Here are five things to know about the Panthers before they take on the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 7.
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Second Super Bowl trip in franchise history
The Panthers are returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2003 season when the Panthers lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Carolina is seeking its first Super Bowl title in its 21-year franchise history.
Record season for the Cats
The Panthers set franchise records this season with an NFL-best 15 wins and 500 points during the regular season. They were the only team to go 8-0 at home this season. The Panthers actually had a streak of 18 straight regular-season wins dating back to last season. During the 2015 season, Kawann Shorts’ 11 sacks were tied for the most by a defensive tackle in the NFL (along with Aaron Donald and Geno Atkins) and established a Panthers record for most sacks by a defensive tackle. Carolina’s streak of rushing for at least 100 yards in 29 straight games is the longest such streak in the NFL since the Steelers had a 43-game streak from 1974-77.
Cam Newton is having an unprecedented career
The Panthers quarterback threw for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns and ran for 636 yards and 10 scores during the regular season. He is the only player in NFL history to have five seasons with at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards. Newton’s 43 career rushing touchdowns during the regular season tied Hall of Famer Steve Young for the most in the Super Bowl era. Newton also tied Young for the most games (31) with a least one passing and rushing touchdown. During the first five years of Newton’s career, he has set an NFL record with 21,470 yards from scrimmage.
Panthers nearly broke a pair of playoff marks Sunday
The Panthers forced seven turnovers against the Cardinals. The four interceptions of Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, who also fumbled twice, and a Patrick Peterson muffed punt resulted in the most turnovers in a playoff game since the Rams forced eight turnovers in a win over the Packers in the 2001 NFC divisional playoff game. Newton’s 86-yard pass to Corey Brown in the first quarter on Sunday was the longest touchdown in an NFC championship game since Brett Favre connected with Donald Driver for 90 yards in the 2007 postseason.
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It’s the John Fox Super Bowl
Current Bears coach John Fox preceded both Gary Kubiak in Denver and Ron Rivera in Charlotte as the head coach of the Broncos and Panthers, respectively. Fox took the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003, but was fired in Carolina following a 2-14 season in 2010. He helped the Broncos reach the Super Bowl in 2013 and won four straight AFC West titles, but parted ways with the team following the 2014 season.
