Seattle Seahawks vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats On Sep 08, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2013

Seahawks 12, Panthers 7: Russell Wilson threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse and Earl Thomas forced a key fumble as visiting Seattle rallied to defeat pesky Carolina in the opener for both squads.

Wilson overcame a sluggish start to complete 25-of-33 passes for 320 yards, including the go-ahead 43-yard aerial to Kearse with 10:13 to play. The Seahawks (1-0) limited the Panthers to 243 yards as Carolina (0-1) dropped to 2-13 in games decided by seven or fewer points in Ron Riveraกฏs 33-game stint as head coach.

Seattle trailed 7-3 at halftime and narrowed its deficit to one on Steven Hauschkaกฏs 40-yard field goal with 2:22 left in the third quarter. The Seahawks finally located the end zone when Kearse culminated a six-play, 74-yard drive by beating Carolina cornerback Josh Thomas to haul in the 43-yard scoring pass.

After Seattle took the lead, the Panthers charged downfield and were helped by back-to-back personal fouls on Seattleกฏs Michael Bennett and Kam Chancellor. DeAngelo Williams broke loose on a 16-yard gain before Thomas knocked the ball loose and Tony McDaniel recovered on the Seattle 8-yard line with 5:34 left to snuff out the threat and the Seahawks ran out the clock.

Seattle settled for Hausckhaกฏs 27-yard field goal on a 15-play, 74-yard drive that took 8:47 for a 3-0 lead with 9:40 left in the first half. The Panthers responded with five first downs on a crisp 11-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by Cam Newtonกฏs 3-yard touchdown throw to Steve Smith.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Seattle WR Doug Baldwin caught seven passes for 91 yards. กญ The Seahawks recorded just one sack on Newton จC by DE OกฏBrien Schofield จC with pass rushers Chris Clemons (knee), Cliff Avril (hamstring) and Bruce Irvin (suspension) all out. กญ Panthers DE Frank Alexander was ejected late in the first half for throwing a punch to the facemask of Seattle OT Breno Giacomini.