Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Monday

It's always easier to start a new week after a win.

Video: Carolina Panthers Cam Newton reacts to loss vs. Seattle Seahawks | CharlotteObserver.com
Cam Newton completed 12-of-29 passes for just 140 yards and ran for just 42 yards in the Carolina Panthers' 16-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Newton addressed the media after the game.

Carolina Panthers can’t close 2nd game in a row | CharlotteObserver.com
After wideout Louis Murphy was stopped short of the goal line on third-and-goal, Chudzinski called a roll-out play for Newton with the option for him to run or throw. Olsen was the primary target. But when a Seattle safety covered Olsen, Newton tried to throw back to Hartsock, the trail receiver. It never got there. "I didn’t see nothing (with the first read). So I decided to look back, and Ben Hartsock was wide open. And I just failed to throw it to him, give him an accurate throw," Newton said. "So that comes on me. I pride myself on being very prepared and being able to do things when my number is called. My number was called right there and I didn’t get the job done. I think that’s shame on me."

Hawks win meant more - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
All wins count the same in the record books but they are not all created equal. Years from now, beating a (now) 1-4 Panthers team won't be remembered for the Seahawks overcoming long odds. It'll be a footnote – a game they were supposed to win over an inferior opponent with a mediocre defense. But make no mistakes. This was a huge win.

Instant reaction: Seahawks dominate, still stressful " Seahawks Draft Blog
The Seahawks dominated Carolina in every single aspect but the scoreline today. A 16-12 finish doesn’t fairly represent just how comprehensive this victory was, but the team ensured everyone had the usual Sunday headache with a series of errors and penalties. The first half brought back memories of the Green Bay game in week three – a completely one sided affair with the defense shutting down the opposition. Yet somehow the score was 6-3 at half time and it was all down to the teams greatest enemy right now – indiscipline.

Week six review: Geno Smith makes a case " Seahawks Draft Blog
Geno Smith’s 656 yard, eight score performance against Baylor last week was a Heisman statement. This week’s challenge against a much stronger Texas defense was a chance to make an ever bigger statement for his draft stock. He passed the test. Smith threw for four touchdowns, added 268 yards and now boasts a stat line including 25 total touchdowns, zero interceptions and 1996 yards. In five games. There are decent starting quarterbacks in college football who would call that a season.

Win probability and Seahawks' late stand - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The decision to go for it instead of kicking the field goal was one worth revisiting. Dean Oliver, head of ESPN's analytics department, has passed along the following analysis of the play, based on ESPN's model calculating win probability: "Carolina last week played it cautious last week on fourth-and-1 to close out Atlanta in what was a bad decision, but this one is about neutral. Going for it at the goal line is hard to accomplish -- only about 32 percent in similar situations. So the win percentage of going for it is about 30 percent. Kicking a field goal would put them within another field goal of tying, so there is some benefit to kicking, but the overall win percentage is about 28 percent. In both cases, the chance of winning is about three in 10."

Notes on QBs Russell Wilson, Cam Newton - NFC West Blog - ESPN
I wanted to pass along notes on the Seattle Seahawks' 16-12 victory over Carolina, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information: Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson completed all 10 pass attempts for 141 yards and a touchdown when targeting receivers in the middle of the field, defined as between the yard-line numbers. He had completed 30 of 45 such passes for 282 yards with one score, three interceptions and a 63.4 NFL passer rating on those throws previously this season.

Wrap-up: Seahawks 16, Panthers 12 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
What it means: The Seahawks showed they could win a road game with only sporadic offensive production as long as their defense is going to dominate the way it often has this season. Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson completed 12 of his first 13 passes and finished strong after two third-quarter interceptions renewed questions about his suitability as the Seahawks' starter. Seattle improved to 3-2, giving the NFC West four teams with a winning record following Week 5. That's a first since the NFL realigned into eight divisions for the 2002 season. The way this game turned out put on hold questions about whether Wilson should remain the starter.

Seahawks.com Blog | Game at a glance: Seahaws 16, Panthers 12
The Seahawks held the Panthers without a touchdown – running their streak to eight consecutive quarters – and to only 190 yards. They also limited them to two conversions in 11 third-down situations – or 18 percent, for a unit that had been allowing opponents to convert at a 43-percent rate in its first four games; and 75 percent on third-and-8 or longer. "It was a great day for our defense," end Chris Clemons said. "Everybody played exactly the way they were supposed to play today."

Press Conference: Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll speaks following the team's third win of the season, and first on the road.

Press Conference: Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson speaks following a 16-12 win over the Panthers.

Seahawks top Panthers 16-12 - Seahawks News - MyNorthwest.com
"It wasn't easy; it might have looked like it was, but it wasn't easy because of all the stuff they do," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "And they tried all their options and stuff, and we were able to stay in sync with it, so it's a fantastic job defensively. "Nothing can express it more than standing up on the goal line down there and finishing. That was awesome. It's what defensive players and coaches live for – those challenges and opportunities – and the guys came through in a big way."

710 ESPN Seattle Features - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com
Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner talks about his key forced fumble and how Seattle was able to stop quarterback Cam Newton and the Panthers' option offense.

710 ESPN Seattle Features - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com
Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane talks about keeping Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in check during Seattle's 16-12 win over Carolina.

710 ESPN Seattle Features - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner talks about how Seattle was able to stop Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and Carolina's option offense during Seattle's 16-12 win.

