vin Funchess posted a video on social media this morning saying he was looking for a “new team.”That’s largely because his old team doesn’t want him.Via Jourdan Rodrigue of the Youth Graham Gano Jersey , the Panthers never even offered anything in the way of an extension.Of course, they made him a healthy scratch for the regular season finale, so it was reasonably clear that they weren’t going to offer him anything.Funchess caught 44 passes for 549 yards and four touchdowns last year, and posted career highs of 63 catches for 840 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017. He had some solid moments after former General Manager Dave Gettleman traded up to take him in the second round in 2015. But like fellow big target Kelvin Benjamin (who was pawned off to Buffalo for a third rounder and eventually cut), the new administration wasn’t interested in keeping him around, building the offense around faster wideouts D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel instead. The Carolina Panthers defense was better Sunday. That’s not saying much Stitched Graham Gano Jersey , but at least they forced more than zero punts like they did during meaningful game time against the Steelers. In fact, they forced six Lions punts. In a vacuum, there might be some reason for optimism after the defense held their opposition to 20 points and 309 yards of total offense, even in a loss. But we’re not in a vacuum. The Lions entered Sunday’s game playing some of the worst football in the NFL. Quarterback Matthew Stafford had been sacked 16 times in the previous two games. A pair of garbage time touchdowns was the only thing that saved the Lions from three straight weeks scoring in the teens. Then the Panthers visited Detroit and let Stafford stay nice and clean. The defense only sacked the 30 year old one time and failed to generate much pressure otherwise. Part of that was good game planning by Detroit. They ran plays to get the ball out of the quarterbacks hands quickly, and the Panthers generally don’t do much to stop that. Also of concern was the inability of the Panthers to contain Kerryon Johnson. The rookie gashed the Panthers to the tune of 87 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries. That’s a bad omen considering the type of offense the Seahawks run, which brings us to our keys. Contain the running game. I rarely find this to be a point of emphasis when previewing games Youth Wes Horton Jersey , but this week is an exception. The Panthers are coming off an uncharacteristically bad performance stopping the run, and now they have to take on the league’s most run dominant team. The Seahawks run the ball 51% of the time, by far the most in the league. That includes a 62% run rate on first downs. Their trio of backs Chris Carson, Mike Davis, and Rashaad Penny are all averaging at least 4.5 yards per carry, and all three will get a chance to prove they’re the hot hand in a given week. Russell Wilson can run too when he feels like it Stitched Wes Horton Jersey , but that hasn’t been often this year.Don’t get abused by Tyler Lockett. Lockett has developed into one of the game’s most dangerous wide receivers, even if his stats don’t jump off the page. He’s caught 78% of his passes, second only to Michael Thomas among wide receivers. He’s caught eight passes this year that traveled more than 30 yards in the air. Despite is 5’10” 182 pound frame, he’s a monster attacking the ball in the air. Donte Jackson will likely be tasked to cover Lockett a lot assuming he’s healthy, and he’s going to have his hands full. Please please please generate some sort of pass rush. Russell Wilson has been sacked 32 times this season. Only Eli Manning, Dak Prescott Youth J.J. Jansen Jersey , and DeShaun Watson have been sacked more often. Russell Wilson will hold onto the ball and aimlessly run around in the backfield for ages. Someone in the front seven needs to get him on the ground. The Panthers will be back in the friendly confines of Bank of America stadium, and the hope is that the return home will get the team back on track. A loss to the Seahawks will put the two teams in a tie with the Seahawks holding the tie breaker. This is a must win game for the Panthers, and the defense needs to play like it.