CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Panthers coach Ron Rivera says the Seahawks are starting to feel a little like a division opponent.
The teams meet today for the sixth time in four years and for the second straight season in the NFC division round. Seattle has won four of the previous five including a 31-17 playoff victory last year at home.
But this time it's a little different.
Not only is today's game in Charlotte, where the top-seeded Panthers (15-1) have won 11 straight, but the Seahawks face a Carolina team that's more confident and battled-tested.
Some of that stems from Carolina's 27-23 win over the two-time defending NFC champions in Week 6 when Cam Newton hit tight end Greg Olsen for a 26-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left.