This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In the 12 years since their only Super Bowl appearance, the Carolina Panthers became bad enough that they fired the coach who took them there and were able to draft the quarterback who may be good enough to get them to another one.
In advance of Sunday's NFC title game vs. Arizona, a closer look at the Panthers:
Team's theme • Carolina won its first 14 games of the season, but managed to find motivation from those who doubted them along the way.
How they got here • Carolina finished 15-1 to win the NFC South title and earn the conference's No. 1 seed, ahead of Arizona. The Panthers beat two-time defending NFC champion Seattle 31-24 in the divisional playoff round after leading 31-0 at halftime.
Super Bowtalented l-bound if • They play anywhere near the level of Sunday's first half, maximizing a roster with 10 players selected to the Pro Bowl.
Homeward-bound if • They play anywhere near the level of Sunday's second half. It's almost that simple. The Panthers thrive on turnovers with a plus-20 margin in the regular season and took advantage of two interceptions in the first half, but Seattle's Russell Wilson finished with 366 passing yards and three touchdowns and the Carolina offense was ineffective after halftime.
Biggest variable • Aside from creating turnovers, which helped the Panthers score the most points in the league while finishing 11th in total offense, Carolina needs a steady running game. Jonathan Stewart rushed for 106 yards on 19 carries against Seattle, with 59 yards on one play.
Best player • Would it surprise you to discover that quarterback Cam Newton is in his fifth NFL season? The Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick from Auburn has developed into a high-level passer and is the league's presumptive MVP after throwing 35 touchdown passes (and 10 interceptions) in the regular season.
Best player you've never heard of • Mike Tolbert made the AP All-Pro first team as a fullback, by nature an unheralded position. He gets more carries than the average fullback, playing a hybrid role. Linebacker Thomas Davis also tends to be overlooked, playing alongside Luke Kuechly.
Local connections • Star Lotulelei, from Bingham High School and the University of Utah, has started at defensive tackle for three seasons as a first-round draft choice. His statistics have dropped off this season, but he remains an anchor of the NFL's No. 6-ranked defense. Ex-Ute safety Brian Blechen, listed as a linebacker, is a member of the Panthers' practice squad.
Reasons to cheer for them • Even more than Arizona, the Panthers represent a fresh face at this stage of the playoffs. Coach Ron Rivera and the organization have steadily built a strong team from the depths of that 2-14 season, which resulted in the firing of former Ute assistant coach John Fox.
Reasons to cheer against them • Newton and the Panthers are too exuberant for some people with their touchdown celebrations, although that's partly because they score a lot of them.
Twitter: @tribkurt —
Conference championships
AFC New England at Denver, Sunday, 1:05 p.m. MST TV • Ch. 2
NFC Arizona at Carolina, Sunday, 4:40 p.m. MST TV • Ch. 13