Seahawks might have caught a big break in Panthers coaching error
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks did not play Sunday. But thanks to an error in judgement by Panthers coach Ron Rivera, Seattle’s playoff chances improved.
The Seahawks need help getting to the playoffs. They could win out, of course, and put themselves in a position of strength. But any team winning its last seven games (which is what Seattle would be doing including Thursday’s win over the Packers) is not overly realistic.
On Sunday, however, the Panthers gave Seattle a little help. Carolina not only lost to the Lions but it was the way they lost that was surprising. And something they did to themselves. Kicker Graham Gano missed an extra point and a field goal. If he would have made the field goal, Carolina has the lead after a late touchdown pass by Cam Newton.
If Gano had made the extra point, Panthers coach Ron Rivera would not have been in the position to make a bad coaching move. But Gano did miss the extra point and Rivera did make a bad coaching call.
After Newton’s touchdown pass, Carolina was within one point of the Lions with 1:07 left in the game. Instead of attempting the extra point, Rivera decided to go for 2. Newton well overthrew his receiver in the end zone on the 2-point conversion and the Lions kept the lead and won the game.
The loss moved Carolina, who has lost two in a row, to 6-4. Seattle, who is 5-5, is now only one game out of the final NFC Wild Card spot, but they play Carolina next Sunday on the road. Winning away from CenturyLink will not be easy, of course. And Carolina is unbeaten at home in 2018.
But with a win, the Seahawks would take over the final spot in the playoffs as they would lead the head-to-head over the Panthers even though both teams would be 6-5. Seattle also leads the head-to-head matchup with Dallas and Green Bay. Both those teams are struggling for the playoffs but both have lost to Seattle this year.
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So for now, at least, the Seahawks have real hopes for the playoffs. They just have to do the hard work next Sunday. Russell Wilson needs to play a great game, the defense needs to play good for four quarters and the Seahawks have to beat Carolina on the road. It is not an impossible task. And if Seattle can win, they will be in great position for the postseason.