Seahawks' Sam Darnold Returns to Face Panthers, Aims to Boost Seattle's NFC West Title Hopes

Image Source: Internet

The Seattle Seahawks are set to face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, with quarterback Sam Darnold looking to lead his team closer to the NFC West title. Darnold, who played for the Panthers from 2021 to 2022, has been on a roll with the Seahawks, guiding them to five consecutive wins. This week, he'll face his former team, which allowed him to leave in free agency two years ago. Despite struggling in Charlotte, Darnold has revived his career in Seattle, where he's built on last year's success in Minnesota. The Seahawks can clinch the NFC West title this weekend with a win and a combination of favorable results from other teams in the division. The Panthers, meanwhile, are eyeing their first NFC South title since 2015. They can secure it with a win and a loss or tie by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is expected to play despite a strained ankle, and the team is relatively healthy heading into the game. The Seahawks have dominated the series between the two teams, winning four of the past five meetings and eight of the last 10. They've also scored at least 23 points in each of the past six games. Seattle's offense has been led by wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who's emerged as one of the league's top receivers with 104 catches and over 1,600 yards this season. The Panthers' defense will be tested by Smith-Njigba, who'll face off against cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson. The Seahawks will also be without tackle Charles Cross, who's out with an injury, while the Panthers will be without tackle D.J. Fluker. The game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. EST on CBS, with the Seahawks favored by 7 points according to BetMGM NFL Odds.