Gameday Live Blog / Open Thread: Panthers vs. Seahawks

It's easy to join the conversation. Just click the "follow" button in the right corner of the site, then log in with either Facebook or Google to discuss.

• It's almost time for kickoff at Bank of America Stadium for the game between the Carolina Panthers (5-8) and the Seattle Seahawks (10-3). It's 57 degrees and sunny in Uptown Charlotte.

• This will be the 14th meeting between the teams and the 10th since 2010, including a pair of postseason games. The Seahawks lead the series 9-4 and have won the last two meetings, including a 30-27 win here last year. Six of the last nine matchups have been decided by seven points or less. 

• The Seahawks are six-points favorites today, but the Action Network's Darren Rovell is reporting that a $242,000 bet was just placed on the Panthers to cover as home underdogs. 

NFC South standings

• The Panthers have lost five straight games, six of their last seven and are eliminated from playoff consideration.

NFC West standings

• Seattle would be a fifth seed if the six-team playoffs started today. The Seahawks trail the 49ers by one game in the NFC West. The two will play on the last day of the regular season in Seattle.

• No Greg Olsen today as he remains in the NFL's mandated concussion protocol.. He missed last week's loss at Atlanta because of a concussion he suffered during a Week 13 loss to Washington. A three-time Pro Bowl tight end, Olsen has 48 receptions for 552 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 12 games this season. Ian Thomas will start at tight end.

FIRST QUARTER

• Seahawks get ball first, touchback, will start at their 25.

• On 3rd and 1, Carson goes up the middle for 23 yards to the Panthers' 43. Run defense again a major issue.

• Carson around right side, bulls his way in from 16 yards out for a touchdown. PAT hits the right upright, Seattle leads, 6-0, with 10:26 left in first quarter. Drive was eight plays, 75 yards, 4:34 of game time. Carson had 48 yards rushing on four carries during that possession.

• Panthers begin drive on their 25, go three and out. Palardy punting. Seattle ball at its 20.

• Wilson hits Tyler Lockett with a 44-yard pass. Seattle ball on the Carolina 26.

• Wilson hits DK Metcalf in the left corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown. Drive was eight plays, 80 yards, 4:20. Seattle leads 13-0. with 5:22 left in the first quarter.

• Wilson is 6-7 for 98 yards and a touchdown for a 158.3 QB rating.

• Touchback. Panthers start on their 25.

• Christian McCaffrey finally gets going a bit, takes handoff up the middle for 13 yards and then again for 13 more. First down at the Seattle 38.

• Five more yards and then four more for McCaffrey. Has 35 yards on four carries this drive.

• Direct snap to Curtis Samuel, takes it around left edge for seven yards to the Seattle 9. End of first quarter.

Seattle 13, Carolina 0

SECOND QUARTER 

• McCaffrey off left tackle for a touchdown on 3rd and goal from the 1-yard line. Cuts Seattle lead to 13-7 with 13:43 left in the first half. Drive was 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:39. Ten of Carolina's 12 plays were a run.

• On 2nd and 18 from the Seattle 17, Wilson hits Josh Gordon with a 58-yard pass. First down from the Carolina 25.

• Panthers get to Wilson on 3rd and 4 and he fumble. But Gerald McCoy called for offsides, yardage give Seattle a first down at the Carolina 14.

• Wilson hits a wide-open Tyler Lockett for a 19-yard touchdown. Drive was six plays, 75 yards, 3:34. Seattle leads 20-7 with 10:09 left in the first half.

• Touchback. Panthers take over at their 25.

• Cam Newton announced as Carolina's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. Shot of him and his family in a suite put up on video boards -- crowd goes nuts.

• Rasheem Green gets to Kyle Allen on third down, loss of eight yards to the Carolina 17. Panthers punting, Lockett fair catch at the Seattle 34.

• It's the two-minute warning. McCaffrey has 86 total yards, putting him over 2,000 yards from scrimmage this season. No other Panther has done that.

• Former Seattle Seahawk Bruce Irvin runs down Wilson from behind, gets him at the Seattle 3 for a loss of 7. It's 3-17 with 1:41 left in the first half, Carolina calls timeout and has one left.

• CJ Prosise fumbles, Tre Boston recovers for Carolina at the Seattle 15. But review says he was touched and down by contact. Still the Seahawks' ball.

• Seattle punts, Hogan fair catch at the 50. Ross Cockrell called for block in the back during return, pushes Carolina back to its 40. There's 1:32 left in the first half.

• Panthers driving, down to the Seattle 32 in three plays. There's 34 seconds left in the half.

• Kyle Allen tries to hit Hogan over the middle, but is picked off by Bobby Wagner. Seattle ball at its 26 with 22 seconds left in the half.

END OF FIRST HALF

Seattle 20, Carolina 7

First-half takeaways:

• Weird tempo and vibe to this game. Carolina should either be down by about 40 -- or leading by around six. Untimely penalties, turnovers and miscues have killed opportunities for both teams. 

• Offense hasn't blown up, but pretty clever playcalling. Scott Turner trying to find different ways to use Curtis Samuel.

• Carolina still can't stop the run.

THIRD QUARTER

• Panthers ball on its 25.

• McCaffrey lines up at running back, swings right and catches pass before attempting to throw to Hogan. Pass is short.

• Fourth down from the Seattle 34, Joey Slye trying 52-yard field goal. It's good, cutting Seattle lead to 20-10 with 11:35 left in third quarter. Nine plays, 41 yards, 3:25.

• Meanwhile ...

• Carolina was putting together a nice little 10-play, 50-yard drive, but then an Allen pass was tipped and intercepted. Seattle football at the 50, 4:23 left in the third quarter.

• Seattle tries an end-around pass, but Gordon's intended pass for Metcalf is picked off by Boston at the Carolina 18.

• Allen intercepted by Wright. Seattle ball at the Carolina 21.

• Seattle considers going for it on 4th and 1 from the Carolina 12. instead boots a 30-yard field goal to go up 23-10 with 29 seconds left in third quarter. 

END OF THIRD QUARTER

• Seahawks methodically driving, going 76 yards on 10 plays. Going for it on 4th and 1 from the Carolina 6 with 7:23 remaining. 

• Meanwhile ...

• Kyle Allen is 15-27 for 141 yards and three interceptions with a 30.6 rating. Back-up quarterback Will Grier has yet to take a snap.

• Carson bullies his way in from six yards out on fourth down, making it 30-10 Seattle with 7:18 remaining.

• Panthers rebound, go 75 yards in nine plays with a 15-yard run by Christian McCaffrey making it 30-17 with 4:53 remaining. 

• Carolina gets ball back, drives 84 yards in seven plays. Allen to Samuel for a 5-yard touchdown makes it 30-24 Seattle with 3:14 remaining.

• Seattle receives kick, starts drive at its own 25, 3:09 left.

• Two-minute warning. Seattle has 2nd and 9 from its 39. Neither team has a timeout left.

• Carson takes handoff right, goes 10 yards for a first down. Clock is ticking ...

Seattle in victory formation, Wilson takes a couple of knees. Game over.

FINAL

Seattle 30, Carolina 24