The Seattle Seahawks recovered from a slow start against the Carolina Panthers to notch a decisive win in Week 17. Seattle received a bit of extra motivation at halftime from a pair of Seahawks players.
The Seahawks’ victory over the Panthers sets up a winner-take-all matchup against the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC West title as well as the No. 1 seed in Week 18. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that defensive tackle Jarran Reed and tight end AJ Barner gave a pointed halftime speech to the Seahawks which “(laid) down the gauntlet to their teammates.”
“A halftime locker room scene to remember— with Barner and 10-year vet Jarran Reed laying down the gauntlet to their teammates,” Breer wrote in a December 29, 2025, story titled, “Albert Breer: Brock Purdy Explains How This Season’s 49ers Team Is Different.”
“The Seahawks and Panthers were tied at 3–3. The Seahawks came out with a jolt. They returned around 4 p.m. local time with a 27–10 win, and another experience was logged with the playoffs looming.”
New details are starting to emerge on how the Seahawks turned things around against the Panthers as well as their preparation ahead of the team’s showdown against the 49ers.
AJ Barner on Calling Out Seahawks Teammates: ‘We Had to Get a Little Vocal’
It helps that the tough love came from two key players on the Seahawks. Reed is on a three-year, $22 million contract slated to run through the 2027 season. The defender has posted 29 tackles, six quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 12 appearances this season as part of an imposing Seattle pass rush rotation.
Barner has had a breakout season and emerged as a legitimate red zone threat. Through 16 appearances, Barner has 50 catches for 505 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Barner outlined why he felt a message needed to be delivered after the team’s lackluster start in Charlotte.
“We had to get a little vocal, and get a little juice going—East Coast game,” Barner told Breer. “So I think we came out with better energy in the second half, and played complementary football.
“… As an individual player, and as a team as well, that’s huge in the NFL, and especially late in the year. Everyone’s dealing with different things, but the good teams find a way. And that’s what we did today, and we gotta keep building off of it.”
The Seahawks Can Fall No Lower Than the No. 5 Seed in the NFL Playoffs
Seattle received a bit of help from the Atlanta Falcons with their upset win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. The Rams’ loss means the Seahawks can fall no lower than the No. 5 seed in the NFL playoffs.
Seattle is hoping this does not matter as a win at San Francisco would secure the No. 1 seed. A loss would drop the Seahawks to No. 5 as Seattle would face the NFC South champion on the road in the Wild Card round.
The Seahawks are a 1.5-point road favorite against the Niners, per FanDuel. Seattle is fighting to secure a first-round bye as well as home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Seahawks $22 Million Vet & Playmaker Put Team on Notice: ‘Laying Down the Gauntlet’