Updated 22.05: The Carolina Panthers held on to win 31-24 following a second-half comeback from the Seahawks. Read more here >
Earlier…
THE CAROLINA PANTHERS are carving up the Seattle Seahawks.
The Panthers raced into a 14-0 lead inside the first four minutes of this evening’s NFC Divisional Playoff, and stretched their lead to an embarrassing 31-0 by half-time.
Up against the NFL’s #1 ranked defence, the Panthers — who went 15-1 in the regular season — were only two-point favourites, but exploded with two touchdowns in quick succession.
Some superb blocking allowed Jonathan Stewart to break free for a 59-yard run on the opening play of the game:
And moments later, Stewart took it up the middle for a four-yard touchdown with just 2:30 played.
It quickly went from bad to worse for the Seahawks on their first series as Carolina turned up the pressure on Russell Wilson, whose hurried pass was intercepted by Luke Kuechly and run back in for a pick six.
Three minutes, 22 seconds — Carolina 14 Seattle 0.
Stewart leapt in from a yard for his second, and Carolina’s third, touchdown early in the second quarter to make it 21-0:
Graham Gano stretched the lead with a field goal, and then arguably the pick of the first-half TDs came when Cam Newton connected with Greg Olsen to cap a nine-play, 54-yard drive:
