Seahawks hold on to top Panthers, 16-12
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks defense were too much for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers to overcome.
Wilson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate with 35 seconds left in the third quarter to help the Seahawks beat the Panthers 16-12 on Sunday.
Wilson shook off two third quarter interceptions — including one that was returned for a touchdown — and outperformed Newton on a struggle-filled day for the Carolina offense, which finished with only 190 yards.
Wilson threw for 221 yards, while Marshawn Lynch ran for 85 yards for the Seahawks (3-2).
Newton threw for 141 yards on 12-for-29 passing and he was sacked four times. The Panthers' only touchdown came on Captain Munnerlyn's 33-yard interception return early in the third quarter.
Carolina started the season with plenty of optimism with the return of Newton to lead a high-scoring offense, but the Panthers (1-4) couldn't rebound a week after losing 30-28 to the Falcons on Matt Bryant's field goal with 5 seconds left.
The Panthers had two chances to take the lead in the final minutes on Sunday, the first when they drove all the way to the Seattle 1-yard line with about 4 minutes left.
On a fourth down play, Newton rolled to his right and spotted Ben Hartsock open in the end zone, but he threw a one-hopper on the short pass to give the ball back to Seattle.
Then, after the Seahawks took an intentional safety, Carolina got the ball back at its own 31 with 54 seconds left and no timeouts.
After a first down incompletion, Seattle's Bruce Irvin came around the right side and stripped Newton from behind as the quarterback tried to load up for a throw.
The ball hit the turf, and Alan Branch recovered to seal the victory for the Seahawks.
The game marked a homecoming of sorts for Wilson, who first gained acclaim as a quarterback at North Carolina State. He also played minor league baseball in Asheville and Gastonia before returning to college football and finishing up at Wisconsin.
The rookie hadn't thrown for more than 160 yards in a game until Sunday, but didn't panic when he threw the two interceptions and bought time with his mobility on several plays to help the Seahawks keep drives going.
After a fumble by DeAngelo Williams gave Seattle a short field, Wilson moved the Seahawks to the Carolina 13 then found Tate over the middle for a short throw. Tate spun off a hit from Thomas Davis around the 4 then ran into the end zone for the 13-10 lead.
Steven Hauschka added his third field goal to make it 16-10 with about 10½ minutes left.
Lynch, the NFL's leading rusher for the season's first month, reached 85 yards rushing for the 13th time in 14 games. That included when he had a spinning 11-yard run on a third-and-7 for a first down that helped the Seahawks use more clock after the Panthers' stalled late drive.
The Panthers' offense, which was supposed to be the team's strength coming into the season, never found a rhythm while Newton was frequently off target.
Newton missed on 12 of 15 passes and threw for just 40 yards in the opening 30 minutes, while the Panthers managed just 93 yards and seven first downs.
Carolina went three-and-out on three of its five first-half possessions, with its only sustained drive being a 77-yard push just before halftime that ended with a field goal with 2 seconds left before the break.
Wilson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate with 35 seconds left in the third quarter to help the Seahawks beat the Panthers 16-12 on Sunday.
Wilson shook off two third quarter interceptions — including one that was returned for a touchdown — and outperformed Newton on a struggle-filled day for the Carolina offense, which finished with only 190 yards.
Wilson threw for 221 yards, while Marshawn Lynch ran for 85 yards for the Seahawks (3-2).
Newton threw for 141 yards on 12-for-29 passing and he was sacked four times. The Panthers' only touchdown came on Captain Munnerlyn's 33-yard interception return early in the third quarter.
Carolina started the season with plenty of optimism with the return of Newton to lead a high-scoring offense, but the Panthers (1-4) couldn't rebound a week after losing 30-28 to the Falcons on Matt Bryant's field goal with 5 seconds left.
The Panthers had two chances to take the lead in the final minutes on Sunday, the first when they drove all the way to the Seattle 1-yard line with about 4 minutes left.
On a fourth down play, Newton rolled to his right and spotted Ben Hartsock open in the end zone, but he threw a one-hopper on the short pass to give the ball back to Seattle.
Then, after the Seahawks took an intentional safety, Carolina got the ball back at its own 31 with 54 seconds left and no timeouts.
After a first down incompletion, Seattle's Bruce Irvin came around the right side and stripped Newton from behind as the quarterback tried to load up for a throw.
The ball hit the turf, and Alan Branch recovered to seal the victory for the Seahawks.
The game marked a homecoming of sorts for Wilson, who first gained acclaim as a quarterback at North Carolina State. He also played minor league baseball in Asheville and Gastonia before returning to college football and finishing up at Wisconsin.
