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Home , Cortland Finnegan, Dean Marlowe, Devin Funchess, Fozzy Whittaker, Graham Gano, Joe Webb

TEAM COACHING STATS » was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2013 and is a front- CAR runner for the award this season. A solid defensive assistant OPP and coordinator for years, he finally got his own team in 2011 Regular season and has gone 49-34-1, with three straight NFC South crowns. SCORING Extremely popular with his players, Rivera has been called points per game “Riverboat Ron” for his willingness to take chances in 31.2 SUPER games. He’s toned that down recently, but the Panthers on both sides of the ball recognize his faith in them when he gambles. Coordinators 19.2 Mike Shula (offense) and Sean McDermott (defense) are creative and aggressive. BOWL McDermott has more talented players, but Shula has . TOTAL YARDS SUNDAY per game 6:30 P.M. CBS SPECIAL TEAMS 366.9 » Ted Ginn Jr. averaged 10.3 yards on punt returns and broke 322.9 50 a 32-yarder to set up his own TD run against Arizona in the NFC Championship game. But the Panthers aren’t anything, PASS YARDS vs. uh, special on coverage units. K Graham Gano (9) finished per game second in the NFL in points with 146, and is good, not great, 224.3 from long range. He also missed three PATs in 2015. 234.5 PANTHERS TRIVIA RUSH YARDS HISTORY per game » What Carolina quarter- » This is Carolina’s second appearance. The back and Panthers lost 32-29 to the in Super 142.6 connected for a Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004. After a 88.4 Bowl record 85-yard to Ricky Proehl pass tied the game touchdown to give the with 1:08 left to play, an errant kickoff gave 3RD DOWN Panthers a 22-21 lead the Patriots the ball on their 40-yard line. CONVERSION over the New England , who earned his second MVP success rate Patriots in Super award, moved New England to the 42.4 Bowl XXXVIII? Carolina 23 in five plays, leaving the 37.9 Answer under outcome up to one of the game’s “Key Players” best clutch kickers — Adam Vina- tieri — who came through. TURNOVERS BY 19 39

SACKS BY 44 33

PLAY SELECTION RUN Carolina NFC CHAMPIONS; 17 WINS, 1 LOSS PASS

49% 51%

Postseason SCORING Panthers points per game 40.0 » THE 19.5 » Cam Newton, QB (1), 6-5, 245, 5th season, Auburn. A front-runner for MVP TOTAL YARDS per game honors, Newton passed for 35 TDs and ran for 10 ... Has been dynamic in playoffs 385.5 with three TD passes and two runs ... 345.0 Strong in the pocket, elusive and power- ful outside of it ... Likes to show off how PASS YARDS much fun he is having, especially after per game Panthers . ... Broncos CB said Newton “is throwing 248.0 the ball amazing right now, and then 300.5 you know what he can do with his legs. He’s the best of both worlds. RUSH YARDS He’s probably the most dangerous per game KEY PLAYERS quarterback in the NFL right now.” 148.0 OFFENSE 69.0 » , RB (28) 5-10, 235, 8th TOP TARGET season, Oregon. Became the true No. 1 runner this season when DeAngelo Williams departed ... Rushed for 3RD DOWN CONVERSION 989 yards and six TDs during season, had 59-yard on success rate Panthers’ first play of postseason ... Strong runner with a burst to break big plays. 55 » Ted Ginn Jr., WR (19), 5-11, 185, 9th season, Ohio State. Resurrected his 38 career in second stint with Carolina ... Has overcome penchant for drops to use his speed and improved routes to have his best season ... Also a dangerous punt returner with 32-yarder to set TURNOVERS up own 22-yard TD run vs. Arizona. BY » Greg Olsen, TE (88), 6-5, 1 DEFENSE 252, 9th season, Miami. Among 9 » Thomas Davis, LB (58), 6-2, 235, 11th season, Georgia. Terrific leader, All-Pro outside the most valuable tight ends in backer who broke right forearm in NFC title game ... Had surgery and expects to suit up for football, Newton’s favorite target SACKS BY Super Bowl ... Has overcome series of knee surgeries, was NFL’s Man of the Year in 2014 ...... Versatile, can get open deep Was in on 105 tackles ... Longest-tenured Panther. or short, over middle or outside 8 » , LB (59), 6-3, 238, 4th season, Boston College. A tackling machine, ... Already has 12 catches in 2 the All-Pro linebacker also has two returns for TDs in playoffs ... Perenni- postseason, one TD ... Made 77 receptions for 1,104 yards and ally among league leaders in tackles, had 118 this season while missing three games ... PLAY 2012 Defensive Rookie of Year and won top defensive player in 2013. seven touchdowns in regular SELECTION season. RUN » Josh Norman, CB (24), 6-0, 195, 4th season, Coastal Carolina. Peyton Man- PASS ning might not be looking Norman’s way. All-Pro has been among best shutdown this season ... Sometimes gets too aggressive — remember ugly feud with Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. in December — but has superb coverage skills ... BREAKDOWN 39%

His matchup with either Demaryius Thomas or will be highlight. & PHOTOS BY THE

Kuechly ASSOCIATED PRESS 61%

Trivia answer: Trivia Quarterback Jake Delhomme and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad. Muhsin receiver wide and Delhomme Jake Quarterback

