start in the backfield for the Panthers.

5. Seattle wins, 27-20.

I’ve been wrong on this prediction for two straight weeks, but I really like the Seahawks chances against the Panthers.

Like the Seahawks, the Panthers are injured, but on the gridiron Seattle is the more talented team.

Trick plays and penalties beat the Seahawks last week, though they outplayed the Rams in every other statistical category.

They won’t be beat like that again and they certainly won’t let themselves fall to 3-4 on the year.

Right? God, I sure hope not.

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