710 ESPN Seattle Features - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com
Receiver Sidney Rice talks about the improvements in the Seahawks' passing game during their 16-12 win over Carolina.

710 ESPN Seattle Features - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com
Cornerback Richard Sherman says he got under the skin of Panthers receiver Steve Smith during Seattle's 16-12 win over Carolina. He also says the Seahawks have the best cornerbacks and the best secondary in the NFL.

710 ESPN Seattle Features - Podcasts - MyNorthwest.com
Receiver Golden Tate talks about why the Seahawks' offense was better on third down during their 16-12 win over Carolina.

Two-minute drill: Seahawks 16, Panthers 12 | Seahawks Blog | The Seattle Times
Players of the game Cornerback Brandon Browner had six tackles, tied for most on the team, but it was his forced fumble and recovery with 2:37 left in the third quarter that turned the momentum of this game. Linebacker Bobby Wagner had a sack and a half, but he was also a key to Seattle's ability to defend Carolina's option rushing offense. A rookie, Wagner stayed on the field in passing situations with the nickel defense for the first time this season and finished with six tackles.

Pete Carroll, Seahawks post-game reaction to 16-12 victory | Seahawks Blog | The Seattle Times
Carroll on quarterback Russell Wilson: "I thought he played fantastic today. I thought he played a fantastic game. We missed the 56-yard frickin' bomb, you know, right off the bat. We get that one called back. He did everything well. He threw one ball on a back hip. Everything else was dead on the money all day long. Third-down effort was excellent. Execution was great. Sidney and the guys getting open was great, but he delivered and came through when all of the scrutiny and all of the attention and the focus was on that aspect of our game, and we dumped it on him all week long, and he came through. Again, he fixed something that we challenged him to fix. I thought he was big-time."

Russell Wilson on the critics: "I use it as fire." | Seahawks Insider
"I use it as fire," Wilson said about the critics. "I ignore the noise all the time, but at the same time, I know that I have to get better. I’m a self motivator. That’s the way I’ve always been. "I trust in what I’m doing. And I trust the steps that I’m taking every single day to get there early, and to watch tons of film and take tons of notes – all that attention to detail it takes to be good at what you do. I can never let that waver."

Seahawks vs. Panthers: Final Grades and Analysis for Seattle | Bleacher Report
The Seahawks and Panthers have completed a hard fought and somewhat grueling game this Sunday afternoon. It wasn't pretty but the Seahawks escaped with a 16-12 victory in a must win road game.

Seattle Seahawks Edge Carolina Panthers 16-12 - 12th Man Rising - A Seattle Seahawks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.
This was a much needed win for the Seahawks. They needed a road win in the first half of the season if they were going to challenge for a playoff birth, and they finally got one. It took a gargantuan effort by the defense to do so, as the offense remains a major liability, but a win is a win. I’ll take it.

Bruce Irvin, Seattle Seahawks stymie Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers - NFL.com
"When you know what guys are doing and you still can't beat them, they're just good at what they do," said Newton, last year's No. 1 overall draft pick. "Let's call a cat a cat and a dog a dog. They're a great defense. We knew what we they were going to do before the game even started."

San Francisco 49ers set new offensive mark in blowout win over Buffalo Bills - NFL.com
San Francisco also became the first team in NFL history with 300 yards passing and 300 yards rushing. "Very cool," Smith said. "When you think of the 49ers, you think of great offense."

NFL Sunday notes: Luck, Colts stun the Packers | National Football Post
Patriots’ balance on offense: Wes Welker is going to see the ball if Tom Brady targets him. That’s exactly how this system works in New England with the route combinations inside of the numbers and Welker's ability to work underneath. But let’s focus on what the Patriots are doing on the ground. We saw it last week in the win over Buffalo and again on Sunday in the 31-21 victory vs. the Broncos. New England rushed for 251-yards with Stevan Ridley racking up 151 and a TD. A balanced offense takes some pressure off of Brady and also gives him the exact matchups he wants with play action and 8-Man fronts. That’s tough to stop.

NFP Sunday Blitz | National Football Post
Matt Hasselbeck couldn’t save the Titans last week, but that doesn’t mean he won’t give them a shot in the arm in the absence of Jake Locker. The word from the locker room is the Titans still believe the 37-year old Hasselbeck can help them win games for a short stretch. Locker had outplayed Hasselbeck in camp and clearly is the better option over a long season, but the belief in Tennessee is Hasselbeck can get the Titans through a stretch of time.

Robert Griffin, Matt Cassel headline Week 5′s injury roundup | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin exited Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons with a concussion after taking a brutal (but 100 percent clean) hit from linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Initially, the Redskins said that Griffin had been "shaken up" and was questionable to return, which Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports will prompt an inquiry from the league office as teams are required to disclose "accurate and timely injury information" during the game.

Eras favor Unitas, but defensive complexities give Brees the historical nod | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
In 1960, the year that Johnny Unitas completed his streak of 47 straight games with a touchdown pass, #19 also led the league in touchdown passes ... with 25. In 2011, the man who led the league on passing touchdowns was Drew Brees, with 46, and Brees had 25 by Week 11. This is one of many reasons you'll hear people say that while Brees' 48-game touchdown streak, which he established against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night, is not on the same level as the mark Unitas set.