There is only a month left in the NFL's regular season and the playoff picture is finally starting to solidify. In terms of Super Bowl contenders, you're hearing teams like the Seahawks, Broncos, Patriots, Chiefs, Saints and 49ers tossed around frequently. The one team that is noticeably missing from these early Super Bowl predictions that deserves to be right in the thick of things is the Carolina Panthers. People are starting to take the Panthers more seriously because of their current seven-game winning streak, but I still don't feel like enough people are viewing them as realistic contenders to hoist the Lombardi Trophy this year. Here are the six reasons why I believe the Panthers are amongst the frontrunners to win Super Bowl 47.
Defense: While you can get by with a subpar defense and win a title (The 2012 Ravens and 2011 Giants), it doesn't hurt to have a great defense. The Panthers defense is currently ranked third in the league and for good reason-they're stacked with talent across the board. Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy are one of the most productive pass rushing tandems in the league, reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Luke Kuechly is quickly becoming the most dominant inside linebacker to enter the league since Patrick Willis and their secondary full of unknown young players and a couple of journeyman veterans have quietly become one of the most effective secondaries in league. Their showing against the 49ers was beyond impressive holding them to 151 total yards (including a mere four yards in the fourth quarter) and picking up six sacks against a 49ers offensive line that is arguably the best in the NFL. The defense may lack the big names and flash of the 49ers and Seahawks, but with their ability to consistently get to the quarterback and force turnovers, they're every bit as talented.
Running Game: The Panthers rotation of running backs and mobility of quarterback Cam Newton has proven to be very successful all season. Each one of their backs brings something different to the table and are rotated so frequently that it makes them nearly impossible to game plan against. DeAngelo Williams is quick and has great vision, Mike Tolbert is one of the most dangerous short-yard backs in the league thanks to tendency to score whenever he gets in the redzone and Jonathan Stewart is essentially a hybrid between Williams and Tolbert with a lot of power and solid speed. While their running backs are rock solid, Newton is the easily the most lethal rushing threat on the Panthers roster. Whether it's a designed run or improvised scramble on a broken pass play, Newton's size and incredible speed makes him a severe matchup problem for opposing defenses. Their rough matchup with the Patriots was an especially strong showcase of Newton's running ability as he extended numerous drives that led to points by running for first downs. Newton's rushing ability combined with a rare example of a running back committee that works makes the Panthers a force to be reckoned with on the ground.
Ability to Come Through in the Clutch: The last few games have shown the Panthers ability to win games in clutch situations. The 49ers game was capped off with an interception by Drayton Florence while the Patriots and Dolphins victories were picked up thanks to big plays from Newton in the latter stages of the game. In the Patriots game, Newton rushed for two huge third down conversions to extend a late fourth-quarter drive that ended with the eventual game-winning touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. The comeback in the Dolphins game last week was even more impressive since the offense was asleep for the first three quarters. Newton threw a perfect pass to Steve Smith on a 4th and 10 on their own 20 with just over two minutes left to keep the drive alive. The miraculous conversion gave the Panthers a ton of momentum and Newton capped off the 93-yard with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen to seal a 20-16 victory for the Panthers. This ability to finish games strong with late-game rallies and strong defensive stands provides a good indicator of what this team could do in the high-pressure environment of the NFL playoffs.
Cam Newton: 2013 is the season that Cam Newton has finally become a truly elite quarterback. On top of his talent, he now has the leadership, maturity and command of this team that is needed to be successful in the NFL. He has become much more patient with his throws and is throwing the ball away instead of forcing balls into double/triple coverage like he did in the past. Newton also has numerous comeback wins under his belt this year. When the team needs a play late in the game, he is there to make it. Newton's dual-threat ability also makes him an incredible asset for a big playoff push. Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson wreaked havoc in the playoffs last year with their ability to beat defenses with their arms and their legs, and there is no reason Newton can't do the same this year. Newton has proven he's the real deal this year and has all the tools to bring the first-ever Lombardi trophy to Carolina.
Victories over Tough Opponents: As I mentioned previously, they've picked up wins over the 49ers and Patriots in the past couple of weeks. They also contended with the Seahawks in Week 1 before they started clicking completely as a team and could've picked up a win if it wasn't for a late DeAngelo Williams fumble. The Panthers have two big games against the Saints down the stretch that will further test them as a team. If they can pull out a victory in at least one of those games, it will solidify their resume and further prove that they are ready for the big stage of the playoffs.
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