The Carolina Panthers, in what could be a division-clinching win, will look to upend the No. 1 seed of the NFC for the third time this season. And now, it’s the 12-3 Seattle Seahawks who could be the next victim.

Seattle enters Week 17 as one of the most well-rounded teams in the NFL, and a favorite for the Lombardi Trophy. So Carolina is in for quite a battle.

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With that in mind, here are the key matchups that’ll help determine Sunday’s winner at Bank of America Stadium.

Panthers’ rushing attack vs. Seahawks’ run defense

The Seahawks have arguably the best run defense in the NFL. They’re allowing the fewest yards per play on the ground, the lowest EPA per rush and are in top 10 and top five, respectively, for yards allowed before and after contact.

But, dating back to their last outing against the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle has shown to be vulnerable against gap run concepts and the power game. That’s the bread and butter for Carolina’s rushing attack with Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard.

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As Dowdle’s juice has started to fade here down the stretch, Hubbard has become the team’s most explosive tailback. So Sunday could present a perfect opportunity for him to reemerge as the go-to option out of the backfield.

Panthers’ run defense vs. Seahawks’ rushing attack

Carolina’s defense will now have to close out the campaign without starting inside linebacker Trevin Wallace, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery earlier this week. And while third-year veteran Claudin Cherelus should prove to be a worthy replacement, the group could have its hands full with Seattle’s one-two punch.

The Seahawks can be hit or miss out of their backfield with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. Last week was a hit, particularly for the former, as he dashed the Rams for 100 yards and a score on just 11 carries.

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Defensive linemen Derrick Brown and Bobby Brown III have the size to match up with how physical Seattle may look to be behind Walker and Charbonnet. If they can limit what the Seahawks can do on the ground, they might force the hand of the passing game.

Panthers’ pass defense vs. Seahawks QB Sam Darnold

Darnold will make his first career start against the Panthers, with whom he spent two seasons with from 2021 to 2022. And he’s coming back to Charlotte as a different quarterback.

The former third overall pick has experienced a resurgence over the past two years. He had a breakout season for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 and has continued his success with Seattle, as he currently boasts career-highs in completion percentage and yards per attempt.

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He is, however, still prone to turnovers—something the Carolina defense has really started to excel at recently. Look for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to muddy the picture on Darnold by dropping interior linemen and outside linebackers, simulating pressure and overloading either side of the line.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers vs. Seahawks 2025: Key matchups for Week 17