SEATTLE — A chest cold kept Seattle Seahawks starting cornerback Byron Maxwell out of a midweek practice heading into Saturday’s playoff game against Carolina, but a Friday return left little doubt that he would be available against the Panthers.

Shortness of breath from chest congestion ended up keeping Maxwell out of the starting lineup Saturday, leaving second-year player Tharold Simon to make a surprise start.

Simon was in coverage on both of Carolina’s touchdowns but made enough plays to help Seattle beat the Panthers 31-17 in an NFC divisional playoff game.

“I feel I did pretty solid, except for the two touchdowns,” Simon said. “Other than that, I played a pretty good game.”

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he was surprised that Maxwell wasn’t available to play defense. The starting cornerback suited up and saw a limited role on special teams but did not work with the defense at all Saturday.

“I went into (Saturday) thinking that we would have him,” Carroll said. “He practiced Friday and practice well, but he just couldn’t shake (the cold).”

–In a game that featured two of the best defenses still playing, the Seahawks and Panthers provided a surprisingly offensive first half.

Seattle’s 14-10 lead in the opening 30 minutes came after both offenses set franchise records.

Carolina’s first touchdown came on a 79-yard drive, the longest in Panthers postseason history — until quarterback Cam Newton led the team on an 83-yard touchdown march in the fourth quarter.

Seattle responded to Carolina’s first touchdown with a four-play, 77-yard touchdown drive that included a 63-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse — the longest passing play in Seahawks postseason history.

Seattle safety Kam Chancellor made some postseason history of his own in the fourth quarter when he returned an interception 90 yards for the longest touchdown in the franchise’s playoff history.

–Seattle rookie wide receiver Paul Richardson, the team’s top draft choice as a second-round pick, was coming into his own in recent weeks but might not be available for the NFC Championship game.

Richardson hurt his left knee while leaping for a deep pass in the third quarter. He came down awkwardly while grabbing the back of his left leg, but Richardson was able to limp off the field under his own power and was diagnosed with a knee sprain.

Seattle Pro Bowl center Max Unger came off the field late in the fourth quarter with a sprained ankle. Unger missed 10 games during the regular season due to foot and knee injuries.

–Carolina kicker Graham Gano closed out the first half with a 35-yard field goal, but it took awhile to get there.

The Panthers’ final possession of the first half was initially ruled to be finished by an Earl Thomas interception at the 2-yard line, but replays overturned that call.

After a 7-yard run by fullback Mike Tolbert, Gano lined up for a 35-yard field goal attempt with four seconds left in the half. Gano’s kick went through the uprights, but it was wiped out by a false start. He tried again from 40 yards, only to have the kick blocked by Seattle safety Kam Chancellor, who was then flagged for running into the kicker.

Gano then got another chance and delivered from 35 yards, cutting the Panthers’ deficit to 14-10 heading into halftime.

–The Seahawks’ first chance at points was wiped out by a costly 15-yard penalty on wide receiver Ricardo Lockette in the first quarter.

After catching a 6-yard pass from quarterback Russell Wilson on third-and-13 from the Carolina 34, Lockette tossed the ball at the face of a defender and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Rather than lining up for a 45-yard field goal attempt, the Seahawks were forced to punt.