Perfection is not a word that should be thrown around liberally, especially when it pertains to NFL franchises. If any team this season has neared perfection, it has got to be the Carolina Panthers. From a 15-1 regular season record to their dominant postseason run, their season has been nearly flawless. Their 49-15 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game reinforces that.
The Cardinals looked downright sloppy for a majority of the game, with quarterback Carson Palmer having arguably one of the worst performances of his sporadic career. The Panthers still won on their own merits despite Arizona’s woeful performance. Although experts expected the soaring Cardinals to give the Panthers a run for their money, Carolina controlled the game from the very first snap. That is just what the Panthers do — they defy expectations. This unorthodox defiance enabled them to land a berth in Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos.
The Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos are the antithesis of one another offensively. Denver’s quarterback Peyton Manning is an experienced but aging quarterback. His once-legendary skill set has eroded since his neck injury, and he now relies mostly on his elite play-calling ability. The Panthers have a young, charismatic quarterback who drives their diverse offense. Both defenses are exceptional.
Still, based on their most recent performances, Carolina holds a clear advantage in terms of their momentum and youthful energy. The Broncos narrowly escaped a New England comeback, but managed to stop the Patriots' attempt for a two-point conversion at the end of the game.
The Panthers look eerily similar to the 2013 Seattle Seahawks team that annihilated Manning and the Broncos in Super Bowl 48 just two short seasons ago. Manning will once again be facing a younger, more dynamic team. Manning has years of experience, three Super Bowl appearances and a championship under his belt, but the Panthers have something more. It is not something you could see on a stat sheet or a resume. There is something special brewing in their organization, and it has been a long time coming. The Panthers revel in their inexperience, their whole brand of play is new and exciting. The team feeds off Newton’s constant display of emotion. It has taken the Carolina Panthers 12 agonizing years to get back to the Super Bowl, and I doubt they are going to let anyone take the glory away from them this time. They’ll just “keep pounding.”