Panthers vs. Seahawks 2016 picks and predictions: Seattle heavy favorite to bounce back

It’s fair to say that this week’s Sunday Night Fooball matchup is not the blockbuster NBC had in mind when it chose the game in the offseason. The Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers, Russell Wilson vs. Cam Newton, has significantly lower stakes with the Panthers underachieving all year.

Carolina fell to 4-7 last week, with Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders likely driving the final nail into their season. Injuries have been just too much for the Panthers to bear, the most important being Luke Kuechly suffering a serious concussion that will keep him out multiple games. The offensive line was also hit hard -- star center Ryan Kalil and his backup Gino Gradkowski are out for the year.

These injury problems might have been alleviated if Cam Newton was still playing up to his MVP form. Unfortunately, Newton is also struggling this season, with a career-low 55.8 completion percentage and just 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He’s been getting hammered all year behind a makeshift offensive line and it looks like the hits are taking their toll. It’s all a huge letdown for a team just one year removed from 15-1 and a Super Bowl appearance.

The Seahawks are also struggling with key injuries, but they’re in a much better spot at 7-3-1. However, they’re coming off a disappointing performance in Florida, where the offense never got off the bus in a 14-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Playing behind an offensive line also shredded by injuries, Wilson was downright dreadful last week. He completed just 17 of 33 passes for 151 yards and two interceptions, often reduced to running for his life with defenders instantly getting in his face. It was a head-scratching performance for a QB who usually excels at elevating his offense, but the running game did Wilson no favors with Thomas Rawls getting just 38 yards on 12 carries.

The good news is that the defense still played well despite missing Earl Thomas and Michael Bennett, and both players have a chance to return this week. With the Panthers in disarray, Seattle is in a good position to bounce back and continue its quest for a first-round bye.

Many experts expect them to do just that. The Seahawks are a unanimous pick among the ESPN panel and a 7-1 favorite at CBS Sports. They’re also a unanimous pick here at SB Nation, with all eight writers and the OddsShark computer raking Seattle.