NFC Championship Game Preview: Seattle vs. Carolina
By Ben Parker
This Sunday, on January 22, 2006, the Carolina Panthers will come to the west
coast to face the Seattle Seahawks for a chance at the NFC crown and a trip to the Motor City for Super Bowl XL. The game will be held between two teams with very different histories and backgrounds. The Seahawks, just won their first playoff game in 20 years. The Panthers, won the NFC crown 2 years ago, and have a lot of players that were on that 2003-2004 NFC Championship Carolina team. Notably Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith, and Julius Peppers. The Seahawks have a few good players up their sleeves as well, with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, and NFL MVP Shaun Alexander at running back. These two players make up the Seattle offense, and also they are the heart and soul of this team. Without these two players, Seattle would not be here playing for a shot at an NFC Championship.
Shaun Alexander was the best running back in the NFL this season by far, leading the league in touchdowns. Some will tell you Tiki Barber should have been MVP because he carried the NY Giants on his back. But, I am here to tell you that Shaun Alexander did the same for the Seahawks. Without “Slippery Shaun” as I call him, the Seahawks would not be in the NFC title game. His ability to run the football has won Seattle many games this season, and has led them to the best record in the NFC. Matt Hasselbeck has been the best QB in the NFC this season, getting my Pro-Bowl vote along with many others. His passing accuracy is very good, and he rarely throws an interception.
For the Panthers, Jake Delhomme has been a quite leader on the field. He took them to a Super Bowl only a couple of years ago against a very good New England Patriots team that eventually beat them by the tight score of 32-29. Steve Smith was Delhommes favorite target again this season proving why he was one of the best receivers in the NFL. Julius Peppers the Panthers defensive end lead their fierce defense to the Super Bowl. So, as you can see, the Panthers have what it takes to get to a Super Bowl and no doubt what it takes to win one.
The Seahawks on the other hand have never been to a Super Bowl. As a matter of fact, they have never had a team that has been as good as this current Seattle squad. So, does this mean that Seattle is completely new to the realms of the playoff world? Well, not exactly. Mike Holmgren, Seattle’s head coach, won a Super Bowl with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers as their head coach against the New England Patriots in the 1996-1997 season. He knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl, but his players are yet to experience the rare treat of winning the Super Bowl. But nonetheless, I can assure you that Holmgren will have his boys ready to play football come Sunday.
John Fox is also a pretty good coach, he and his staff planned the perfect assault on Eli Manning a couple of weeks ago. That boy got beat like a gong thanks to John Fox, and he currently is planning a clandestine assault on the Panthers along with his goofy brother Peyton and their sleazy father Archie. Archie Manning is very mad this weekend thanks to two people: Bill Cowher of the Steelers and John Fox of the Panthers. But enough of Archie and his tales of woe, let’s get back the Panthers.
The Panthers just beat the Chicago Bears soundly in the divisional playoff, leaving Rex Grossman to yell blood curdling cries of horror, along with Brian Urlacher who cried like a baby who had just seen Ronald McDonald morph into Michael Jackson.
John Fox has not won a Super Bowl like Holmgren, but he has a more experienced roster when it comes to the playoffs. The only down side his team has is that they are playing on the road against a Seattle team that will be ready to make history for the city of Seattle. Plus, you know that the fans in Seattle will be crazy. It will be tough, but the game is certainly winnable for Carolina. One upside, is that Shaun Alexander is questionable for this game, but that did not make a difference for Seattle when they faced Washington on Saturday.
So, who do I pick to win? Well, I am betting my money on the Carolina Panthers to find a way to pull through here with a 20-17 win. But, I am rooting for the Seahawks.
By Ben Parker
This Sunday, on January 22, 2006, the Carolina Panthers will come to the west
coast to face the Seattle Seahawks for a chance at the NFC crown and a trip to the Motor City for Super Bowl XL. The game will be held between two teams with very different histories and backgrounds. The Seahawks, just won their first playoff game in 20 years. The Panthers, won the NFC crown 2 years ago, and have a lot of players that were on that 2003-2004 NFC Championship Carolina team. Notably Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith, and Julius Peppers. The Seahawks have a few good players up their sleeves as well, with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, and NFL MVP Shaun Alexander at running back. These two players make up the Seattle offense, and also they are the heart and soul of this team. Without these two players, Seattle would not be here playing for a shot at an NFC Championship.
Shaun Alexander was the best running back in the NFL this season by far, leading the league in touchdowns. Some will tell you Tiki Barber should have been MVP because he carried the NY Giants on his back. But, I am here to tell you that Shaun Alexander did the same for the Seahawks. Without “Slippery Shaun” as I call him, the Seahawks would not be in the NFC title game. His ability to run the football has won Seattle many games this season, and has led them to the best record in the NFC. Matt Hasselbeck has been the best QB in the NFC this season, getting my Pro-Bowl vote along with many others. His passing accuracy is very good, and he rarely throws an interception.
For the Panthers, Jake Delhomme has been a quite leader on the field. He took them to a Super Bowl only a couple of years ago against a very good New England Patriots team that eventually beat them by the tight score of 32-29. Steve Smith was Delhommes favorite target again this season proving why he was one of the best receivers in the NFL. Julius Peppers the Panthers defensive end lead their fierce defense to the Super Bowl. So, as you can see, the Panthers have what it takes to get to a Super Bowl and no doubt what it takes to win one.
The Seahawks on the other hand have never been to a Super Bowl. As a matter of fact, they have never had a team that has been as good as this current Seattle squad. So, does this mean that Seattle is completely new to the realms of the playoff world? Well, not exactly. Mike Holmgren, Seattle’s head coach, won a Super Bowl with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers as their head coach against the New England Patriots in the 1996-1997 season. He knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl, but his players are yet to experience the rare treat of winning the Super Bowl. But nonetheless, I can assure you that Holmgren will have his boys ready to play football come Sunday.
John Fox is also a pretty good coach, he and his staff planned the perfect assault on Eli Manning a couple of weeks ago. That boy got beat like a gong thanks to John Fox, and he currently is planning a clandestine assault on the Panthers along with his goofy brother Peyton and their sleazy father Archie. Archie Manning is very mad this weekend thanks to two people: Bill Cowher of the Steelers and John Fox of the Panthers. But enough of Archie and his tales of woe, let’s get back the Panthers.
The Panthers just beat the Chicago Bears soundly in the divisional playoff, leaving Rex Grossman to yell blood curdling cries of horror, along with Brian Urlacher who cried like a baby who had just seen Ronald McDonald morph into Michael Jackson.
John Fox has not won a Super Bowl like Holmgren, but he has a more experienced roster when it comes to the playoffs. The only down side his team has is that they are playing on the road against a Seattle team that will be ready to make history for the city of Seattle. Plus, you know that the fans in Seattle will be crazy. It will be tough, but the game is certainly winnable for Carolina. One upside, is that Shaun Alexander is questionable for this game, but that did not make a difference for Seattle when they faced Washington on Saturday.
So, who do I pick to win? Well, I am betting my money on the Carolina Panthers to find a way to pull through here with a 20-17 win. But, I am rooting for the Seahawks.
posted by Ben Parker at 11:28 PM
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