Seattle Seahawks: 3 Bold predictions vs. Panthers, Week 15
By Samuel Teets
1. Teams combine for 300 rushing yards
The Panthers have the fourth-worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 139.2 yards per game. That’s a terrible matchup against Seattle’s third-ranked rushing offense, which produces 140.8 yards per game. With Wilson and Tyler Lockett struggling in recent weeks, it might be time for Seattle to go back to the ground and pound formula.
The Seahawks lost some of their punch when Rashaad Penny went down with torn ACL, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, early in Week 14. Not that an ACL injury is ever good, but this one came at a particularly unfortunate time. Penny found his stride in Weeks 12 and 13, amassing 203 rushing yards and three total touchdowns during those games. He will miss the rest of the season.
The Panthers don’t have a top-ten rushing attack, but the team’s ground game does rank in the top half of the NFL. Behind Christian McCaffrey‘s monster season, the Panthers rush for 118.9 yards per game. With Allen throwing more interceptions than touchdowns in his last seven games, Carolina should lean on the ground game more toward the end of the season.
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In 2018, Chris Carson and McCaffrey finished fifth and sixth respectively in rushing yards. While McCaffrey’s standing in the NFL has grown since then, they are still both extremely talented workhorses. It will be a clash worth watching.