The rookie hadn't thrown for more than 160 yards in a game until Sunday, but didn't panic when he threw the two interceptions and bought time with his mobility on several plays to help the Seahawks keep drives going.
After a fumble by DeAngelo Williams gave Seattle a short field, Wilson moved the Seahawks to the Carolina 13 then found Tate over the middle for a short throw. Tate spun off a hit from Thomas Davis around the 4 then ran into the end zone for the 13-10 lead.
Steven Hauschka added his third field goal to make it 16-10 with about 10½ minutes left.
Lynch, the NFL's leading rusher for the season's first month, reached 85 yards rushing for the 13th time in 14 games. That included when he had a spinning 11-yard run on a third-and-7 for a first down that helped the Seahawks use more clock after the Panthers' stalled late drive.
The Panthers' offense, which was supposed to be the team's strength coming into the season, never found a rhythm while Newton was frequently off target.
Newton missed on 12 of 15 passes and threw for just 40 yards in the opening 30 minutes, while the Panthers managed just 93 yards and seven first downs.
Carolina went three-and-out on three of its five first-half possessions, with its only sustained drive being a 77-yard push just before halftime that ended with a field goal with 2 seconds left before the break.
Great D. Wilson had a better game, staying accurate. We will get their. I am VERY intrigued to see how we play NE next week....we have pretty much the best D in the league right now......
NIce effort! We'll see what you boyz can do against a top notch offense next week. Gooooooooooooo Hawks!
Vishess Props to the defense that made outstanding plays on the ball.  I see someone has been coached to  question why that ball carrier is carrying "my" ball and I intend to strip it from his sorry non-Seahawk arms.Very well done. Except for a few bonehead penalties.
I think I don't want to wait for a rookie QB. This team is Superbowl ready now minus the QB. I don't want to hate on Wilson, but I think Flynn is the missing piece as of right now.
@sirgavin7 It's my understanding that flynn is nursing a sore elbow.
 @sirgavin7 It's a mistake to think plugging in Flynn now would result in better production.  One of the reasons everyone was skeptical of our 3-way QB competition was lack of repetitions with the rest of the offense.  Flynn hasn't taken meaningful snaps with the first team for 5 weeks, as Wilson has taken every one of them.  This is one of the reasons Wilson has shown so much improvement.  Putting Flynn in would put us back to square on in that respect.
 @sirgavin7 I couldn't agree more. Flynn is much more polished, but Carroll is in love with Wilson for some reason. This team should be 5-0 but our QB has cost us. I just don't like the way Wilson works through progressions. He runs to early and doesn't see open receivers consistently. The height issue is real, and will cost us down the road
 @amd_44  @sirgavin7 Remind me how much time you guys spend watching film and practice? Â
O.k.......just my "humble opinion" to add here. Our defense is flat out rockin these teams that took us WAY too lightly. That being said, we need to get an offensive game going, and NOW, or we're going to be a mediocre team at best and if we DO make the playoffs, we won't make it THROUGH them. For all of the Russell Wilson haters out there, check out his stats for this game. Pete is letting the kid USE the arm that got him the job in the first place, and he's getting the ball where it needs to be with a good percentage. The drawback I see, is that a lot of his momentum (when he gets it going) is getting taken away by all of the freakin rookie mistakes committed by others on the team for penalties and lost yards. The PENALTIES are KILLING us, and some of the "interesting" calls, or lack of calls by the refs today made it all the more challenging to watch. Get the Offense moving. Get this third down issue settled, and get the stupid penalties under control, our Hawks will not be winning or losing by three or four points. There will be a much wider spread in the scores.....in our favor. GO HAWKS!
 @Wolfen I agree though Wilson still seemed to struggle in the redzone.  Mainly he seemed to nervous to throw the ball and not trust his ability/reads.
 @Wolfen Well put. Every time Wilson gets in a rhythm freakin Giacomini or Okung get called for some bonehead move, especially Giacomini. Any guy that gets called for a late hit should ride the pine period. No excuses for that kind of play. 2 Biggest plays of the game were taken away by unnecessary holding calls...
Everyone can hate on me but we are going no where fast. We have the worst passing offense in the league....PERIOD...We have an amazing running game, an amazing defense and a good special teams. We are ready for a super bowl minus our crappy QB play. Remember, we have the worst statistical passing offense in the leaguer....LAST PLACE. And everyone loves Wilson.....I don't get it.Â
We are going to get throttled next week against the Patriots...and everyone will be ok with it because we have a rookie QB....while on the bench we have a guy who has been playing in the league for 4 years and has proven he can throw for over 300 yards in his starts. We put WIlson on the bench and start playing Flynn we have a much better chance.. Let Wilson sit and learn for a few years...AT the end of the season when we miss the playoffs and Wilson has thrown several more games away for us, Pete will say that Wilson was a rookie....but we have a guy on the bench who isn't a rookie.....
