In the NFC championship game Sunday, there was never much doubt that the Seattle Seahawks would eventually advance to the first Super Bowl in franchise history. From the first quarter, the Seahawks thoroughly outplayed the Carolina Panthers on both sides of the ball, and forced them into uncharacteristic mistakes.
One of the keys to victory for the Seahawks was slowing Panthers receiver Steve Smith, who had been dominating throughout the NFC playoffs. But Sunday, he was held to just five catches for 55 yards, and 40 of those yards came on one play long after the game was firmly in hand. And to make matters worse, Smith fumbled the ball away at the end of the play.
Quarterback Jake Delhomme also had a horrible game, completing just 15-of-35 passes for 196 yards, and also tossing three costly interceptions. The Panthers also lost running back Nick Goings, who was filling in for the injured DeShaun Foster, early in the contest, and finished with just 36 yards on the ground. There was no indication, however, that things would have been any different had Goings not been injured. Before being knocked silly in a nasty collision with rookie middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, he had gained just two yards on five carries.
The Seahawks drew first blood less than ten minutes into the game when, after a key 28-yard completion to backup quarterback/wide receiver Seneca Wallace, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck hit tight end Jerramy Stevens down the middle for a 17-yard touchdown.
On the ensuing drive, an interception by Tatupu on a third-and-ten play quickly set the Seahawks up in scoring position again. From the Panthers' 20-yard line, Seattle advanced to the six, but the drive stalled and they settled for a 24-yard Josh Brown field goal.
The Panthers began their next drive at their own 29-yard line, and appeared to have been forced into a three-and-out by a stingy Seahawks' defense. But a holding call on cornerback Andre Dyson gave Carolina an automatic first down. However, Delhomme returned the favor by tossing one up for safety Marquand Manuel to pick off at the Panthers' 49 and return all the way to the 17-yard line.
After stuffing running back Shaun Alexander for just one yard on first down, the league MVP ripped off a 15-yarder, setting up a one-yard plunge, which he took himself on the following play. The touchdown opened up a 17-0 lead just after the game shifted to the second quarter.
With Delhomme unable to get him the ball on offense, Smith, who was double and triple covered all day, tried to get the Panthers back into the game with a 59-yard punt return. A flag was thrown on the play and it looked as though the play would be called back. But, the flag was picked up and the touchdown was allowed, cutting the score to 17-7.
From there, it went downhill for Carolina.
Seattle answered with a long drive that resulted in three points on a 39-yard Josh Brown field goal with 4:06 remaining in the first half.
And in the second half, Seattle's offensive line took control early, opening lanes for Alexander to choose from, and providing adequate pass protection. And with Carolina's defensive players on their heels, the Seahawks' offense was able to keep them off balance by pounding the run and mixing in the occasional pass, like the 20-yard TD strike from Hasselbeck to Darrell Jackson to cap their opening drive of the second half and opening a commanding 27-7 lead.
Each team added another touchdown during garbage time, but the Panthers really never threatened to get back in this game in the second half.
Alexander put together an MVP-type performance with 132 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Hasselbeck also put together a fine performance, completing 20-of-28 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns.
The Panthers were held to just 1-of-9 on third down conversions, and stumbled to just 212 total yards.
