Keith Brooks and Carmichael Dave Show - January 8th, 2015
Watch CBS News
Seattle must make the most of their home-field advantage against the Panthers.
The Carolina Panthers know they have a hard test ahead of them in the Seattle Seahawks, but facing them at CenturyLink Field will make it even tougher. To prepare for one of the loudest places on earth, they amped up the sound at practice.
Baltimore's defense is just as tough as ever, but it now has a dangerous offense to go with it.
The Carolina Panthers have dealt with a whole host of injuries over the course of the season. Now, they're in the postseason and looking at very few injuries for the Wild Card Weekend game against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Green Bay Packers do not have many holes in their game as they enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. However, one is their blocking in the kicking game. They allowed more combined blocked field goals, extra point attempts and punts than they had in the previous five seasons combined.
The Carolina Players were lucky to make the playoffs with a record of 7-8-1, but they won the NFC South and they are there. Now, if they defeat the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card round, then more than Thomas Davis will know what it's like to notch a playoff victory as a Panther.
The Green Bay Packers do not have to play this Sunday. That is a good thing as quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be able to get some extra rest before the Packers begin their run toward the Super Bowl. They will host one of three teams in the Divisional Round. Their opponent will be determined by the outcome of the Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys game.
The Saints took control of the NFC South with a 28-10 victory over the Panthers last night, their first win in Carolina since 2011. New Orleans enters a three-game home stretch with a 4-4 record, while Carolina (3-5-1), which only has one win in its last seven games, travels to Philadelphia in 10 days.
The Saints are coming off their best game of the year after hammering Green Bay 44-23. However, they have not won a road game this year. The Panthers are hoping to continue that trend, and they will be bringing back a familiar face in running back DeAngelo Williams.
The Saints and Panthers are both 3-4 and yet tied atop the NFC South. New Orleans has an extremely quick turnaround after playing on Sunday night.
The 0-7 Oakland Raiders travel to Seattle this weekend to take on the defending Super Bowl champions. And while the 4-3 Seahawks have already lost as many games as they did all of last year, they still are an opponent never to be taken lightly on their home field. Of course, the winless Silver & Black can't take any team lightly these days as they look to snap a 13-game losing streak dating back to last season.
Trailing by just three points in the fourth quarter, the Oakland Raiders fumbled twice and saw their chance to win the game against the Cleveland Browns on the road disappear quickly. With the 23-13 loss, the Silver & Black drop to 0-7 on the 2014 season—and it may be awhile before they have a decent chance to win another game.
