Half-Time Report: Returning Marshawn Lynch pushes Seattle Seahawks into lead

Marshawn Lynch's return from a two-game absence has helped the Seattle Seahawks to earn a slender 10-7 half-time lead over the Carolina Panthers at CenturyLink Field in the NFL this evening.

The Panthers started brightly as they aimed to continue their unbeaten run and they had some impressive movement from newcomer Ryan Delaire to be excited about in the first quarter.

Cam Newton did not have the best of starts, however, and he soon went on to make a major mistake with his pick out to Jerricho Cotchery, before the Seahawks managed to move into a small lead thanks to Steven Hauschka's 30-yard field goal.

Newton soon made amends for some sloppy play in the first after he came back early in the second to complete a two-yard run, allowing Graham Gano to kick the Panthers into a 7-3 lead.

Carolina had not accounted for the returning Lynch, though, who was able to add the icing to a 90-yard drive by producing a one-yard rush to clinch his first touchdown of the season and push his team in front at 10-7 come the interval.