Panthers set to battle Seahawks
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Two years ago in the NFC championship game, the pass-dominated Carolina Panthers met the run-oriented Seattle Seahawks in a matchup of what many believed were two emerging powers.

As the teams prepare to meet Sunday for the first time since, so much has changed.

The Seahawks (9-4) now focus on the pass, but are still the class of the NFC West. The Panthers (5-8) can't run, pass or win in a two-year free fall that has put coach John Fox squarely on the hot seat.

''They've definitely done better than us since then,'' Panthers tackle Jordan Gross. ''They've been a lot more consistent.''

With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck having a career year and the Patrick Kerneyled defense coming on, Seattle has weapons that could make life miserable for the Panthers, who have lost six of seven and have been awful at home.

The Seahawks wrapped up their fourth straight division title last week by beating Arizona for their fifth straight win. While they trail Green Bay (11-2) by two games with three left in the race for a first-round bye in the playoffs, coach Mike Holmgren doesn't plan to rest starters over the final three weeks.

Bad news for the struggling Panthers.

''I think the regular-season games, every single one of them, are very important,'' Holmgren said. ''The guys' feeling after a win and how you use that in the next week, I don't think it can be discounted."