Carolina Panthers

Panthers take early lead after Stewart TD, INT return

Published Jan. 17, 2016 1:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

The latest from NFL divisional games on Sunday (all times EST):

1:24 p.m.

Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart appears to be just fine after a three-game layoff.

Stewart started and took the opening handoff and rambled 59 yards and then scored on a 4-yard touchdown run three plays later to give Carolina an early 7-0 lead against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC divisional playoffs.

Stewart had missed the final three games with a foot injury but appears just fine.

A few minutes later, Luke Kuechly picked off a Russell Wilson pass and returned it 14 yards to put Carolina ahead 14-0.

Marshawn Lynch started for Seattle but he lost 3 yards on his first carry and then didn't turn around in time for a Russell Wilson pass and Luke Kuechly intercepted the ball and returned it for a TD to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead.

- Steve Reed reporting from Charlotte, North Carolina

---

12:20 p.m.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick doesn't see what was wrong with Danny Amendola's block that was flagged for unnecessary roughness in New England's 27-20 victory over Kansas City.

Amendola was back as the return man when Kansas City's Jamell Fleming circled under a kick in an attempt to down it inside the 5 yard-line. Amendola lowered his head and took the Chiefs' coverage man out with a hit to the shoulder and head.

Belichick said in a conference call on Sunday that ''it was a legal play. We're allowed to block him.''

Kansas City's Dezman Moses took exception to the hit and grabbed Amendola by the facemask. Belichick didn't like that, either.

After starting at their own 2 after the penalty, the Patriots drove 98 yards for a touchdown that made it 14-3.

- Jimmy Golen reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts

---

12 p.m.

This time, Marshawn Lynch is ready to go.

The Seahawks running back is active for Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game against the Carolina Panthers and is expected to start.

It will be Lynch's first game in more than two months.

The Seahawks thought he would be active against Minnesota last week in the wild card playoffs, but he never made the trip.

He was injured in Seattle's 39-32 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 15. The Seahawks have gone 7-1 without him.

Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., running back Jonathan Stewart and safety Kurt Coleman are active for Carolina. Ginn had been listed as questionable with a knee injury.

Stewart has missed the last three games with a foot injury, while Ginn and Coleman both sat out Week 17.

Carolina's inactives include running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Brendan Wegher, wide receiver Brenton Bersin and Kevin Norwood, cornerback Lou Young, safety Dean Marlowe and defensive end Ryan Delaire.

Cornerback Tye Smith, running back Bryce Brown, fullback Will Tukuafu, linebacker Eric Pinkins, guards Mark Glowinski and Kristjan Sokoli and defensive tackle A.J. Francis are inactive for Seattle.

- Steve Reed reporting from Charlotte, North Carolina

---

AP NFL websites: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL