3 biggest overreactions to Seahawks Week 3 game versus Panthers

Following the disastrous outcome in Week 1 versus the Rams, the Seahawks are slowly coming together. The offense is beginning to look potent and the defense is starting to see some positive progress. While they are still a level below the 49ers and Eagles, a 2-1 record is just fine.

By the same token, beating a toothless Panthers team isn't going to scare anyone as such. It also doesn't help that the Seahawks are continuing to accrue injuries at an alarming rate. There's still plenty to do, but again, they're on the right track.

As always -- win or lose -- there's been plenty of passionate reactions from the Seahawks faithful. Sports fans in general are not exactly renowned for their calm and objective takes. In this respect, here are three of the biggest overreactions from the Week 3 game versus the Panthers.

Seahawks overreaction No. 1: Lumen Field is back to being the ultimate home-field advantage

Sunday represented a special trip down memory lane, as members of the Super Bowl XLVIII team returned for the 10-year anniversary celebration. (Has it really been a decade already since that championship?!?!) Their presence also resulted in the return of the 12th man. More specifically, the crowd was as raucous and loud as it used to be on a regular basis.

This was most clear in the amount of false starts the Panthers had, with their two starting offensive tackles struggling in particular. When it was all said and done the Seahawks fans had helped cause eight false starts, the most in the NFL for any team since 2011. The record for the most ever by an opposing team in Seattle is 11, by the Giants back in 2005.

Panthers head coach Frank Reich called the number of false starts given up as pathetic and inexcusable. However, he shouldn't be too tough on his players -- even though he will be -- with the Lumen Field crowd deserving some credit. Everyone from Jarran Reed to Jordyn Brooks to Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll raved about the impact of the fans during the game on Sunday.

At the same time, this doesn't necessarily mean the Seahawks fans are back. One game does not a season (or crowd) make. It's one thing to get motivated when your only Super Bowl-winning team returns - the question is whether or not you can be 'up' on a more consistent basis moving forward.

This is still the same stadium where the Seahawks had gone just 11-13 in their previous 24 games with fans in attendance. (We haven't included the 2020 season when they went 7-2, with no fans allowed due to COVID-19.) Members of the local media had put the lack of home-field advantage down to fans being spoiled over the years by success. The implication was they just weren't as fired up to cheer on their team, with them arguably almost expecting the team to just turn up and win.

In fairness, other members of the local media also made reference to the increasing cost of attending an NFL game. To a certain extent, the more 'rabid' and passionate fans have been pushed out thanks to the almighty dollar. Combine this with not being as fired up, and it's no wonder Lumen Field just isn't as loud these days.

Of course, this doesn't mean Seahawks fans aren't still capable of helping the stadium return to its position as the loudest in the NFL. Sunday's game versus the Panthers proved that Lumen Field can still be a place for opposing teams to fear. At this stage though, it's too premature to claim the home-field advantage has returned to Seattle.