Panthers vs Seahawks - A highly physical encounter

Cam NewtonReuters

There is no other better way to say it but the coming tiff between the Carolina Panthers and the Seattle Seahawks will be a tough and highly physical affair.

The divisional playoff set for Saturday showcases two teams with a roster filled with bangers and hard-hitting players, placing an exclamation on defense and running at every opportunity they can get their hands on.

And with two modern day quarterbacks running the show, this is one face-off that should be interesting. Panther Cam Newton and Seahawk Russell Wilson are expected to strut their wares, both of whom are ranked in the top three quarterbacks in rushing yards and touchdowns this season.

So will the home advantage be put to good use for the Seahawks? With "The Clink" expected to be as noisy as ever, the Panthers will need a lot of will power to offset the obvious advantage that the Seahawks will surely endure.

And one of the ways to do that is to do more on the offensive end. It will be a given that both teams will be matching their defense with one another. Hence the focus may be needed on the offensive end anchored on Newton and running back Jonathan Stewart.

While the Seahawks are the obvious favorites, it doesn't mean that the Panthers are done for. Cam Newton needs to take his game to the next level in order for the Panthers to have a chance no matter how hard it would be to get a big W in Seattle.

For Seattle, at stake is the chance to defend their title. Should they fail, it will be 10th consecutive time that a champion has failed to do so.

The Seattle Seahawks host the Carolina Panthers at 8:15 p.m. at the CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington via Fox Sports. The game can also be watched online here.