Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks: Penalties, Seattle run game sink Panthers out west

The Carolina Panthers’ new era is off to a stumbling start, with the team still searching for its first victory of the 2023 season.

Seattle wore down the Panthers on a rainy Sunday, winning 37-27 on the strength of three second-half touchdowns and five field goals by placekicker Jason Myers. The Panthers dropped to 0-3.

Carolina backup quarterback Andy Dalton played well, throwing for 361 yards. But the Panthers were undone by the famous Seattle crowd noise, false-starting eight times (left tackle Ickey Ekwonu had four of those).

The Panthers entered the fourth quarter down 22-13 after Seattle outscored Carolina 10-0 in the third quarter. Carolina running back Miles Sanders scored on a 1-yard run, slicing Seattle’s lead to 22-20. But the patched-up Panthers defense then immediately gave up a Seattle TD, and the game was never within one possession again.

Because rookie quarterback Bryce Young missed the game as expected due to an ankle injury, Dalton, the 35-year-old veteran backup, made his 163rd career NFL start.

Dalton had several big plays in the game, including what was easily the biggest of Carolina’s season — a 47-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DJ Chark in the second quarter.

In the first half, that TD was the only one scored. The first half otherwise featured six field goals, as Myers and Carolina’s Eddy Piñeiro took turns making three-pointers after their respective offenses stalled. The Panthers led 13-12 at halftime.

STAT LEADERS

▪ Carolina QB Andy Dalton, replacing injured starter Bryce Young, threw a career-high 58 passes. He completed 34 for 361 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked three times. Carolina only ran the ball 14 times for 44 yards. And Panthers receiver Adam Thielen caught 11 passes for 145 yards and a score and DJ Chark Jr. had four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

▪ On defense, Carolina linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill had 10 tackles, including seven solos, and Vonn Bell had eight, all solos. Brian Burns had a sack and three tackles for a loss, and Deion Jones had an interception.

▪ Seattle QB Geno Smith was 23-for-36 for 296 yards and a touchdown, but the Seattle run game was devastating. The Seahawks ran 33 times for 146 yards, and receiver DK Metcalf caught six passes for 112 yards.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Carolina returns home next week to host Thielen’s old team, the Vikings. Kickoff is Sunday at 1 p.m.

For additional coverage of Sunday’s game in Seattle, visit charlotteobserver.com.

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Game Updates

SEAHAWKS 37, PANTHERS 27: DALTON TOSSES SECOND TD PASS

7:35 p.m.: Down 17 points, Carolina QB Andy Dalton finished off a drive with a pretty pass to Adam Thielen. Carolina closed to 37-27 with 1:40 left. Dalton completed his 34th pass in a career-high 58 attempts. After the score, Seattle recovered the onside kick attempt.

SEATTLE SACK, PENALTIES, END PANTHERS HOPES’

7:22 p.m.: The Panthers were stopped on downs. When Seattle got the ball back, on a short field, the Seahawks pushed Carolina back, despite having a patched up offensive line, and ran the ball inside the 10, where Geno Smith hit undrafted free agent Jake Bobo with a put-away score. Seattle led 37-20 with 4:17 to play after a two-point pass conversion from Smith to Tyler Lockett.

7:15 p.m.: The Panthers, down nine, had fourth and 2 at their 39. Miles Sanders caught a first down pass, but an illegal shift on Carolina, the team’s 13th penalty of the game, nullified the play. On fourth and 7, in a steady downpour of rain, Dalton was sacked.

7:05 p.m.: Down 9, Carolina needed points, and on third-and-2, Dalton scrambled for nine yards to Seattle 46. Carolina seemed on its way to getting some. But a series of penalties, false starts on the offensive line, stalled the drive. With 8 minutes left, Carolina had 12 penalties for 77 yards. But the Panthers defense did get a stop and forced a punt. Carolina got the ball back.

SEAHAWKS 29, PANTHERS 20: SEATTLE RUN GAME DOMINATES BIG DRIVE

6:54 p.m.: Just when Carolina got back into the game, Seattle had a confident 69-yard drive, heavy on the run, that finished with a 7-yard run from Kenneth Walker. He was untouched. It was second touchdown of the game.

SEAHAWKS 22, PANTHERS 20: PANTHERS FINISH DRIVE WITH 6

6:46 p.m.: Miles Sanders got the Panthers to within one score on the first play of the fourth quarter, scoring on a right side run on first and goal at the 1.

