The Seahawks will again take to the road this week, coming off last week’s 19-13 loss at the hands of the St. Louis Rams, to face the Carolina Panthers (1-3) in Charlotte (1:05 PDT, FOX 13 TV, 710 ESPN Radio and 97.3 FM).

Untimely penalties, turnovers and an outstanding effort from Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein doomed Seattle’s hopes for a 3-1 start and instead sent the Hawks to the NFC West cellar with an 0-2 division record.

Carolina and second-year quarterback Cam Newton will present a far different challenge for the defense than the previous two weeks, with a dual-threat quarterback that is tied for the team lead in rushing through the first four games. The Panthers rank 13th in the league in total offense and are 25th in scoring at 20 points per game.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, those numbers are better than the ones posted by Russell Wilson and company thus far in 2012. The rookie currently pilots the league’s lowest rated passing offense, at just over 130 yards per game.

The 17.5 points the Seahawks are averaging is good for 28th in the league. Wilson and a beleaguered receiving corps will have their opportunities against a Carolina pass defense that is allowing 259 yards and more than 27 points per game.

“He’s very hard on himself, but he has great resolve and believes in himself,” Carroll said of Wilson during his weekly press conference. “He’s very steady.”

If the game turns into a defensive struggle, the edge could favor the visiting team, however, as Seattle will bring the league’s second rated total defense, scoring defense and rush defense into Carolina to deal with Newton and a host of running backs used by the Panthers.

That group includes DeAngelo Williams and Timberline High School graduate Jonathan Stewart.

Only two Seahawks, Marcus Trufant and Leroy Hill, remain on the team from the group that beat the Panthers in the NFC Title Game to advance to Super Bowl XL. Four Carolina players, Thomas Davis, Chris Gamble, Jordan Gross and Steve Smith, are still with the franchise.