Cam Newton got the cover treatment before heading to the Super Bowl.
He has led his team to a 17-1 record, he’s played at an MVP-caliber level, they just came off a blowout performance against the Arizona Cardinals, and now the Panthers are going to the Super Bowl. It’s been a near perfect season for Cam Newton – the poster boy for the NFL all season – so it’s only right that he should be Sports Illustrated’s cover athlete ahead of Super Bowl 50.
For the complete cover, head over to SI.com.
At the risk of looking biased, however, Sports Illustrated has included a second cover of Von Miller, whose electrifying performance – includying 2.5 sacks and an interception – helped shut down Tom Brady for most of the AFC Championship Game. He’s been one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and his matchup with Cam Newton will be one of the best storylines heading into Super Bowl 50. Can the Broncos secondary cause the same pressure to Carolina or will Cam prove to be too elusive?
For the Panthers, this would be a great honor if the Sports Illustrated cover jinx weren’t a real thing. Just this season, SI featured the Ravens on the cover predicting they would represent the AFC at Super Bowl 50, but their season was plagued by injuries as they fell to a disastrous 5-11 record. The way Cam’s been playing he seems un-jinxable, but his cover appearance, and Denver’s fearsome defensive line, could change all of that.