Ranking the Seattle Seahawks' top rivalries of the NFC era

3: Carolina Panthers

Overall record 10-5 (2-1 in playoffs)

While this may cause some disagreements, I strongly believe that the Carolina Panthers have been a bigger rival to the Seahawks than the Cardinals and Rams, even though they are division opponents. 

The 2005 Seahawks got to their first-ever Super Bowl by crushing the Panthers in the NFC Championship. The Legion of Boom had multiple defensive bloodbaths against prime Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly. The two best linebackers of a generation showing off, the two most unstoppable forces in the red zone, Marshawn Lynch and Cam Newton.

As the league was rapidly transitioning to a pass-heavy league, these two teams slugged it out, as each side had to get past each other on their way to conference crowns. 

Best Win - January 22nd, 2006, Seattle over Carolina 34-14 (NFC Championship Game)

Never forget Seneca Wallace, the backup quarterback, had arguably the best catch of the playoffs on the first drive of what was a memorable night in Seattle (12-year-old me was fortunate enough to be there in the Nest). Hasselbeck was the best he ever looked that night, and Jake Delhomme was the worst he ever looked. 

Worst Loss - January 17th, 2016, Carolina over Seattle 31-24 (NFC Divisional Round)

At the end of the Seahawks' reign over the NFC, the 15-1 Panther jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead before holding on for dear life and surviving 31-24. 

Honorable Mention - Earl Thomas broken leg game

The Seahawks destroyed the defending NFC champs, 40-7. In what appeared to be the last great game for Thomas Rawls as a Seahawk, it was a freak injury that derailed Thomas and the Seahawks' defense.