Seattle Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham (knee) will return to the Seahawks in 2016, according to Seahawks general manager John Schneider.

Seattle Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham (knee) will return to the Seahawks in 2016, according to Seahawks general manager John Schneider.

Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton will not wear gloves in the NFC Championship against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 24, despite the weather. ‘He’s got big hands,’ head coach Ron Rivera said. ‘He doesn’t need to.’

Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton will not wear gloves in the NFC Championship against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 24, despite the weather. ‘He’s got big hands,’ head coach Ron Rivera said. ‘He doesn’t need to.’

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, who led the league in passer rating (110.1) and set career highs in completion percentage (68.1%) and yards per attempt (8.3), will study defenses more this offseason, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Wilson tossed 24 touchdowns to just one interception in the final seven games of the regular season in 2015. Wilson improved against the blitz this year, too, with a 137.0 passer rating against five rushers or more in the final seven games. ‘I think the first step is the knowledge,’ Wilson said Monday. ‘You want to continue to grow intellectually and master that part of it. Continue to work on that craft. I think that when you really mentally grasp the game of football, the game really, really slows down. And that’s what was able to happen this year especially.’

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, who led the league in passer rating (110.1) and set career highs in completion percentage (68.1%) and yards per attempt (8.3), will study defenses more this offseason, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Wilson tossed 24 touchdowns to just one interception in the final seven games of the regular season in 2015. Wilson improved against the blitz this year, too, with a 137.0 passer rating against five rushers or more in the final seven games. ‘I think the first step is the knowledge,’ Wilson said Monday. ‘You want to continue to grow intellectually and master that part of it. Continue to work on that craft. I think that when you really mentally grasp the game of football, the game really, really slows down. And that’s what was able to happen this year especially.’

Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer led the league in points per game (32.8), yards per game (426.3) and passing yards per game (292.8) on the road this year. He’s also generated the highest passer rating (121.2) in the second half of games this year, although he’s really struggled in the first half of the last two games.

Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch is leaning towards retirement, according to Seahawks general manager John Schneider.

The Carolina Panthers defense has allowed 22 points (against the New Orleans Saints), 28 (New York Giants) and 24 (Seattle Seahawks) points in the second half of their games in the last six weeks. CB Cortland Finnegan has been a liability in slot coverage, and fourth CB Robert McClain is playing every snap. SS Kurt Coleman is also injured and has had a bad two-game stretch.

Arizona Cardinals RB David Johnson led the NFL with nine touchdowns on the road this year.