Super Bowl 50: 5 keys for the Carolina Panthers

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Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Establish the ground game

There’s a reason the Panthers won 15 games this year without a true No. 1 receiver. They piled up nearly 2,300 yards over the course of the season on the ground, good enough for 2nd best in the league. They also led the NFL in rushing attempts, handing the ball off a whopping 526 times. For comparison, the New England Patriots only rushed 383 times this year.

It all starts with Jonathan Stewart. The eight-year veteran finished just 11 yards short of his first 1,000 yard season since 2009, despite missing three games to injury. He has also paced all running backs in the postseason, rushing for 189 yards over two games and averaging an even 5 yards per carry.

If he can sustain that momentum for 60 more minutes, the Panthers will coast to a Super Bowl championship. It’s easier said than done since Denver owns the league’s No. 3 rushing defense, but the threat of Cam Newton to hurt a team with both his arm and his legs should keep the Denver front seven honest and open up some running room for Stewart.

Next: 4. Stop the run

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