Seattle @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2012 ) Seattle 16, Carolina 12

The Seattle Seahawks are a trendy NFC choice to reach the Super Bowl and they begin pursuit of that goal when they visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Seahawks won their final five regular-season games and even notched a playoff win behind quarterback Russell Wilson and now face high expectations. Carolina finished with a flurry last season with four consecutive wins and the pressure is on third-year quarterback Cam Newton to deliver the franchise’s first playoff spot since 2008.

Wilson was stunningly good in his rookie campaign and energized the offense – and the franchise – with his athletic ability and charisma. The Seahawks nearly crashed the NFC Championship Game before losing on a late field goal to the Atlanta Falcons and aim to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 2005. Carolina coach Ron Rivera needs a winning season in his third year at the helm after going 13-19 over his first two seasons. Mike Shula is the Panthers’ new offensive coordinator after Rob Chudzinski left to become head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -3.5. O/U 44.5.

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (2012: 11-5, second NFC West): Wilson passed for 3,118 yards and matched Peyton Manning’s rookie record of 26 touchdowns passes while rising from third-round draft choice to franchise quarterback. Running back Marshawn Lynch has emerged as one of the NFL’s top rushers after ranking third in the league with a career-best 1,590 yards and receiver Sidney Rice (50 receptions) is a capable target. The stingy defense allowed an NFL-low 245 points last season and gave up 306.2 yards per game, fourth-best in the NFL. Boisterous cornerback Richard Sherman had eight interceptions and sets the tone for the unit, which will be without pass rushers Chris Clemons (knee), Cliff Avril (hamstring) and Bruce Irvin (four-game suspension for using a banned substance).

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (2012: 7-9, tied for second NFC South): Newton has passed for 7,920 yards since being the No. 1 overall pick of the 2011 draft - the most by an NFL player over his first two seasons. Veteran receiver Steve Smith (1,174 yards) is coming off his seventh 1,000-yard season but only found the end zone four times and franchise career rushing leader DeAngelo Williams (5,784 yards) is again the club’s top back. Carolina landed a defensive cornerstone in middle linebacker Luke Kuechly in the 2012 draft and he responded with a team-best 164 tackles. Defensive ends Charles Johnson (12.5) and Greg Hardy (11) combined for 23.5 sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Seattle won at Carolina last season, holding the Panthers to a season-low 190 yards in a 16-12 victory on Oct. 7.

2. Panthers CB Captain Munnerlyn had two interception returns for touchdowns last season, including a 33-yard score against the Seahawks.

3. The Seahawks acquired WR Percy Harvin from Minnesota in the offseason but he will miss at least the first six weeks with a hip injury.

PREDICTION: Seahawks 23, Panthers 20