LEADERS Regular season HOW THEY WERE BUILT THE ROAD HERE DEPTH CHART PASSING DRAFT OFFENSE Att Com % Yards TD INT 2005 — LB Thomas Davis, 1st. 2007 — C , 2nd-B; WR 19 Ted Ginn, Jr.; 17 ; 81 Kevin Norwood Newton 495 296 59.8 3,837 35 10 DE Charles Johnson, 3rd. 2008 — RB Jonathan Stewart, 1st-A. LT 73 ; 60 Daryl Williams 2011 — QB Cam Newton, 1st; 2012 — LB Luke Kuechly, 1st; LG 68 ; 79 Chris Scott RUSHING P , 6th; CB Josh Norman, 5th. 2013 — DT Star C 67 Ryan Kalil; 61 Fernando Velasco Att Yards Avg Long TD Lotulelei, 1st; DT , 2nd; LB A.J. Klein, 5th. 2014 RG 70 ; 79 Chris Scott; 61 Fernando Velasco J. Stewart 242 989 4.1 44 6 — DE , 2nd; G Trai Turner, 3rd; S , 4th. 2015 RT 74 Mike Remmers; 60 Daryl Williams C. Newton 132 636 4.8 47 10 — LB , 1st; WR Devin Funchess, 2nd; OT Daryl TE 88 Greg Olsen; 84 ; 80 Scott Simonson Williams, 4th; LB , 5th-A; RB Cameron Artis-Payne, Tolbert 62 256 4.1 29 1 WR 10 Philly Brown; 82 Jerricho Cotchery; 11 Brenton Bersin 5th-B. Record: 17-1; NFC South champions QB 1 Cam Newton; 3 Derek Anderson; 14 Joe Webb RECEIVING FREE AGENTS Date Opp. W/L Score FB 35 Mike Tolbert No. Yards Avg. Long TD 2011 — QB Derek Anderson. 2012 — K Graham Gano; DT Dwan Sept. 13 at Jaguars W 20-9 RB 28 Jonathan Stewart; 43 ; Olsen 77 1,104 14.3 52 7 Edwards; DE . 2013 — WR Brenton Bersin; LB Sept. 20 Texans W 24-17 34 Cameron Artis-Payne; 32 Brandon Wegher Ginn Jr. 44 739 16.8 74t 10 Ben Jacobs. 2014 — WR Corey Brown; CB Lou Young; S Roman Sept. 27 Saints W 27-22 Cotchery 39 485 12.4 59 3 DEFENSE Harper; RB Fozzy Whittaker; C Fernando Velasco; G Andrew Oct. 4 at Buccaneers W 37-23 Co. Brown 31 447 14.4 39t 4 LDE 95 Charles Johnson; 94 Kony Ealy; 97 Mario Addison Norwell; OT Mike Remmers; G Chris Scott; DT Kyle Love. 2015 Oct. 18 at Seahawks W 27-23 Funchess 31 473 15.3 52 5 LDT 98 ; 93 Kyle Love — WR Ted Ginn Jr.; CB Teddy Williams; CB ; Oct. 25 Eagles W 27-16 RDT 99 Kawann Short; 92 Dwan Edwards CB Robert McClain; S ; RB Brandon Wegher; OT Nov. 2 Colts W 29-26 RDE 69 Jared Allen; 91 Ryan Delaire Michael Oher; TE Scott Simonson. Nov. 8 Packers W 37-29 No. Yards Avg. Long TD S tied SLB 54 Shaq Thompson; 56 A.J. Klein Nov. 15 at Titans W 27-10 K. Coleman 7 89 12.7 36t 1 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS MLB 59 Luke Kuechly; 53 Ben Jacobs; 55 David Mayo for the NFC lead with Nov. 22 Redskins W 44-16 Th. Davis 4 22 5.5 22 0 2012 — RB Mike Tolbert (San Diego). 2014 — QB Joe Webb WLB 58 Thomas Davis; 56 A.J. Klein seven picks during the Nov. 26 at Cowboys W 33-14 Kuechly 4 48 12.0 32t 1 (Minnesota); WR Jerricho Cotchery (Pittsburgh); TE Ed Dickson LCB 27 Robert McClain; 26 Cortland Finnegan; 22 Lou Young regular season, then Dec. 6 at Saints W 41-38 Norman 4 110 27.5 46t 2 (Baltimore). 2015 — S Kurt Coleman (Kansas City); DE Jared RCB 24 Josh Norman; 21 Teddy Williams had two in the confer- Allen (Chicago). Dec. 13 Falcons W 38-0 ence championship SS 41 ; 29 Dean Marlowe PUNTING Dec. 20 at Giants W 38-35 TRADE FS 20 Kurt Coleman; 33 Tre Boston; 42 Colin Jones No. Yards Avg. against Arizona. He is Dec. 27 at Falcons L 20-13 2009 — C J.J. Jansen (Green Bay). 2011 — TE Greg Olsen Nortman 70 3,175 45.4 having by far the best Jan. 3 Buccaneers W 38-10 SPECIAL TEAMS (Chicago). 2012 — S Colin Jones (San Francisco). 2015 — WR season of a previ- K 9 Graham Gano Kevin Norwood (Seattle). KICKING ously checkered career PLAYOFFS P 8 Brad Nortman XP/XPA FG/FGA PTS that has spanned six Jan. 17 Seahawks W 31-24 PR 19 Ted Ginn, Jr.; 27 Robert McClain Gano 56/59 30/36 146 seasons. 2015 — DE Ryan Delaire (Washington). Jan. 24 Cardinals W 49-15 KR 43 Fozzy Whittaker; 14 Joe Webb