The Panthers are going to the Super Bowl this year after a thorough trouncing of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game. And I mean a THOROUGH trouncing. The Panthers’ defence was absolutely on fire throughout the duration of the game. Arizona was the second overall seed for the NFC, and they are not pushovers in the least. Carson Palmer, Arizona’s quarterback, is an elite play caller, and is usually able to pick apart defences with help from his receiving corps. However when it mattered under the big lights, Palmer threw multiple interceptions.
A big part of the Panthers’ success is the superstars on both offence and defence. Cam Newton is their All-Star quarterback and is known to fans as Super-Cam. A former Heisman trophy winner, Newton is able to beat defences on the ground with the cannon that is his powerful arm. The 2015 season was his contract extension, and did not disappoint. There is no question that Newton will be named the league MVP this year. On the other side of the ball, middle linebacker Luke Kuechly essentially owns every aspect of the game that Newton does not participate in. A former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Kuechly is almost single handily responsible for the defensive success that the Panthers have had. Quarterbacks tend to stay away from targeting Kuechly, while he consistently takes them down. He also notched four interceptions this year.
The Panthers were the closest thing to a perfect team this year. They went 15-1 through the season and only lost to the Falcons, a non-playoff team whom the Panthers had crushed two weeks earlier. There weren’t many terrific teams on the Panthers’ schedule, but even the ones who were couldn’t seem to stem the tide of Cam Newton.
The Panthers have the highest octane in football this year, averaging just over 31 points per game. Combine that with a defensive unit that allowed an average of 19 points per game, and you have a very successful team. They entered the NFL playoffs as the number one seed in the NFC and got to sit out during wild card weekend. During a thrilling game in sub-zero Minnesota, the Seahawks beat out the Vikings for the chance to play in Carolina. In the Divisional Round the Seahawks and Panthers played a strangely one-sided game. The Panthers owned the first half, outscoring the Hawks 31-0, but got shut down in the latter half. The final score of 31-24 was fair for the game.
The Panthers are going to be playing Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the Super Bowl. This is going to be Manning’s fourth trip to the Super Bowl, and although he is widely considered one of the all-time greatest, he only has one ring. He broke the record for the all-time lead in passing yards this year, but right after that, his arm seemingly gave out and he was benched for Brock Osweiler. The majority of the Broncos offence is contributed by Manning, so shutting him down will be the Panthers’ key to owning the game.
The Broncos also have the number one defence in football, which was on display this weekend against the Patriots. The linebackers corps is an elite unit and is going to have to be shut down if the Panthers are going to play their game. Cam Newton needs to qualify as the dual running and passing threat that he is, so the Panthers offensive line will have to dominate all game. The Broncos’ cornerbacks also have a large amount of shut down capability, so the Panthers’ receivers will have to be as sharp as possible.
I called the Panthers to win the Super Bowl once the playoffs were set. They are able to overwhelm some teams and confuse others with their offensive tactics. I don’t think that the Broncos have what it takes to really own the game against the Panthers. Manning’s arm has been better in the last few games that he’s played, but under the constant pressure that the Panthers will subject him to, I think he’ll crack. The real trick to beating Peyton Manning is to get him moving and to keep him on the ropes. As a Chargers fan I have seen Manning at his best, and Manning when he’s outmatched.
Carolina is going to win the Super Bowl. A mean combination of elite players and strong team tactics is going to take them all the way. The constant offensive power of Cam Newton’s huddle is going to swell over Denver’s defence, and they will make it look easy. Newton and Kuechly will both earn their first Super Bowl ring, and the Panthers’ organization will take home its first Lombardi Trophy.
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