5 greatest moments in Carolina Panthers history ahead of 2021 season
By Luke Tucker
Greg Olsen’s game-winning score against Seattle in 2015
Slotting in as the fourth-greatest moment in Carolina Panthers history is Greg Olsen’s 26-yard game-sealing touchdown grab against the Seattle Seahawks in 2015.
Coming off an early-season bye in Week 5, Carolina hit the road to face Russell Wilson and the Legion-of-Boom in the team’s biggest challenge yet.
The Panthers came into CenturyLink Field 4-0, but according to many critics had faced a “cupcake” schedule after beating less-than-impressive Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans squads, a Drew Brees-less New Orleans Saints team, and a rookie Jameis Winston.
Some even referred to the undefeated Panthers as the “worst 4-0 team ever.” Certainly, the showdown in Seattle and the rest of the 2015 season would prove that notion horribly wrong.
The game got off to a bit of a slow start offensively, as it featured a matchup between two of the league’s best defenses, but it was the Seahawks who took a 10-7 lead into the half. Following the break, Seattle turned their opening drive into a Ricardo Lockette touchdown reception, to go up two scores.
Two plays later the Seahawks picked off a Cam Newton pass, setting up a field goal try that gave Seattle a 20-7 lead halfway through the third quarter. Once again it appeared as though the Panthers would fall short in the newly brewing rivalry.
Fast forward two Jonathan Stewart touchdowns and a Seahawks field goal later, Carolina trimmed the lead to 23-20 with just under four minutes to play.
Carolina put up a strong defensive stand to give the offense one last chance with 2:20 to go. Newton completed his first three passes of the possession to move the ball into Seattle territory before a sack forced him to burn the team’s final timeout.
Two completions later, Newton had the Panthers on the Seahawks’ 26-yard line.
With 37 seconds left on the clock, it was winning time.
Down three, three receivers split out to the left, Newton stood in the gun with a running back to his right, and Olsen on the line of scrimmage, just outside the right tackle’s shoulder.
On the snap Olsen ran right up the seam, running past All-Pro corner Richard Sherman and getting behind superstar safety Earl Thomas.
Newton’s pass hit Olsen in stride, just after he entered the end zone, giving Carolina the go-ahead score with only 32 seconds to play.
The Panthers would hold on to win, completing a monumental fourth-quarter comeback and establishing themselves as legitimate contenders in the NFC. They would of course go on to finish 15-1 in the regular season and reach Super Bowl 50.