9. Cam Newton
Just five weeks ago, the Panthers were 2-7-1 and Ron Rivera was likely on the way out. However, with how bad the NFC South was in 2014, Â the Panthers were able to find their way into the playoffs, and it just so happened they will host a Cardinals team that is being led by Lindley at the quarterback position. With how well their defense is playing and Jonathan Stewart emerging as a running back in Carolina, the Panthers will likely beat the Cardinals and they could even give the Seattle Seahawks a tough game if their defense shows up.
The man that deserves the most credit for the Panthers’ four-game winning streak is Cam Newton. The third-year quarterback has had an up-and-down year mainly because of the lack of talent around him. However, when he has had to overcome adversity and win football games, he has done that. Newton is 0-1 in his playoff career. Carolina has a solid defense and Cam will likely improve that playoff record on Saturday. Although Cam’s best receiver is a rookie who drops a lot of passes in Kelvin Benjamin, the fact of the matter is that he gets the job done and does what’s needed to win.
Next: 8. Matthew Stafford