CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Tyler Lockett knew if Russell Wilson bought him a few more seconds, he could spring himself for a big play.
Wilson did just that, sidestepping pass rushers in the pocket and enabling Lockett to slip behind Captain Munnerlyn and haul in a 43-yard completion at the Carolina 10-yard line. Sebastian Janikowski then kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired, enabling the Seattle Seahawks to complete a 30-27 come-from-behind victory over the Panthers on Sunday.
"When Russell keeps it alive, we understand how hard it is for defenders to try to guard somebody more than five seconds," Lockett said. "If it is longer than four or five seconds, it puts us in a better position to get open."
Wilson threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns, putting Seattle (6-5) firmly in contention for a wild-card spot. Lockett finished with five catches for 107 yards and a TD, and David Moore had four receptions for 103 yards and a score.
Wilson said Lockett was working on a move in Friday's walk-through practice where he broke off the play and went deep.
"There was a play where he kind of stuttered and then went. He said, 'Hey, I'm just working on something, just in case we need it,' " Wilson said of Lockett. "The funny thing is we needed it."
The Panthers are also 6-5 and suddenly find themselves on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff picture after losing three in a row and having their 10-game home winning streak end. The prospect of Carolina missing the playoffs would have been unimaginable at the start of the month.
"Three weeks ago if somebody had said this was going to happen, I would have slapped them," said quarterback Cam Newton, who completed 25 of 30 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
