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Top 10 favorites for Super Bowl LI

By Patrick Morgan

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos fans after the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver Broncos defeated New England Patriots 20-18 to earn a trip to Super Bowl 50. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos fans after the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver Broncos defeated New England Patriots 20-18 to earn a trip to Super Bowl 50. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95), outside linebacker Thomas Davis (58) and quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates with the George Halas Trophy after beating the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95), outside linebacker Thomas Davis (58) and quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates with the George Halas Trophy after beating the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Carolina Panthers

Any time you’re tasked with considering next season’s biggest contenders, the best place to start is with the defending champions. And while the Carolina Panthers didn’t win Super Bowl 50, I do think they have a very real chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy when all is said and done in early 2017.

The scariest thought of all for the other 31 teams in the league during the 2016 is the reality that the Panthers should be even better next season, as crazy as that sounds. Cam Newton is at the peak of his powers, as are Luke Kuechly and Josh Norman on defense. Thomas Davis, Charles Johnson, Greg Olsen, and Jonathan Stewart are all experienced vets enjoying career seasons on both sides of the ball, and the Panthers’ most electric young playmaker (Kelvin Benjamin) missed out on the entire season. If Carolina can hang half a hundred points on Arizona in the conference title game with Newton throwing to guys like Ted Ginn Jr., Corey Brown, and Jerricho Cotchery, can you even imagine what they’re capable of doing once Benjamin is back stretching the field?

It’s enough to make opposing coordinators shudder, and it’s more than enough reason to slot the Panthers at the No. 1 spot on our list.

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