CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) Superman is headed for the Super Bowl

For the second straight week, the Carolina Panthers had an impressive first half in their playoff game.

Newton completed 19 of 28 passes for 335 yards and added 47 yards on 10 rushes.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – For all his daring and dabbing and Superman persona, Cam Newton quickly reminds everyone that football is all about team.

“We knew from the get-go when he first got here”, said center Ryan Kalil, like Newton an All-Pro, “we had something special”. That obviously puts Cam Newton and Peyton Manning at the top of the list for Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, but there are still a lot of intriguing options. They’re 1-2 overall, advancing to Super Bowl in 2003….

But that was the lone blemish for Newton, who now won’t be able to accept the MVP trophy, given that the NFL’s Honors awards program is the night before the Super Bowl.

Earlier Sunday, the Broncos beat the New England Patriots by a score of 20-18 to earn their own berth in the NFL’s championship game, set for February 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Carolina opened as a 4-point favorite with most bookmakers. Newton will be playing in his first National Football League championship game and the Carolina franchise will be appearing in the Super Bowl for the second time.

Sometimes even the most experienced players can use a pointer or two when the pressure is on. Newton had two before the fourth quarter – a 1-yard stretch across the goal line and a 12-yard somersault into the end zone. They led the league in points (500) during the regular season, and against the Cardinals’ top-ranked offense they forced six turnovers by Carson Palmer. The excitement was nearly too much for the one fan who fell out of the stands just going for a high-five. The seven giveaways by the Cardinals were the most in a playoff game since 2001. Miller had one of the Broncos’ seven sacks in that game, as Newton finished 21-of-36 for 241 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Six plays later, he took a pitch from Newton, headed left and broke a tackle by Justin Bethel.

“Yeah, we are going to the Super Bowl”.