CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Part of the reason the Seahawks traded Percy Harvin to the New York Jets two weeks ago — besides the insubordination of refusing to come back into the loss to Dallas late in the game — was the team’s belief in rookie wide receivers Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood.
Sunday, everyone got to see why Seattle drafted them this spring in the second and fourth rounds, respectively.
Richardson replaced Bryan Walters (out with a concussion) as the kickoff returner. He took one back from his own goal line to the Seattle 47 to set up the Seahawks’ only score of the first half, a 58-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka that would have been good from 65 or more.
Hauschka’s kick tied Josh Brown’s 2003 team record for longest field goal.
With the Seahawks trailing 9-6 with 4:37 left and backed up on their own 20, Wilson targeted Norwood for a 10-yard gain on which the former star at Alabama barely got his head around on his turn on his in route in time to see the pass, a dart from Wilson that stuck in Norwood’s chest plate.
Three plays later, Wilson hit Richardson for 9 yards to the Carolina 39.
“It came down to who was going to make the last play or who was going to finish the last drive,” Richardson said, “and we were able to do that.”
Wilson noticed the kids rising up in the clutch.
“To be able to go to the young guys, to Paul Richardson there, to go to Norwood … that’s what championship teams do,” Wilson said. “And we believe we still are a championship team.”
Richardson finished with two catches for 20 yards and has seven receptions this season. Norwood had two catches in two targets on Sunday for 13 yards. He has three receptions this season.
Thank you
The Panthers earned kudos from all those from Western Washington when they observed a moment of silence just before the National Anthem for Friday’s shootings at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
Extra points
All-Pro CB Richard Sherman returned punts with Walters out. Sherman fair caught one punt and returned another but was tackled immediately in traffic for no gain. … The inactives for the game were no surprise, extra offensive tackle Andrew McDonald plus all injured Seahawks, including four starters: Walters (concussion), cornerback Byron Maxwell (strained calf), linebacker Bobby Wagner (turf toe), center Max Unger (sprained foot), tight end Zach Miller (ankle surgery), defensive tackle Jordan Hill (sprained ankle). … WR Phil Bates was active for the first time this season and got in on one offensive play in the third quarter. Seattle signed him Saturday off its practice squad and placed fullback Derrick Coleman on season-ending injured reserve because of his broken foot. … Seattle has spent most of the season as one of the worst defenses on third downs, and was 28th in the league allowing almost 50 percent conversions. Sunday, the Seahawks held Caroling to just two conversions on 10 third downs. Free safety Earl Thomas attributed that to better play on first downs, creating longer distances for the Panthers.
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