 @amd_44 Seriously man.  You are either 1. a troll, or 2. an idiot.  Flynn has started 2 NFL games, in what was likely the highest octane offense the league has seen in years.  Seattle's offense is not built like GB. Flynn is not going to just come in and make our offense GB's offense.  You seriously dont know what you are talking about.  Yes, Wilson is not great yet, but get off Flynn's jock, he has proven nothing in this league.  Dont you think if Flynn had been better in camp and in the preseason he would be the starter.  Or do you think you know more about football based on the two hours you watch a week and the crap info you get from ESPN, than the coaching staff that spends hours upon hours a week with these guys.  Give me a break .Â
 @amd_44  Come one you guys are fools if you think that one play cost Flynn the job.
 @The206 I think you have no clue what you talking about. Carroll has proven time and time again that in the pros, he cannot build QB's. Im not on anyones jock, but our little midget QB is missing throw after throw and checking down for 4 yard passes (when we have open receivers down field)....when he is not throwing pick 6's. You should be embarrassed for supporting him. I like the kid, but he is not yet ready to play at this level. If our defense wasn't so good, he would not still be starting...and to the point of the person below, had TO caught that pass in the preseason, the Flynn is your starter. If you enjoy watching our QB right now, then you like really boring and crappy QB play. The reason analysts are talking about a QB change in Seattle....is because our QB sucks....just has an incredible defense behind him...Wilson will eventually cost us the playoffs....and you can remember "the troll idiot" that told you so.Â
 @The206  @amd_44 I think if T.O. had caught that pass in the endzone, Flynn, would be starting.
 @The206  @amd_44 I always like the guy who says "oh, you think you know more than they do". Well, Carroll and Schneider have proven by giving up a 3rd rounder for Whitehurst and bringing in Jackson, that they obviously have issues evaluating talent at the QB position. Further more, I have no doubt that Flynn would be a better starter than Wlson. Flynn would have won either the Rams, or the Cardinals game, if not both. Giving Wilson the job based on a few preseason games is crazy. And to take away Flynn's numbers based on the team he was playing on is crazy. Fine, I will give you that G.B. had a lot of weapons, but he put up historical numbers in that one game. A game, by the way, that Jenning, Cobb, and the starting Right Tackle were sitting out. Sure, he has not proven much, but he has proven a hell of a lot more than Russell Wilson.
Well we cant blame this on the refs.. so it must be a total fluke!Â
I will keep saying it...how can we continue to play Wilson? He is terrible. The defense won this game again....just like they have won every game for us this year....we are going to be an 8 or 9 win team again because or QB play...Think about this: Tavaris Jackson has better statistics than Wilson.....and we all were running Tavaris out of town....I can't believe people are ok with Wilson....
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Very frustrated season ticket holder- "Heres to another season of mediocrity"
@amd_44 Stats mean nothing. If you want to talk about 3rd down conversion %, it improved this game. Red zone scoring/efficency needs to get better. When you have a good defense, and a good special teams you win the field position battle. Short fields each possession=low stats. Tack on running the ball 30 times a game, we don't need a high stat line Qb. If your criticism is not coming up with TD's I'm with you all the way. But, this bashing of Wilson over stats is the most idiotic thing I see from fans on a daily basis.
 @PieceStylin  @amd_44 Blame it on the Quarterback. A receiver drops a pass, blame it on the Quarterback. An offensive lineman causes a penalty..blame it on the Quarterback. A punt returner fumbles the ball..blame it on the Quarterback. Quarterback this, Quarterback that, I'm sick of it! If American Football is all about the Quarterback then why isn't it called "Quarterback Football." Whatever Go Hawks!
 @amd_44 19 for 25 for 221 yards, a TD and an INT is terrible? Since when is completing 76% of your passes for 221 yards and a TD terrible?  Â
 @The206  @amd_44 It's not terrible against the 49ers, Texans, or Steelers. It is terrible against one of the worst defensive units in the league though.
 @amd_44 Please turn in your season tickets to someone who knows something about football.  You are embarrassing to the rest of us season ticket holders.Â
 @The206 I don't know anything about football? Listen to anyone who understands the QB position, they all say the same dang thing. You may be a biased Seattle fan and I appreciate that, but we are never going to win with Wislon. He missed several open receivers throughout the game because he can't see them....and he is NOT Drew Brees for crying out loud...
