4 keys to a shock Carolina Panthers win at Seahawks in Week 14
By Luke Gray
Carolina Panthers must stop the run
A lot of this depends on the health of the Seattle Seahawks’ running back room which at the moment is severely banged up. Kenneth Walker III and DeeJay Dallas could both miss the contest, which would be a significant boost to the Carolina Panthers’ chances of getting their first road success of the campaign.
Walker was not given the opportunity to be the lead running back until Week 6 when a broken leg suffered by Rashaad Penny ruled him out for the season. Since then, the Michigan State product has been an exceptional contributor.
With an impressive 503 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, it’s not hard to see why Walker was so highly touted coming out of college. The Seahawks under Pete Carroll are built on a balanced offense, with establishing the run among their top priorities almost every week and his influence is a major factor behind their surprising campaign to date.
If Walker does lineup in the backfield on Sunday, a key part of the Panthers’ game plan must be to stifle the rookie and force more pressure on the shoulders of Geno Smith. Something well within their capabilities thanks to the presence of Derrick Brown, one of the best interior defensive linemen around.