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          NFL Nation

          Jermaine Kearse leads Seahawks' unsuccessful rally

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          Waddle on Carolina's hot start (0:52)

          Tom Waddle breaks down Carolina's hot start, saying "It was a statement drive and one that put the Seahawks on notice." (0:52)

          CHARLOTTE -- Don’t ever call Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse a quitter.

          With the Seattle Seahawks facing a 31-0 halftime deficit, the veteran wide receiver delivered a career performance, with 11 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns to help the Seahawks slice the Carolina Panthers' lead to a touchdown in the final minutes.

          It would not be enough, as the Panthers hung on for a 31-24 victory in the divisional round Sunday.

          Kearse scored on the Seahawks’ first possession in the third quarter, a 13-yard reception that gave them much-needed momentum. In the fourth quarter, he made a leaping grab in the back of the end zone, a 3-yard scoring catch on a terrific scramble by Russell Wilson.

          The Seahawks top receiver, Doug Baldwin, was held in check by Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman. They adjusted, making Kearse the go-to guy, and it allowed the Seahawks to turn a blowout into a competitive game.