OPENING LINE – Seahawks by 6 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD – Panthers 3-7-1, Seahawks 6-5

SERIES RECORD – Seahawks lead 7-4

LAST MEETING – Panthers beat Seahawks 31-24, Jan. 17, 2016 in divisional playoff

LAST WEEK – Panthers lost to Raiders 35-32; Seahawks lost to Buccaneers 14-5.

AP PRO32 RANKING – Panthers No. 24; Seahawks No. 5

PANTHERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (14), RUSH (13), PASS (19).

PANTHERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (17), RUSH (2), PASS (29).

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE – OVERALL (17), RUSH (27), PASS (14).

SEAHAWKS DEFENSE – OVERALL (7), RUSH (14T), PASS (10).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Seventh meeting in past five seasons between teams. … Last meeting in NFC divisional playoff when Panthers built 31-0 lead before holding off second-half rally by Seahawks. … Panthers remained on West Coast after loss to Oakland, practicing in Bay Area before traveling to Seattle. …. Panthers sit three games behind in division with five to go. … QB Cam Newton has 13 TD passes through 11 games. Last season he had 20 TD passes and 27 total TDs after 11 games on way to league MVP honors. … Newton has five rushing TDs and is only player in NFL with five or more TD runs in each of past six seasons. … TE Greg Olson leads NFL TEs with 790 yards receiving and second with 58 receptions. … WR Ted Ginn Jr. had 88-yard TD last week, third longest in franchise history. … C Ryan Khalil placed on injured reserve this week along with backup Gino Gradkowski. C Tyler Larsen expected to make first start against Seahawks. … LB Thomas Davis had seven tackles and interception last week. Davis is second on team with 71 tackles. … LB Luke Kuechly expected to miss second straight game with concussion suffered Nov. 17 vs. Saints. … S Kurt Coleman in question after entering concussion protocol following loss to Raiders. Michael Griffin would start if Coleman can’t go. … Seahawks 17-3-1 in prime time games since 2010. … Seahawks looking to remain only undefeated team at home in NFL. … Seattle’s’ streak of 88 straight regular-season games leading or being within one score in fourth quarter snapped last week vs. Buccaneers. … Seahawks lead NFL in scoring defense, giving up 17.0 points per game. … QB Russell Wilson has 111.7 passer rating in past nine home games. … Wilson rushed for season-high 80 yards last week vs. Buccaneers. He had 79 yards rushing for the season going into the game. … Seahawks rank 27th in league averaging 88.9 yards per game rushing. … WR Doug Baldwin has eight TD catches in past eight home games. … TE Jimmy Graham has eight career TDs vs. Panthers. … Bradley Sowell starting at RT in place of Garry Gilliam. … Seahawks hopeful about C Justin Britt (ankle), CB DeShawn Shead (hamstring), FS Earl Thomas (hamstring) all returning from injury. … DE Michael Bennett expected to play for first time since Week 7 following minor knee surgery. … DE Cliff Avril leads NFC with 10 sacks. … LB Bobby Wagner leading NFL with 118 tackles. … K Steven Hauschka has made field goal in 14 straight games. … Fantasy Tip: Jonathan Stewart had 106 yards rushing and two TDs in playoff win over Seahawks. Seattle has been shaky against run, giving up 100.2 yards per game on ground. Stewart might be good option.

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1:35 p.m.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has become the first player in NFL history with 20,000 yards passing and 3,000 yards rushing in the first six NFL seasons.

Newton also passed Jake Delhomme for the most completions in franchise history with 1,581. Newton completed a 9-yard pass to tight end Greg Olsen in the first quarter to break the record.

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1:30 p.m.

Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan has been ejected in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers after making contact with an official.

The Titans were lining up for just their second official play with a 7-0 lead when officials threw a handful of flags with Letroy Guion going unabated to quarterback Marcus Mariota. Lewan was arguing with Guion when back judge Steve Freeman was trying to break up the Titans and Packers.

Lewan appeared on replays to push away Freeman’s hand.

Officials talked over the penalties, and an angry Lewan headed to the locker room. He was replaced by Dennis Kelly.

The Titans capped the drive with running back DeMarco Murray throwing a 10-yard pass to Delanie Walker for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

– Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tenn.

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1:25 p.m.

Tennessee running back DeMarco Murray needed only one carry Sunday to match a franchise record originally set by Earl Campbell.

Murray took his first handoff 75 yards for a touchdown Sunday against Green Bay, giving him his fifth straight game with at least one rushing touchdown. Campbell, now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, did that in 1979 for the then-Houston Oilers.

The Titans running back came into Sunday as the NFL’s second-leading rusher in his first season in Tennessee. Murray had been tied with LenDale White (2008), Eddie George (2000), Gary Brown (1993), Alonzo Highsmith (1989) and Campbell (1981) with four straight games with a rushing TD.

– Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tenn.

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1:15 p.m.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have failed once again to score a touchdown on their opening possession, extending the NFL’s longest current TD drought to open games.

Jacksonville’s streak is now at 23 games after Blake Bortles threw an interception against Houston on Sunday. Kareem Jackson stepped in front of Allen Hurns and returned it 42 yards for a score.

The Jaguars haven’t found the end zone on their opening drive since Week 2 of the 2015 season against Miami. Since then, they have 17 punts, three field goals and now three turnovers – all interceptions this season – in their initial possessions. Bortles also threw opening-drive picks against Green Bay and Chicago.

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1:05 p.m.

The Tennessee Titans’ attempt to catch the Green Bay Packers by surprise on the opening kickoff with an onside kick failed.

The Titans won the toss, deferred and the Packers went back to receive the kickoff.

Kicker Ryan Succop dribbled the ball off the tee with teammates moving quickly to recover the ball. But the ball went right at Packers linebacker Joe Thomas, and he recovered at the Tennessee 49.

But the Titans forced the Packers to go three-and-out on the opening drive for a nice start against a Green Bay offense that came in having scored seven touchdowns in the first quarter of its first eight games.

– Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tenn.

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12:30 p.m.

The most-anticipated matchup of Week 10 of the NFL season is the Patriots hosting the Seahawks in primetime, the first meeting of the two teams since the 2015 Super Bowl.

Malcolm Butler made a championship-saving play for New England in that game. His goal-line interception robbed Seattle of a rare second straight NFL crown and gave Tom Brady his record-tying fourth title in the Super Bowl era.

Also, the Pittsburgh Steelers host the surging Cowboys. Dallas seeks an eighth straight victory, which would tie their 1977 team for the longest single-season winning streak in club history.

That team won the Super Bowl. This one has gained at least 400 yards in a franchise-record six consecutive games.

Dallas tight end Jason Witten needs five receptions to pass Andre Johnson for ninth on all-time list (1,062). Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is 12 receptions from passing Heath Miller for second on the franchise list (592).

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Newtown said Tuesday, ”What’s the blueprint of a franchise quarterback? Leading your team. I’m not going to let anyone dictate how I play.”

It’s rare for a franchise quarterback to be involved in a fight in practice, let alone be the instigator. Most, like Newton, wear red jerseys to protect themselves and stay out of the way.

But despite the risk of injury, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newton says ”you’ve never seen a guy in a red jersey like me. You’re not going to shape or form me to who you want me to be. I’m here for” my teammates.

Newton wasn’t injured Monday after chasing down Norman.

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