 @amd_44 Well unless you are an NFL employee, you have watched zero film.  You are making your comments off of what commentators say up in the booth who are sitting 80ft above the field where it is easy to see every player.  You dont know why he didnt throw it to him.  The short argument is stupid as well. Flutie, Brees have had no problem.  O-Linemen are not taller in the NFL than in College and Wilson was the most efficient passer in NCAA history.  How did he see over those linemen?  Your arguments are weaker than a wet paper bag.Â
 @amd_44 Flynn has started TWO GAMES. EVER. Wilson has more experience, He has started 5.  You are a box score loser.  Your claim of 5 INTs in two games is bogus.  Yes the stat sheet says that, but if you want to pull that out, you clearly did not actually watch the game and see what happened on those INT's. What makes Flynn the best player?  One game that you saw against an awful defense at the end of the year in a game that didnt matter?  That is what you are basing your entire argument around.  Take your blinders off man. Flynn has proven absolutely nothing. Â
 @amd_44  @The206 Yeah he has 4 years in the league as a BACK UP. Your points are mute...Â
 @amd_44  @The206 You need to get laid...
 @The206 and btw, if I am an idiot that watches to much ESPN, then you are not watching the games....How many wide open receivers has Wilson missed this season because he cannot see them? Watch the film and then get back to me...Its easy to criticize me and call me an idiot, but I assure you I have watched more film than you have...
 @The206 Flynn has been in the league for 4 years now....he has far more experience than Wilson. ARe you watching him play? He is not ready for the pros...and Pete stands on the podium and says he has played great....5 interceptions in 2 games is not great. My expectations are simply that we put the best player on the field. Our offense has regressed from last year....let that sink in...Tavaris was better satisticly. As a season ticket holder...I want the best product on the field...and Wilson is not the best QB on the team. I thin thats a fair ask.
 @amd_44 Your expectations are far too high. He is a rookie, and before you babble on about Flynn, he has less career starts that Wilson does now, so your argument about him is null and void. Â
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Take a look at Peyton Manning's rookie stats. Â Look at Roethlisberger's rookie stats. Â You sound like an idiot that watches too much ESPN. Â
 @amd_44 You're forgetting that Wilson is a rookie, five games into his career. He had some great plays called back due to penalties. Otherwise he made good decisions, minus the pick 6, otherwise he had a good game.Â
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders IM not forgetting anything....We paid Flynn a lot of money and Wilson has routinely missed wide open receivers because he can't see them. Im not giving him a pass because he is a rookie. We have a guy who is ready now....and we have a super bowl winning defense so I want the best player out on the field. That player is NOT Wilson
 @amd_44 So it's about money? Okay.... So a team pays Homeless Bob $21 million to play for them and then they sign Tom Brady for $11 million but since you paid Homeless Bob more money, you sit Brady and play Homeless Bob. Makes sense!!
 @amd_44  @TelecasterMaster  @PackersCougsBravesSounders Wilson CAN throw for 250 yards, but stupid rookie mistakes get those yards taken back away from him in the form of.....penalties. Maybe you witnessed some of those today? He ended the day with 221 yards passing, and had that 50 or so yard beauty he threw not gotten called back.......LOOK! Over 250 yards!
 @amd_44  @PackersCougsBravesSounders Can you read?? It has nothing to do with Flynn or Wilson. It is Carroll and our Offensive coordinator who are killing the offense. They won't take any risks...
 @TelecasterMaster  @PackersCougsBravesSounders You play it safe in our division, and your gonna get 8-8 or 9-7 and you will once again be sitting at home in playoffs. Meanwhile, the QB on your bench throw for 6 td's in a game.....Wilson can't throw for 250 yards...he is terrible
 @amd_44  @PackersCougsBravesSounders How is Flynn ready?? How many games has he started in the NFL?? Wilson is only getting 20-25 opportunities to throw. Besides he has been really efficient (76% today). Other QBs in the league throw 40-50 times a game. The coaches are playing it safe and they would do the same with Flynn. No sense starting Flynn now.
The DEFESIVE guys won that game.
I am old ..........and have never seen Seattle's D this tight. Every game! They gave up a pick 6 to start the 2nd half! Not when people stabbed throats and eyeballs.. has Seattle been this talented.
Seattle may not go all the way with their offense but the D is very special!
@brewzbrothers you been drinking?
 @F4I  @brewzbrothersÂ
Nothing under 7% on a Sunday. Did you watch the game?
@brewzbrothers I have to be honest and say no.But I did see the last 2 minutes and the win.
A win is a win. We'll take it.
The Hawks Rock!
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