He now leads Carolina out west to Santa Clara, California on February 7th to take on the AFC Champion Broncos in Super Bowl 50 at 5:30 PM.
Advertisement
“If it all goes well, it should be something he will be able to play with”, Rivera said about the longest-tenured member of the Panthers, who has already shown his grit and resolve to battle back from injury. Even amidst the confetti and celebration dances at Bank of America Stadium, Newton kept his focus on his team’s ultimate goal of winning Super Bowl 50. He’s leaving behind his camera. “Staring over at their sideline and seeing that feeling the other team has is something that’s probably going to stick with me for the rest of my life”.
Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton celebrates after the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers won 49-15 to advance to the Super Bowl.
“We wanted to be efficient, we wanted to start fast, wanted to keep the pressure on and wanted to finish, most of all”, Newton said after the game.
Just like in 2007 with the Bears, Rivera is tasked with stopping Peyton Manning. When asked if Newton is a unique player to face, Talib added: “Man, super unique”. “But we’re going to live in the moment now”. “When we’re playing, we’re as good as it gets”.
The Panthers – hosting the NFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history – jumped on the Cardinals early. “My team knew it was personal…”
Palmer threw four interceptions and was stripped for a pair of fumbles, while All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson fumbled a punt return in the first half.
It will be the first Super Bowl for Newton and the second trip to the big game for the Panthers (17-1), who lost to New England 12 years ago.
DISTRESSING POSTSEASON: After going 13-3 and looking like the league’s most balanced team, the Cardinals played inconsistently in outlasting the Packers in overtime in the divisional round. They may have to use a more controlled pass rush against Newton.
“I was definitely forcing it”, Palmer said. Most folks figure his fourth Super Sunday will be the last time he dons a helmet.
A fan by the name of Andrew Tilton is so fed up with the Panthers star that he actually made a decision to create a petition to try to ban Newton from Seattle home games. To lose by 34 points, especially in a conference championship game, you usually have to get beaten on pretty much every unit.
Ginn’s 32-yard punt return set up the Panthers at the Arizona 49. I’m sure that’s what he was thinking: “‘I have to make a play'”.
Advertisement
The Cardinals (14-4) couldn’t overcome four first-half turnovers, including three by quarterback Carson Palmer. At about the halfway mark of the second quarter, Daniel Fells, the Arizona Cardinals’ tight end, inexplicably leaped across the first down line into the waiting arms of Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly.
