A meaningful Week 17 matchup returns to Charlotte, NC, for the first time in years on Sunday. The Seattle Seahawks (12-3) visit the Carolina Panthers (8-7). Both teams are coming off impactful divisional home wins in Week 16, with much still to sort out in their playoff pictures. On paper, the showdown appears one-sided. The Panthers aim to remind everyone this Sunday that football is played on grass, not on a sheet of statistics.
The Carolina Panthers Look to Stack Wins for the First Time Since October
In a slightly bizarre and definitely superstitious way, some Carolina Panthers fans may not be too upset with a loss in Week 17. That is because Carolina has alternated wins and losses every other week since Week 7. They could very likely face a “win, and you’re in” scenario in Week 18. The Panthers have put together a three-game win streak this season. Now would be the perfect time to do it again.
There is a playoff-clinching scenario for Carolina in Week 17. However, it requires some outside help. If Carolina defeats Seattle and Tampa Bay loses against Miami, the Panthers would clinch the NFC South and be postseason-bound for the first time since 2016.
Panthers’ quarterback Bryce Young has been playing high-level football over the last few weeks. He has thrown for 652 yards and six touchdowns, with zero turnover-worthy plays, according to Pro Football Focus. Young has been graded as the No. 1, No. 10, and No. 17 QB in the last few weeks using PFSN’s QBi metric.
The way he runs out is so tuff pic.twitter.com/pHM2tmj7pO
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 28, 2025
Jalen Coker has been one of Young’s most effective targets. Their connection has produced the fifth-best passer rating (126.4) for a QB to a wide receiver in the NFL this season. The 126.4 score is the twelfth-highest of any connection with a minimum of 25 targets, including tight ends and running backs.
The Panthers’ defense has played well for periods of the season and in individual games, but is still working towards consistency. The unit is allowing 22.6 points over the last three games, including back-to-back games with 20 points allowed. The loss against the Saints in Week 15 featured strong defense for three quarters, before every lug nut on every wheel came loose in the fourth.
Against the Buccaneers last week, it was nearly the opposite. The Panthers’ defense allowed just three points in the pivotal final stretch. That game was sealed with an interception from former Carolina quarterback Baker Mayfield by rookie Lathan Ransom.
Carolina still must figure out how to generate pressure against opposing quarterbacks. They rank last in the league at 25.7%. Rookie OLB Nic Scourton played a tremendous Week 16 game and will look to build on that performance. The Panthers will be without starting linebacker Trevin Wallace for the rest of the season, as he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery this week.
Seattle Seahawks Are Soaring High as One of the Best Teams in the NFL
Winners of five straight and nine of their last ten, the Seahawks are one of the most complete teams in the NFL this season. The offseason signing of free agent Sam Darnold (tenth-best PFSN QBi) has proven fruitful. Darnold has the seventh-most passing yards and the eighth-best passer rating to this point.
The Seattle offense has been efficient. The Seahawks rank third in points per game (29.5) and sixth in passing yards (238.1), and are tied for 20th in rushing yards (116.9). Darnold’s preferred target is Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the league with 1,637 receiving yards, ranks fifth in receptions (104), and shares the third-most touchdown catches (10). Seattle’s running back duo features Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
They will be without the services of starting left tackle Charles Cross, who will miss a second consecutive game while rehabbing a hamstring injury.
The Seahawks’ defense is one of the best units in the NFL, led by head coach Mike Macdonald. He deploys zone coverage on about 72% of defensive snaps. He mixes up his coverage shells between two-high and one-high safety looks much more evenly (49% MOFO, 48% MOFC). Despite sending extra defenders at a 22.2% blitz rate (25th in the league), the Seahawks have the fourth-best quarterback pressure rate (39.4%).
The defensive front is led by Leonard Williams (No. 8 via PFSN’s DTi) and Byron Murphy II (PFSN DTi No. 17-ranked player). Both have seven sacks this season. Seattle also allows the third-fewest rushing yards per game (94.1) and has given up the fewest rushes of 10+ yards (23). Rookie safety Nick Emmanwori has become a chess piece for Macdonald, moving all over the defensive alignments.
How the Carolina Panthers Can Win in Week 17
Against the aggressive and consistent Seahawks’ defense, the Panthers must stress ball security. Carolina holds a zero turnover differential going into Week 17 (tied for 14th). Seattle sits at -4 (tied for 20th). For as good as Darnold has been for his new team, he still turns the ball over, either from aggression or being fooled by defenders.
The Panthers should commit to the run, even if it starts slowly. The Seahawks’ defense thrives when forcing one-dimensional offenses into mistakes and sacks. Bryce Young will target Tetairoa McMillan as usual, but this game favors secondary weapons too. Watch for Xavier Legette to get a deep shot or two, while Coker keeps earning volume.
As mentioned earlier, the Carolina defense will need to create at least one turnover. This would give their offense more possessions and could shake Darnold’s confidence in his return to Charlotte. They do not need to make him see ghosts, but a flurry of silver helmets and black jerseys would suffice.
Ejiro Evero does not often send Jaycee Horn on shadow assignments. However, it could be wise to have Horn follow JSN in this one. The Seahawks are similarly top-heavy in their passing game to Carolina. After Smith-Njigba, the drop in production is considerable.
The Panthers’ defensive front should impose their physicality on the Seahawks’ offensive line. Seattle is sound in pass protection, but can be overpowered in the trenches. This is a good time for Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown III, and A’Shawn Robinson to showcase their size and strength.
How the Carolina Panthers Could Lose in Week 17
This is a simple one, in my opinion. If the Seattle defense pressures Young consistently and shuts down the running game of Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, it could get ugly. Starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is back in the lineup for Carolina, which is great news. His health is the biggest question, and it will be tested early and often.
Beautiful day for some football in Charlotte, NC.
45° and foggy with all sorts of playoff implications on the field.
Seahawks hunt for the #1 seed continues.
Panthers potentially securing the NFC South.Seattle at Carolina
1:00pm ET
CBSLet’s Have A Day! pic.twitter.com/lHlL5MrF7L
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 28, 2025
The Panthers’ run defense has also been vulnerable. Walker III and Charbonnet are both physical runners. Walker III has more explosive ability. On a cold, rainy day in Charlotte, the Seahawks are likely to feel at home and will lean on their rushing attack to set the pace.
Special teams is another major factor in this game for Seattle. They traded for Rashid Shaheed before the deadline, and it is paying off. Shaheed has had both a kick return TD and a punt return TD while in Seattle. His punt return TD in Week 16, with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, came as the Seahawks were trailing by two scores and completely flipped the momentum.
Week 17 Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers Prediction
Carolina has faced the NFC-leading team at two different points in the 2025 NFL season: Week 9 at Green Bay and Week 13, hosting the Los Angeles Rams. They won both games despite being underdogs. The Panthers are underdogs again for this Week 17 matchup against Seattle. I don’t think this is a pretty game and expect it to come down to a mistake or two. Give me Carolina to break the streak of alternating wins and losses.
Seahawks 17, Carolina 20.
