5 best playoff wins in Carolina Panthers’ franchise history
No. 3 – Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers (2015)
The 2014 Carolina Panthers season began with great celebration and optimism. They celebrated the team’s 20th campaign throughout the year and were coming off a year where the organization finished with a 12-4 record, losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Ultimately, the 2014 campaign did result in the franchise’s first back-to-back playoff appearances and a return trip to the Divisional Round, despite finishing the regular season with a losing record of 7-8-1.
It ended with a defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks, and all were motivated to come back in 2015, get back to 2014 form, and advance.
Despite the offseason release of running back DeAngelo Williams and losing leading wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to a torn ACL in the preseason, the Panthers finished with the best regular-season record in franchise history.
The team started the season with 14 straight wins, finishing with a 15-1 record. The Panthers earned a first-round bye in the playoffs, which set-up a rematch against the Seahawks.
Carolina jumped out to a 31-0 lead over Seattle at the end of the first half behind two rushing touchdowns from Jonathan Stewart, a receiving score courtesy of tight end Greg Olsen, a 48-yard field goal by Graham Gano, and an interception touchdown return by linebacker Luke Kuechly.
The Panthers would not score again.
What’s the story of the second half?
Well, the Carolina Panthers aren’t known as the ‘Cardiac Cats’ for nothing.
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The Seahawks returned in the second half and looked like a totally different team. Playing with great energy and efficiency, momentum was clearly in their hands.
Seattle scored two touchdowns in the first 7:20 of the third quarter, quickly cutting the Panthers’ lead to 31-14.
In the fourth, a successful fake punt attempt resulted in a three-yard touchdown by Seahawks’ wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and they were officially knocking on the door.
On the sidelines, Carolina’s offensive players and reserves helped to bring some energy to the nervous Bank of America crowd. Despite this, the Seahawks were able to move down the field and score a field goal, bringing the score to 31-27 with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter.
The Seahawks attempted an onside kick. Panthers’ linebacker Thomas Davis Sr. secured the recovery. By doing so, he also sealed the victory and the team’s fourth trip to the NFC Championship game.