So far, no Super Bowl jinx

SEATTLE – In the buildup to their playoff opener, the Seahawks never acknowledged the history of flameouts that followed Super Bowl champions that made the playoffs the following season.

Then again, the second half of this season has been about the Seahawks putting history in the past and focusing on the present.

“Guys are playing selfless. There aren’t any egos, there aren’t any agendas, and guys just want to do whatever it takes to win,” Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman said.

“If that means making a tackle, then make the tackle; if that means catching the football, we’re going to catch the football. Guys are playing for one another, they don’t care about stats, nor do they care about anything else.”

Seattle several big plays in its 31-17 win over Carolina on Saturday night in an NFC divisional playoff game, becoming the first defending Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game since New England in January 2006.

The Seahawks used two of the longest scoring plays in franchise postseason history and a virtuoso passing performance from Russell Wilson to overwhelm the Panthers and advance to the NFC championship game for the second straight season.

Seattle will host Green Bay in the conference title game Sunday, a rematch of the first game of the regular season when the Seahawks beat the Packers 36-16.

The biggest play of Seattle’s victory was Kam Chancellor’s 90-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Seahawks a 21-point lead.

That was just part of a night of big plays from the Seahawks, especially in the pass game.

Seattle had six offensive plays of 25 yards or more, five of those coming in the pass game.

Jermaine Kearse had the best day of his career with 129 yards receiving, including a 63-yard touchdown where he pulled in the pass from Wilson with one arm while shielding the defender.

Kearse had two other catches of 33 yards, and Luke Willson had receptions of 29 and 25 yards in the fourth quarter, the second for a touchdown.

The five passes of 25 or more yards tied the most in Wilson’s career. He threw for 268 yards, but 199 of those came on third downs when he was 8 for 8 passing.

His passer rating of 149.2 was the fifth-highest in postseason history and Wilson now has a career passer rating of 109.6 in the playoffs, the highest all-time for any QB with at least 150 attempts.

“Sometimes I think I’m made for these situations,” Wilson said. “I just try to be prepared for us. When you’re prepared, you’re never scared. You just go.”

Carolina was the first team to score in the fourth quarter against Seattle since Kansas City in Week 11.

“We’re mad about those seven points,” defensive end Cliff Avril said.