Thanksgiving is a time to stuff yourself silly and fall asleep watching football. With the Seahawks not playing on Thanksgiving this year we are able to catch up on other teams in the league, which is always nice.

This year’s lineup was especially informative as two potential playoff foes were playing, the Packers and Panthers. Granted we have already played both teams, but this week we get to see how the teams have either progressed, or regressed.

In the Packers’ case, there has been clear regression. They’ve lost four of their last five, and their offense has all of a sudden lost their groove, at the absolute worst possible time.

Although the most notable thing was this: The Carolina Panthers will be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks should not be even thinking Super Bowl, because they are nowhere near the Panthers’ level.

Championship teams need two things, as the 2013 Seahawk team that won the Super Bowl demonstrated; solid quarterback play and defense. Right now Cam Newton is putting the offense on his back and single handedly putting up points, even though everyone knows he has only one legitimate receiving threat, tight end Greg Olsen.

Both Carolina and Green Bay faced teams that Seattle has beaten, although Carolina at least took on a Tony Romo led Cowboys squad. Even with Tony Romo in the game – before breaking his collar bone again – Carolina easily dispatched Jerry Jones’ boys.

Of course, everyone is going to talk about Cam Newton as he is the quarterback, but this defense is legit. They are borderline all-time elite and lead the league with a whopping 38 turnovers. This year’s Seahawks defensive unit is very good, but these Panthers are the class of the league. And to get to the Super Bowl, you need to force turnovers, and that is the greatest difference between the ‘Hawks and Panthers this year.

Nonetheless, the Seahawks need to get into the playoffs before they can think about a championship.  But even if they do, they will have to travel to Carolina most likely to play in San Francisco, and they will not find any southern hospitality when/if they do.

Photo: Flickr/Mike Morris