Justin Britt's return sparks big day for Seahawks' O-line

Seahawks offensive lineman Justin Britt talks with back up quarterback Trevone Boykin in the second half of a game against the Panthers at CenturyLink Field on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. Seahawks offensive lineman Justin Britt talks with back up quarterback Trevone Boykin in the second half of a game against the Panthers at CenturyLink Field on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 110 Caption Close Justin Britt's return sparks big day for Seahawks' O-line 1 / 110 Back to Gallery

The Seahawks offensive line had perhaps its worst performance of the season in Seattle's Week 12 loss on the road at Tampa Bay, but they bounced back in a big way in Sunday night's win over Carolina.

Buoyed by the return of center Justin Britt, Seattle's line paved the way for season highs in net yards rushing (240) and total net yards (534) and points in the 40-7 romp.

Britt was active in the 14-5 loss to the Buccaneers, but didn't play due to an ankle injury. It was the first missed start of his three-year NFL career after 42 consecutive starts. Though coaches and teammates were quick to compliment replacement Joey Hunt for his performance versus Tampa Bay, it was clear the return of the Britt helped coalesce the young line, which features first-year pros in left tackle George Fant and right guard Germain Ifedi and a second-year player in left guard Mark Glowinski.

"They're really counting on Justin, so without him it was difficult on them the week before, and that just made everything look somewhat out of sync," head coach Pete Carroll said after the game. "I think it was pretty obvious when you see the comparison this week."

Veteran Bradley Sowell rounded out the group at right tackle after replacing Garry Gilliam in the starting lineup.

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The line has been one of the most discussed -- and maligned -- position groups in the NFL this season, viewed by some as a fatal roster flaw that could scuttle Seattle's Super Bowl aspirations. But they shone against the Panthers, the team that ended the Seahawks season in the NFC playoffs last year.

Fant in particular had an impressive effort after a rough day after his worst day as a pro versus the Buccaneers. After being shaken up on the first play of the second quarter with what looked to be a shoulder injury for the second time in two weeks, the undrafted former basketball star -- who only played football in his senior season at Western Kentucky -- missed just three plays before reentering the game.

"We expect him to come back in and battle through it because offensive line isn't pretty," Britt said after the game. "It's not going to be perfect. You're not going to feel good afterwards. You're going to be sore and beat up, but he's learning throughout the season how brutal it can be."

Britt, a former second-round pick who started his career at right tackle as a rookie in 2014 then played left guard last year, seems to have found a long-term home at center, where his knowledge of the Seahawks offense and leadership skills naturally translate. With him back in the lineup on Sunday, Seattle cut its sack total in half after allowing a season-high six against Tampa Bay.

"He's arguably one of the best centers in the league right now and he's doing a great job of pass protecting, a great job of run blocking, making calls," quarterback Russell Wilson said after the game. "In terms of our pass protection, me and him are seeing it just right and doing things the way we need to."

The Seahawks run game was even better versus the Panthers, helping second-year back Rawls to his first 100-yard effort in almost exactly a calendar year after a strong week of practice.

"I felt like we dominated the run game," Rawls said afterward. "The guys up front had a great week of preparation. The same cuts that I was making in practice were the same one that I was making on the field. That's one thing that the results showed."

Britt told reporters he was happy rookie sixth-round pick Hunt had a chance to earn some playing time, which might pay dividends in the event of another injury along the line. He said that his own injury made him grateful for the opportunity to get back onto the field.

"Anytime you get hurt and miss playing time, it makes you appreciate the game more when you're out there and respect it more, because you don't know when you're time's going to be up," Britt said. "So whenever you're out there you want to play like it's going to be your last down ... It felt good to be back out there with my brothers and fighting."

Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports reporter Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.