Third Quarter Recap

PANTHERS END THIRD QUARTER NEAR END ZONE

Down nine points, Carolina QB Andy Dalton found Adam Thielen with a big pass on third down to get Carolina into scoring position. But back-to-back false start penalties on the Panthers pushed Carolina back to 41, first-and-20. After a pass to Tommy Tremble, Carolina had third-and-5 at the 26. Dalton hit Thielen with a short and pass and Thielen ran to the 1 to end the third quarter

SEAHAWKS 22, PANTHERS 13: SEATTLE FINALLY FINDS END ZONE

6:30 p.m.: After a big penalty pushed them back, Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker got behind the Panthers defense for a 36-yard gain. That got Seattle, ahead 15-13, to the Panthers’ 16. On third-and-10 at the 16, Seahawks QB Geno Smith threw a 12-yard pass to Noah Fant. Later, on third and goal at the 1, Walker scored the touchdown. After kicking five field goals, Seattle finally crossed the Carolina goal line with an 8-play, 55-yard drive.

Seattle lineman Anthony Bradford rolled his ankle on the play and had to be helped off.

6:20 p.m.: Down by 3, DJ Chark, who caught a first half scoring pass, made a pretty over-the-shoulder catch on the sideline to get Carolina into Seattle territory. On third-and-11 at the 38, QB Andy Dalton missed Miles Sanders on a crossing route. Sanders was open, but the pass was just in front of him. Eddy Piñeiro missed a 55-yard field goal attempt, one yard longer than his career long. Seattle kept its 2-point lead.

SEAHAWKS 15, PANTHERS 13: SEATTLE GETS ANOTHER LONG DRIVE, FG

6:08 p.m.: After a long Seattle drive, Carolina’s Justin Houston got a free run at the quarterback on third down and forced a Geno Smith incompletion. Jason Myers’ fifth field goal of the game gave Seattle a 15-13 lead.

PANTHERS LB FRANKIE LUVU OUT OF THE GAME

Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu is not in the game in the third quarter. He has been a strong run defender this season and with Shaq Thompson already out, it would be a big blow for Carolina if Luvu is out for any length of time.

6:03 p.m.: The Panthers will be without rookie wide receiver Jonathan Mingo for the second half. He is out with a concussion. That means more Terrace Marshall Jr., who has been an afterthought in this offense. Xavier Woods (hamstring) has been downgraded to out. Frankie Luvu (hip) is questionable.

Panthers lead at halftime

At halftime, Carolina leads 13-12.

Carolina QB Andy Dalton is 14-of-22 for 158 yards and a touchdown. Miles Sanders has rushed for 23 yards on six carries. The Panthers have run nine times for 31 yards.

Seattle QB Geno Smith is 11-for-23 for 153 yards and the Seahawks have rushed for 72 yards on 12 carries, led by Kenneth Walker’s eight carries for 60 yards. Seattle was just 1-of-8 on third down.

Second Quarter Recap

PANTHERS 13, SEAHAWKS 12: PANTHERS D AGAIN TIGHTENS IN RED ZONE

5:38 p.m.: Seattle made a strong drive near the end of the first half with Geno Smith making a couple nice throws, including finding star DK Metcalf to get Seattle to the Panthers’ 19. After a pair of incomplete passes, Seattle had third and 10 with 55 seconds left. Smith was pressured by Brian Burns and Justin Houston and didn’t have a real chance for a completion. Jason Myers’ made his fourth field goal of the game, from 37 yards out.

PANTHERS 13, SEAHAWKS 9: PANTHERS GET TURNOVER, EXTEND LEAD

5:23 p.m.: Right after the Panthers took the lead, Deion Jones got the 13th interception of his career and gave Carolina the ball at the Seahawks’ 28. Jones was once a Pro Bowler for the Falcons. The Panthers did not do much on offense after that and Eddy Piñeiro made a 44-yard field goal to extend the lead with 2:39 left in the first half.

PANTHERS 10, SEAHAWKS 9: BIG PASS GIVE CAROLINA THE LEAD

5:20 p.m.: After Miles Sanders run got the Panthers into Seattle territory, Andy Dalton hit DJ Chark Jr. with a 47-yard pass. Chark caught the ball at the 20 and slid past a Seattle defensive back to give Carolina back the lead. The play came on a third and long after back-to-back motion penalties.

