Silverman: Panthers Will Rip Up The No-Respect Card, And The Broncos
By Steve Silverman
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NFL fans spent most of the season waiting for the Carolina Panthers to come back to earth and play like just another good team.
Yes, they had Cam Newton and his spectacular athletic ability, but when it came to making big plays when the game was on the line, Newton was just another guy.
Or so the theory went.
Newton had flashed his talent in his first four years with the Panthers, but consistency was not his game. He had a 24-to-13 TD-to-interception ratio in 2013, but those figures were just 18-to-12 in 2014. There was little reason to believe that 2015 would turn into the "Season of Cam."
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But that's just what happened. He has dominated from start to finish, throwing 35 TD passes and just 10 interceptions. Newton's improvement shows up in the numbers, but it is his actual play on the field that has been so dramatic. At some point in nearly every game, Newton has made at least one eye-opening play that has given his team an advantage.
While he has made a big improvement in his passing, Newton remains one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the history of the game. He ran for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
When Newton pulls it down, he runs with a purpose. And that's where the Denver Broncos could have serious problems on Sunday.
The Broncos made it to Super Bowl 50 because their defense got the best of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC title game, and they did it by putting pressure on the four-time Super Bowl winner. They turned Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Derek Wolfe loose in that game, and Brady couldn't handle it.
Wade Phillips did not have to worry about Brady taking off and hurting the Broncos with his legs. That's obviously not the case with Newton.
The Broncos have to pressure Newton, but they may not just be able to cut it loose and go after him at full speed. If they do and Newton finds an escape route, he could rip the heart out of that Denver defense.
If they let him sit in the pocket, Newton has reached the point where he can pick any team apart. He may not be Brady or Aaron Rodgers yet as a thrower, but he's made so much progress this season that his passing ranks with the better quarterbacks in the league.
Obviously, that's not the case with Peyton Manning any longer. Based on his remarks to Bill Belichick and Brady after the AFC title game victory, Manning is very close to calling it a career and venturing off to the nearest Papa John's.
He may have equated his arm to that veteran baseball pitcher who lost his fastball and has to work the corners, but is he talking about CC Sabathia? That's not going to get it done in the Super Bowl.
That changeup is likely to get hit out of the park by Luke Kuechly and Josh Norman, among others.
This could be one of those Super Bowls that turns into a blowout. The Panthers had a 31-point first-half explosion in their win over Seattle, and they came out on fire against Arizona in the NFC title game with 24 points in the first 30 minutes.
Look for a similar start here. How is Manning going to try to keep up? If he doesn't get significant help from his defense and his running game, he will be a sitting duck in the pocket and his passes will flutter and float.
The Panthers are likely to attack on both offense and defense, and this game could get out of hand quickly.
All Ron Rivera has to turn his players loose and tell them to go get their Lombardi Trophy. Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips will have to work some kind of miracle to prevent that from happening.
The Panthers are both hungry and ready to play the game of their lives. The Broncos have too many issues on offense to get the best of this powerful team.
If Carolina wins, it will go to 18-1 on the season, a record matched only by the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and 1985 Chicago Bears.
This team has not gotten much recognition for its greatness, but it will Sunday night.
PREDICTION: The Panthers will take Super Bowl 50, and do it in convincing fashion, 38-14.
Follow Steve on Twitter at @ProFootballBoy