Seattle ? Steve Smith stomped up and down the sideline, arms flailing, jaw jabbering.

It was the most action he got all night.

The Seattle Seahawks clamped down on Carolina’s top playmaker, forcing the Panthers to search all over the field Sunday for someone else to step up. One problem – Smith has been their only viable option all year.

Without him, they didn’t stand a chance in the NFC championship game.

“Steve Smith is arguably the best receiver in the game right now, and we just shut him down completely,” said Seattle defensive end Grant Wistrom.

The Seahawks were one of the few teams this season to do it.

Seattle's Shaun Alexander (37) dives into the end zone for a touchdown. Seattle defeated Carolina, 34-14, Sunday in Seattle for its first NFC championship.

Smith, the NFL’s leading receiver during the regular season, was held to five catches for 33 yards in Carolina’s 34-14 loss to Seattle. His lone score was on a suspect 59-yard punt return that appeared to be called back, then wasn’t.

“When it rains it pours,” Smith said. “All you can do is put your buckets out in the house when it’s leaking and try to do the best you can.”

It wasn’t happening against Seattle’s defense. The Panthers thought they saw everything from opponents fruitlessly trying to cover Smith this season – then they got a look at the Seahawks’ schemes.

Using constant coverage on the speedy receiver, Seattle gave Smith little room to break free. The Seahawks’ most effective scheme was moving a linebacker over to guard him, usually Kevin Bentley, who could quickly break away if the play wasn’t going to Smith.

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, who said he made a point to speak to Smith before the game to tell him “he’s a very special player,” said the Seahawks’ goal was to focus on the receiver and not let quarterback Jake Delhomme dump any short passes off to him.

“We tried to take away some of the things they really like to do, and the quick game is something they like, so we put a guy up there to take it away,” Holmgren said. “Then we tried to just tackle him. If they threw the ball to him, he was going to get his catches – so just tackle him.”