Seahawks vs. Panthers at a glance

SERIES HISTORY

Sunday’s game is the 10th meeting all-time between the Seahawks and Panthers — eight in the regular season and two in the playoffs. Seattle has won seven of the previous nine, including the past five, and both postseason meetings. The Seahawks beat Carolina twice last season, winning 13-9 in Charlotte during the regular season, then prevailing 31-17 at home in the playoffs. Seattle played at Carolina in each of the previous three regular seasons, winning all three but never by more than five points.

KEY MATCHUP

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson vs. Panthers CB Josh Norman

Norman has put himself into the conversation for being among the NFL’s elite cornerbacks. The fourth-year player out of Costal Carolina has four interceptions, which leads the league, and he’s returned two of those for touchdowns. He was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September, then followed that up by being named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week the first week of October. He even had the audacity to prepare a touchdown celebration in anticipation of a pick-six against Tampa Bay rookie QB Jameis Winston two weeks ago, which he promptly accomplished the fist time Winston threw the ball his direction. To say Norman is playing well would be an understatement.

“The thing that he’s done in the last season-and-a-half, or going through half of last year, he’s really played within the confines of what we’re trying to do defensively,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “He’s grasped those concepts and done a very nice job. He’s really, I think, at the point where you’d hope a guy with his ability and skill set would be, and he’s really taking it to another level right now, which is a lot of fun to watch.”

But Russell Wilson is not Jameis Winston. Winston already has thrown seven interceptions this season. That’s the same number Wilson threw through the entirety of last season. Indeed, Wilson has never tossed more than 10 picks in any season. He was intercepted last week by Cincinnati, but that was on a tipped ball, and Wilson was pick-free the previous two weeks. Suffice it to say Wilson won’t be as easily baited as Winston.

“Obviously Josh Norman has been playing great football,” Wilson said. “He’s a guy I know personally pretty well, I trained with him. … They have a great defense, guys who can really make a lot of plays. Obviously Peanut Tillman is there on the other side, I have a lot of respect for him, he played so many unbelievable years in Chicago and he’s showing up for the Panthers right now, too. It’s going to be a challenge across the board.”

KEY NUMBER

41-28. The combined score of the three regular-season meetings between Seattle and Carolina the past three years, all won by the Seahawks. It’s a score that seems more like a single-game score than the combination of three games, and it suggests a low-scoring affair may be in store Sunday.

IMPORTANT INJURIES

Seahawks — Though No. 1 RB Marshawn Lynch (hamstring) is listed as questionable, he’s expected to play after missing the past two games. There’s more doubt about LB Bobby Wagner (pectoral), Seattle’s defensive captain, as he’s considered a game-time decision. CB Marcus Burley (thumb) remains out, and the Seahawks may be thin on the defensive line with DT Jordan Hill (quadriceps) and DE Frank Clark (hamstring) both listed as doubtful.

Panthers — The most significant injury news for Carolina is that All-Pro LB Luke Kuechly (concussion) is expected back after missing the past three games. The Panthers will be without DE Jared Allen (back), who played a game at CenturyLink Field earlier in the season when he was with Chicago before being traded to Carolina.

BREAK IT DOWN

The Seahawks will win if they …

Finish. It’s Seahawks coach Pete Carroll’s mantra, and it just hasn’t happened this season. Seattle has led in the fourth quarter in all five of its games, but lost three of those and came a foot and a missed call away from potentially dropping a fourth. The Seahawks need to get that finish back in their game.

Get TE Jimmy Graham involved. Graham has had two decent games and three duds with Seattle, and last week he wasn’t even targeted while the Seahawks were stuck in the mud in the fourth quarter en route to blowing a 17-point lead against Cincinnati. Seattle has to figure out a way to take advantage of its unique 6-foot-7 target.

Make Panthers QB Cam Newton pass. Newton is one of the best running quarterbacks in the league, and this season he’s on pace for the most rushes and running yards of his career. However, Newton is also completing a career-low 55.4 percent of his passes. The Seahawks must make Newton beat them with his arm as opposed to his legs.

The Panthers will win if they …

Made good use of the bye week. Carolina should be rested up after its off week, and the Panthers had plenty of time to prepare for Seattle. Carolina also may be able to glean a little insight from receiver Kevin Norwood, who was traded by the Seahawks to the Panthers just before the season began.

See the real Luke Kuechly. Kuechly, who’s vying with Wagner for the title of best young middle linebacker in the NFL, has been out since suffering a concussion on Sept. 13 against Jacksonville. Kuechly was cleared to resume full contact this week and is expected to play. Whether he’s fully back to speed will affect Carolina’s defense.

Continue their turnover trend. Carolina currently leads the NFL in turnover margin at plus-eight in four games. Much of that is because of the Panthers’ secondary, which ranks second in the league in interceptions with eight. If Carolina maintains that mastery in the turnover game, the Panthers will be tough to beat.

PICK

Seahawks 17, Panthers 13

This game doesn’t get any bigger for Seattle. The Seahawks need a win to avoid falling into an ugly 2-4 hole, and they need to prove they still know how to finish off a game. Seattle hasn’t managed that in big games so far this season, but the Seahawks have done it in the past, including against Carolina, and being back at home should help this time.