It’s the first time two Heisman winning quarterbacks meet in a conference championship game, the seventh time two number-one overall selected quarterbacks meet on this big stage, and the first time these two polarizing quarterbacks play for a chance to head to the Superbowl.
While Cam Newton has been on the up-and-up since entering the league in 2011, Carson Palmer has taken a dive in his career before rising back to the top of NFL quarterbacks. It will be a battle of the NFC’s best as the Arizona Cardinals head east to take on the Carolina Panthers.
Now that the quarterback talk is covered, there remains much more to highlight in this intense match-up. Under the direction of defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, the Panthers defense has played nearly lights-out the entire season. With the duo of linebacker Luke Kuechly, and Josh Norman, the Panthers defense will certainly give Palmer and the Cardinals a challenge, especially down the field.
On the other side of the ball for Carolina, they are not lacking one bit, having the highest scoring offense in the league. Aside from Newton’s dangerous play-making ability with his legs, the Panthers have a slew of solid weapons to get the job done.
Running back Jonathan Stewart and tight end Greg Olsen have proved to be pivotal in Carolina’s offensive success. Wide receivers Ted Ginn, Cory Brown, and Jerricho Cotchery have also helped carry the load on the Panthers offense.
While the one-loss Panthers are ready to go, the Arizona Cardinals will be the biggest road-block imaginable on the way to Superbowl 50. Palmer’s resurgence has been aided by one of the all-time great receivers Larry Fitzgerald, and rookie running back sensation David Johnson. Palmer’s hook-up with Fitzgerald in last week’s divisional round game to give them another week was nothing short of amazing, but it was not a play that either men are not used to making regularly.
Arizona’s defense also comes into this game as one of the leagues best. Led by cornerback Patrick Peterson, the Cardinals’ defense will play a huge roll in this game as they hope to limit Newton’s passing options, causing the Panthers to rely on Newton and the backfield.
There’s no doubt that the NFC Championship game is the harder of the conference championship games to predict. Newton and the Panthers plowed through the regular season, while Palmer and the Cardinals are stacked for these high-profile games. Only one of these two teams will earn the right to take on an all-time great quarterback with hopes of holding up the Lombardi Trophy in February.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
