When Vikings kicker Blair Walsh shanked a short field goal attempt Sunday that would have sunk the Seahawks, many in the Carolinas groaned. Seattle, the two-time defending NFC champs and former Panthers' nemesis, had survived and advanced to this week's divisional playoff in Charlotte.
To many, the Seahawks — who have now won seven of their last eight — are the hottest team in the league. Yes, somehow even hotter than the 15-1 Panthers. But on Monday, it was hard to find someone running scared inside the Carolina locker room.
When asked to describe his initial reaction when he found out the Seahawks were coming to town, Panthers safety Kurt Coleman said:
"Great!"
Safety Roman Harper added:
"I didn't want to play anyone else."
And when it was suggested to Josh Norman that some felt the Panthers would rather play anyone other than Seattle, the cornerback was incredulous.
"Why? Why would you want anything in life that is easy? Shoot, man, if you don't go for it head on, then how can you say you are the best at anything? I think that is the way we are in our society. We want things the easy way and stuff to be given to us. We don't want to work for it. We want things to be handed to us. I don't think that's the way it should be done," Norman said.
"I think the way it has been set up is the right way. Go through it the hard way. Challenge yourself to be the best. If you can be the best, beat the best."
The Panthers were far from the best when they traveled to Seattle last January for the divisional round.
"It's better to have a date to the prom than to have no date at all," Harper told reporters after Carolina clinched the NFC South at 7-8-1.
Given a second postseason chance at the Seahawks, these Panthers look much better.
"To be honest with you, I don't think we were ready for it (last year). We were excited to be there and have a ticket to the dance," Harper said.
"(This year) we have a better-looking date because we're 15-1 and at home. This year we are looking forward to them having to come here."
The Seahawks are coming to a place where no opposing team has won since November 2014. While sweeping their home schedule this season, the Panthers outscored opponents, 33-17.
But Seattle has suddenly become unstoppable away from the Pacific Northwest. While winning their past six road games, the Seahawks' defense has allowed just one touchdown.
Seattle has also won the last three meetings at Bank of America Stadium, but that was before the series took a turn in October. The Panthers' come-from-behind win at CenturyLink Field snapped their five-game skid in the series and provided the biggest confidence booster of a historic season.
"To me, they were the elite of the NFC and going there and being able to win really helped validate who we are as a football team," coach Ron Rivera said. "We still have a long ways to go, but I think the best part about it more so than anything else is we've proven to ourselves we can do it."
And now that they have, the Panthers don't see any reason for fear. According to Norman, he even told the Seahawks after that game:
"We'll see you in the playoffs."
Three months later, as fate would have it ...
"It's ironic that we're seeing them again in the playoffs," Norman said.
"Hey, it's cool, man. Fate gives you these chances to prove yourself worthy. And as we'll see come Sunday at 1 o'clock, we're going to see who's worthy."