PANTHERS STARTING RB MILES SANDERS DOWN WITH INJURY

5:14 p.m.: a 15-yard run from Miles Sanders, after a pretty juke on Seattle’s Jordyn Brooks, got the Panthers into Seattle territory. But after a gang-tackle, Sanders did not get up. He left the field and got oxygen on the sideline. It appeared he had the wind knocked out of him. Sanders did return to the game.

SEAHAWKS 9, PANTHERS 3: PANTHERS DEFENSE BENDS BUT STIFFENS IN RED ZONE

5:07 p.m.: Kenneth Walker’s big reverse field run got Seattle back into the red zone. Walker ran for 36 yards, as Seattle’s ground game began to pay dividends. Later on the drive, Carolina’s Donte Jackson nearly intercepted a Geno Smith pass in the end zone intended for Seattle’s Tyler Lockett. On third and 9 at the 15, Sam Franklin Jr. broke up a pass intended for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. And that set up Jason Myers’ third field goal of the game. He converted from 33 yards for a six-point lead.

4:59 p.m.: Seattle cornerback Tre Brown, a third-year player out of Oklahoma, went down on the field with an apparent head injury. TV announcers said Brown, 26, walked off under his power. Michael Jackson stepped in for Brown, who put into concussion protocol.

SEAHAWKS 6, PANTHERS 3: BURNS SACK FORCES FIELD GOAL

4:55 p.m.: Seattle had a nice drive going, getting into the red zone, but a penalty and a big Brian Burns sack pushed the Seahawks back and they settled for a 35-yard field goal from Jason Myers.

ANOTHER PANTHERS INJURY, SAFETY WOODS WALKS OFF

4:50 p.m.: After Seattle’s defensive line pressured Carolina into punting, another big Geno Smith to DK Metcalf pass, where he received excellent pass protection, got the Seahawks into the red zone. Panthers safety Xavier Woods was taken off the field during the drive and replaced by Sam Franklin Jr. Seahawks lineman Damien Lewis (hand) was also injured on the same drive. He was listed as questionable to return.

First Quarter/Pregame Recap

PANTHERS 3, SEAHAWKS 3: FOURTH-DOWN CONVERSION LEADS TO POINTS

4:47 p.m.: Panthers cornerback C.J. Henderson has an ankle injury. His return is questionable. He’s not out there during Seattle’s current series. Henderson was starting because Carolina’s original starter was Jaycee Horn, who is also hurt.

PANTHERS 3-0, PENALTIES STALL EARLY CAROLINA DRIVE

4:19 p.m.: Carolina QB Andy Dalton, replacing normal starter Bryce Young, looked sharp on his first drive, which was aided by a roughing the passer penalty. The drive stalled with penalties but Eddy Piñeiro hit a 47-yard field goal with 7:47 left in the first quarter. Dalton, getting the ball out fast, was 5-of-6 for 45 yards on the drive.

4:13 p.m.: Andy Dalton’s second pass of the game was an incredible throw that went for 23 yards to Adam Thielen. Plus, Dalton was roughed on the play, for a total gain of 38 yards. Dalton’s 23-yard completion was the longest of the season for the Panthers (Young had a 22-yarder last week).

3:52 p.m.: The Seahawks have brought out some pretty famous alums for this one. They are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Super Bowl-winning team that demolished Denver, 43-8, in the 48th Super Bowl.

3:40 p.m.: A big day coming for Brian Burns? Seattle’s offensive line is banged up to the point that neither of the Seahawks’ starting offensive tackles are available today. That could be good news for Burns and fellow edge rusher Justin Houston, who is also active today.

2:35 p.m.: Young, as expected, leads the list of Panthers’ inactives. Seattle will have wide receiver DK Metcalf available — he had been listed as questionable. For a full report on the inactives, click here.

2:25 p.m.: While Seattle is traditionally known for its rain and Saturday was drizzly, the weather looks like it will be good for the game. Temperatures are forecast to be in the low 60s, with only about a 15% chance of rain. Young is out on the field with his teammates, in athletic gear. Young made the trip, but won’t play and won’t be in uniform. Jake Luton is the backup for Dalton today; let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

PHOTOS: Panthers at Seahawks