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Super Bowl 50: Who are these Panthers?

By Matt Verderame

Dec 27, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) yells at the line of scrimmage against the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) yells at the line of scrimmage against the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers are a very good team. Here are their top three storylines going into Super Bowl 50.

Carolina has been one of the more underrated National Football League teams in recent memory. Cam Newton is likely going to be the Most Valuable Player, the Panthers had a league-leading 10 players named to the Pro Bowl and to top it off, they started 14-0 before finishing 15-1.

Going into Super Bowl 50, there are all kinds of angles involving the Panthers. Here are the top three…

1. Winning the first ring

There are legions of players on the Panthers who are without the ultimate hardware. Cam Newton is in his fifth season and aiming for his first Super Bowl title. He falls in the same category as other stars on Carolina including Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Jared Allen, Jonathan Stewart and Charles Tillman. The Panthers are favored in the game, but will their relative inexperience hurt them when the lights are brightest?

2. Thomas Davis’ arm

Davis sadly broke his arm in the NFC Championship Game against the Arizona Cardinals. He had surgery the following day and had screws inserted into the arm, all while maintaining his availability for the Super Bowl. Thomas likely won’t practice throughout the week but if he plays, he’s a legend. Davis has already overcome three ACL surgeries in his career, so only a fool would count him out.

3. Start of a dynasty?

Carolina is a team with mostly very young players. Newton is only 26 years old and the defense revolves around Josh Norman, Star Lotulelei, Kavaan Short, Kuechly and others in the mid 20s. Most of them are also locked up for years to come, while head coach Ron Rivera should have plenty left in the tank. If the Panthers can get over the hump of winning their first title, this should be a team to watch for the next 5-6 years at least.

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