SEATTLE -- A few thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks 31-17 victory Saturday night over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC divisional round playoff game at CenturyLink Field:
What it means: The Seahawks (13-4) advance to the NFC Championship Game at home for the second consecutive year. They have won seven consecutive games this season and become the first NFL team in nine years to win a playoff game the season after winning the Super Bowl.
Game ball: Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor was as close to Superman as it gets, as he leapt tall lineman with a single bound and sealed the victory with a franchise record 90-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter. He also showed his amazing athletic ability by leaping over the linemen on back-to-back Panthers field goal attempts at the end of the first half. He timed his run to the line perfectly both times and shot in the air like a gazelle but was flagged for running into the kicker on the second one. Chancellor also had 11 tackles, most of which were bone-jarring, as usual.
Nothing pedestrian about these WRs: It’s time to stop putting down the Seattle receivers. Jermaine Kearse, who missed the final regular-season game with a pulled hamstring, had a spectacular one-handed catch on a 63-yard TD in the second quarter. Kearse had three receptions for 129 yards. Doug Baldwin had a 16-yard TD when he was open in the end zone in the first quarter, and tight end Luke Willson had a 25-yard catch-and-run TD.
Wilson the Carolina crusher: Russell Wilson is now 4-0 in his career against the Panthers in his three NFL seasons. He had three TD throws Saturday and completed 15 of 22 passes for 268 yards and a 149.2 QB rating. He was 8-for-8 on third down for 199 of those yards, including all three TDs. He also had 22 yards rushing on seven carries. Wilson now has multiple completions on passes for more than 20 yards in the past five games. He didn't have multiple 20-yard plus completions in the first 12 games of the season.
What’s next: The Seahawks will play the winner of the Dallas-Green Bay game Jan. 18 at CenturyLink Field. The Cowboys and the Packers play Sunday in Green Bay. The Seahawks have won eight consecutive home playoff games.