Sunday’s game was a celebration of the 10 year anniversary for the Super Bowl XLVIII championship team. To honor them, the Seahawks ended the game the same way they did in Week 1 of 2013 – with a win over the Carolina Panthers.
Seattle took care of business as favorites and defended Lumen Field with a 37-27 victory over the Panthers. The Seahawks now move above .500 for the first time in 2023. They also claimed “double revenge” over both Carolina and Andy Dalton, both who beat Seattle last year.
It was a defensive battle early on, as the Seahawks were moving the ball but unable to finish drives in the end zone. Seattle settled for four first half field goals from Jason Myers, who redeemed himself mightily from last week, as they trailed Carolina 13-12 at intermission. Myers would tack on one more field goal, his fifth of the day, to reclaim a 15-13 lead in early in the third quarter.
The Seahawks would finally break the game open to a two-score lead when Kenneth Walker III bulldozed his way in for a touchdown to make it a 22-13 lead late in the third. But Carolina did not go quietly into that good night, as they rarely do against Seattle. A 24-yard reception to receiver Adam Thielen to set the Panthers up at the Seahawks goal line to close out the third quarter was quickly cashed in for a touchdown to start the fourth.
Fortunately, Seattle responded with a six play, 69-yard scoring drive which ended with Walker scampering in for his second score of the day.
The story of the game was the 12th Man, who reminded everyone why they have the title of loudest fans in the NFL. The Panthers were flagged an astonishing eight times for false start penalties. Even as a light rainfall began to sprinkle the crowd in the waning moments of the game, not a seat was empty, or eardrum unburst.
The Seahawks will now travel to MetLife Stadium, the site of their triumphant Super Bowl XLVIII victory, for a Monday Night Football showdown against the New York Football Giants. Having played on Thursday, the Giants will be coming off extended rest, albeit likely without star running back Saquon Barkley.
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