Panthers build big lead, hold on to beat Seattle
Four games into his playoff career, Cam Newton recognizes the key element to success. He calls it “Big Mo,” and there couldn't have been a better example than Carolina's 31-24 victory over Seattle on Sunday.
Emphatically backing up their superb regular season with one of the most dominating halves in football history, the Panthers then hung on in the face of a furious Seahawks rally before surviving.
“The playoffs bring out more than any other time the impact of 'Big Mo,”' Newton said after Carolina (16-1) moved into NFC title game, which they will host next Sunday against Arizona (13-3). “Momentum.
“We can't wait for no one to make plays for us.”
The Panthers, winners of 12 straight at home, made all the right plays in building a 31-0 lead, then were dominated by the two-time defending NFC champs in the second half. So if Carolina wins its first NFL championship, it can credit the lesson learned from the Seahawks (11-7).
“We have to find a way to complete a full game of football,” the All-Pro quarterback added. “We have been known to take our foot off the throttle and we have to find that killer instinct.”
Newton noted how players, coaches and even the fans were feeling the pressure in the final 30 minutes as Seattle staged a relentless comeback.
“It was a tale of execution. We needed a little more of that in the second half. You just have to find ways to get your groove back on.” Definitely. “That's what this game is going to teach us,” said All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly, who returned a first-quarter interception for a touchdown. “No matter how good you play in the first half, the second half is just as important. It's crazy - you go into these games and you expect it to be like this, so it wasn't a surprise for us. But you've got to be locked in the whole game. ”