1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks received a pretty good fight from the Carolina Panthers until they put the game away in the fourth quarter with a 90-yard interception return touchdown by strong safety Kam Chancellor, who had a strong performance from start to finish with 11 tackles. They intercepted Panthers quarterback Cam Newton twice. Starting cornerback Byron Maxwell missed the game due to being sick, but he is expected to return for the NFC Championship. Fellow cornerback Tharold Simon was picked on by Newton and beaten often, but Maxwell held his own in the Seahawks’ previous game against the Packers while Richard Sherman was never targeted. Rodgers is sure to target him at least once, but he will have to tread lightly as Sherman intercepted Newton once.
Free safety Earl Thomas and linebacker Bobby Wagner are also forces to be reckoned with. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 268 yards and three touchdown passes against the Panthers, proving that he is one of the best quarterbacks come playoff time. Due to possessing the best defense and top-ranked run offense along with an efficient quarterback in Wilson, they are the best team in the NFL until someone proves otherwise.
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