I'm old enough to remember the Panthers last Super Bowl berth like it was yesterday. I remember DeShaun Foster's gutsy run against the Eagles, Jake Delhomme's heroics and the feeling of relief that the team made it. This is very different. It feels very different. Relief for making the Super Bowl has been replaced with confidence -- a feeling the Panthers can do it. Even as I write this it almost brings me to tears.
The Cardinals weren't the biggest test Carolina faced this year, and that's not to denigrate their season. It's more that the Panthers matched up well against them. It's because of this I told you last week how the team made it past its biggest test in beating Seattle. Arizona are largely a finesse passing team without a great North-South run game. That plays directly into the Panthers defensive game plan, while on offense there simply weren't enough tools to stop Greg Olsen and Co, especially without Tyrann Mathieu.
We've become conditioned over the years to watch the Panthers lay goose eggs when the lights get bright. That isn't the case anymore. Cam Newton turns spotlights into sunshine, and this team flourishes when eyes are on them. They're able to take the attention and still stay loose -- which is a remarkable trait no other NFL team can boast. People have tried to come up with excuses about the Panthers all season, and even up to kickoff when Newton was hanging out with Future and Jeezy instead of being uptight. This team is built on taking the grand seriousness of the NFL and turning it on its head. They have fun. They live for this.
Carolina put its foot on the gas and never let up. Sure, the Cardinals scored a couple of touchdowns -- but they were going to. This is an NFL team that made the NFC Championship and boasted one of the best offenses in all of football. Their problem was the startling inability to get Larry Fitzgerald involved in a meaningful way. The Carolina secondary got in his head and by the end of the game he has more drops than Ted Ginn. That says it all really.
On offense this was the Cam Newton show, pure and simple. There was simply no answer for Newton's combination of passing prowess and running dominance. If detractors are still looking for a reason why he's not the MVP -- well, keep looking. All that game did was solidify Cam's dominance.
Special shout out to Thomas Davis, who will be forgotten in the annals of this game because of injury when in reality he was the best defensive player on the field until he left hurt. There is nothing I want more than TD to play in the Super Bowl, and I hope and pray he'll be able to. Nobody deserves a shot like he does, and really this could be his last rodeo. While everyone is talking about the great aging players who will retire we need to recognize, celebrate and appreciate the amazing career Davis has had.
I wasn't writing about the Panthers back in 2004 when Delhomme led the Panthers to the Super Bowl, but I am so overjoyed I get to now. This has been an incredibly special season and I've loved sharing every second with all of you. In the coming weeks we'll see Newton and the Panthers continue to polarize, especially in comparison to a player beloved like Peyton Manning. Against any other team I'd love to see Manning get another ring, but instead of focusing on how good he has been I can't help but think about the guys on the Panthers who have never gotten a shot. Aging players who only have so many opportunities.
Peyton has had his chances. This is ours.
What I liked ...
Cam Newton
Newton took over the game like he has so many times before. I've run out of superlatives to explain his play. He's the best. He's incredible. He's only getting better.
Thank you
The ENTIRE DANG SECONDARY
This was the unit who needed to step up the most against Arizona, and they did -- big time. Everything started up front with amazing pressure, but Kurt Coleman, Josh Norman ... everyone was critical in what made the defense tick. It helped that Carson Palmer made a lot of poor decisions, but it's also about capitalizing on them. The secondary did that.
Thank you.
Kawann Short
I was going to just say "defensive line," but that feels like a copout. Kawann Short has been the most dynamic, wonderful player to watch on defense this year and despite his astounding number, his 11 sacks and the accolades he's received -- somehow it isn't enough. On Sunday night he was the catalyst. Short was the reason everything ticked.
Thank you.
Luke Kuechly
He was incredible ... again. Amazing ... again -- and it all looked so simple. There are so many words to explain Luke Kuechly and they're escaping me now. So I'll just say ...
Thank you.
What's next?
We have a week off and then SUPER BOWL BABY! I can't believe we get to say that. Thank you so much. Thank you each and every one of you. It's hard to believe this Monday Morning Optimist started as an effort to keep fans upbeat during the horrible 2010 season. Six years later we're here.
Thank you.