Stacy Rost: 3 numbers that matter for Seahawks vs Panthers

The Seattle Seahawks are in the driver’s seat for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, with the ability to clinch the top spot and a bye if they win out.

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That won’t come easy. Both Seattle and their Week 17 opponent, the Carolina Panthers, will be scratching and clawing their way through the final two weeks. The Panthers are are coming off a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and in the driver’s seat for the NFC South title for the first time in 10 years.

Here are your numbers that matter for Week 17.

Your first number that matters is… 12

No, it’s not about raucous Seahawks fans. This is instead the number of game-winning drives in Bryce Young’s career, the most since 2023.

Were the Seahawks not playing Young this weekend, he’d be an easy player to root for. Sure, he’s a No. 1 overall pick with millions in the bank, but he’s also an undersized passer who was unceremoniously benched after an 0-2 start last season.

I don’t know how many people are sold on Young’s resurgent 2025, but he’s accomplished a few notable things so far. His 448-yard, three-touchdown game in an overtime win over the Falcons broke Cam Newton’s franchise record for passing yards in a single game.

The Panthers’ win this past Sunday brought a few more highlights. I mean look at this throw:

Perfection

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/vy13eMc7Gh

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 21, 2025

Or him escaping pressure here:

😲 Bryce Young scrambles and finds Ja'Tavion Sanders for the score!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/jqqpwXEiCE

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 21, 2025

He’s still a young player struggling with consistency. The week before that Falcons game, Young’s 124-yard day against the Saints saw a horribly underthrown ball intercepted.

But you can’t count him out.

Your second number that matters is… 3

Let’s talk about what worked for Carolina against Los Angeles back in Week 13.

The Rams are a very good team, and the Panthers beat them. Why? Mostly these two reasons: they won the turnover battle and took advantage of a bad day from Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.

NFL standings

The Panthers recorded three takeaways, including a pick-six, and didn’t turn the ball over, one of just three times this season they’ve had a zero-turnover game. Mike Jackson’s pick-six was the only score off a turnover; Carolina punted following a second interception and only needed to gain a first down after recovering a fumble to ice the game. That’s the difference they needed in a three-point contest.

Mike Jackson intercepts Matthew Stafford for a Pick-6!

LARvsCAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/J2yeGsyNZK

— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2025

They also had key fourth-down conversions and scored two long touchdowns on Forbes. Of note with this point: The Rams defense has given up the third-most yards to wide receivers this season (2,388) compared to Seattle giving up the 10th least (1,807). LA’s defense is great — the Seahawks got a look at it twice this season — but Seattle’s has fewer question marks in the defensive backfield and a defensive line that’s generated more pressures rushing four.

Your third number that matters is… 25

The Panthers are the second-best rushing team at home this year, averaging 145 yards on the ground per game compared to 122 on the road.

Seattle is the third-best rushing defense in the league and one of five teams holding opponents to under 100 rushing yards per game. They had some uncharacteristic struggles there against the Rams, allowing more than 120 for the first time since Week 10. But for a 24th consecutive game they didn’t allow a 100-yard rusher.

If they keep at it Sunday, it’ll be a franchise-record 25 consecutive games.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Seattle Seahawks Injury Report: 2 DNP, in doubt for Sunday
• Where Seattle Seahawks’ No. 1 seed odds stand after Week 16
• Schlereth believes Seahawks have two strong candidates for big awards
• Panthers CB has choice words about his trade from Seattle Seahawks
• Seahawks star WR JSN says any limitation put on him ‘is not true

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