Super Bowl power rankings: Who’s the best loser?
By John Buhler
20. 2003 Carolina Panthers, Super Bowl XXXVIII
The 2003 Carolina Panthers were a team certainly capable of winning a Super Bowl, but a late-game special teams gaff by kicker John Kasay, who missed the entire field on a kickoff, helped give the New England Patriots improved field position to set up another heroic game-winning field goal by kicker Adam Vinatieri.
The Panthers went 11-5 that year and won the NFC South. They would defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round, the St. Louis Rams in the Divisional Round, and the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2003 NFC Championship.
Carolina would enter Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium in Houston against the AFC-champion New England Patriots. New England missed the AFC Playoffs the year before, but had won Super Bowl XXXVI two years prior. The Patriots weren’t yet a dynasty, but were a touchdown favorite over John Fox’s Panthers in the Super Bowl.
Carolina would cover the spread, but would end up losing 32-29. This was the Panthers’ first ever trip to the Super Bowl and it took 12 years for the young NFL franchise to get back. They again will face another Hall of Fame quarterback in Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Could the 2003 Panthers have won Super Bowl XXXVIII? Yes, but even though they covered the spread, their 11-5 record will end up making this the second-most important trip to the Super Bowl in Carolina history. It’s hard to top a 15-1 regular season and being nearly a touchdown favorite over Denver in Super Bowl 50.
Next: 19. 1984 Miami Dolphins