In a rematch of their regular season matchup, the Seattle Seahawks will face the Carolina Panthers Sunday in the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs. Carolina won the previous matchup 27-24 back in October, after a fourth quarter comeback the Panthers capped with a game-winning touchdown pass from Cam Newton to tight end Greg Olsen. Finishing with the best record in the league at 15-1, the Panthers were able to secure a first-round bye — but starting the playoffs at home in the Divisional Round hasn’t boded well for Carolina historically.
In the 2008 Playoffs, the second-seeded Panthers lost to eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals 33-13 as quarterback Jake Delhomme threw five interceptions. After a 1-3 start to the 2013 season, the Panthers rebounded to finish 12-4 and once again fell to an NFC West team, this time to the San Francisco 49ers 23-10. After a record-setting season and with Newton a shoo-in for MVP, the third time should be the charm as Carolina looks to get over the Divisional Round hump.
