Ron Rivera recalls Mike Ditka’s advice in preparation of Super Bowl 50

The 49 points were the most for an NFC title game victor.

– Caylin Newton is excited about the Carolina Panthers big win and proud his big brother, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, is headed to the Super Bowl. In winning the NFC Championship, they improved to a league-best 17-1 record and pounded the Cardinals for 335 yards passing, 152 yards rushing, 4 interceptions (2 for touchdowns) and 3 fumble recoveries – all while holding Arizona to 225 yards passing and 60 yards rushing.

Newton presents a new challenge to a Broncos defense that was dominant all season and still raised its game to another level in the AFC championship win over New England.

Manning will become the oldest starting quarterback in Super Bowl history at age 39 when the Broncos face the Panthers in two weeks in Super Bowl 50 at the San Francisco 49ers’ stadium in Santa Clara, California. The matchup is set for Sunday, February 7. “I tried to go out and play ball, just trying to give them that energy, and my team fed off me”.

And now that the Panthers have realized those expectations, the fifth-year coach believes they’re capable of bringing home the organization’s first Vince Lombardi trophy.

“You know what Peyton Manning is doing right now?”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Carolina coach Ron Rivera remembers turning to Dave Gettleman following a training camp practice this summer, and asking the Panthers general manager, “Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?” Newton and company are great, but they will undoubtedly have trouble against this talented defensive unit of the Broncos.

Asked how he felt about facing five-time NFL Most Valuable Player Manning, Newton said, “I don’t want to make it personal”. The Panthers have been solid but not near as good as the Broncos defense, but their offense has been solid. “Hopefully we can get past those things”.

There is no obvious answer on how to stop Cam Newton, and the Panthers hope to ride their incredible quarterback to a SuperBowl victory and well into the future.

“Whether you win, lose or draw, people are going to talk”, Newton said. “All he’s done when he came in his rookie year…he had a dynamic rookie year”, Rivera said.