Panthers’ Davis has surgery, should play

Davis broke his right forearm while making a tackle late in the first half of the Panthers’ 49-15 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game. “We’re going to stick to what got us here”, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Monday.

“They’re going to embrace it”, Rivera said. And considering Davis is no stranger to significant National Football League injuries – he’s now come back from three separate ACL tears – and playing through pain, it really wouldn’t be surprising to see him take the field at Levi Stadium with his Panthers teammates next month. Nah, I’d rather dance!

Carolina topped the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday in the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship Game to book a ticket to Super Bowl 50.

“It hurt, and it was painful”, Davis said. “And I know I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that I’m ready to go”. “I wanted to get the ball to the guys, but I knew I’d have opportunities as well”. Though I did hear from several optimistic fans who took solace in Fox’s former teams squaring off in Santa Clara, Calif., and wondering if that meant the Bears might only be one move away from the Super Bowl. “I kept digging us a hole that we just couldn’t come out of….”

“I think the biggest thing, too, is do what you’ve done, don’t change”. That’s significant, because Manning now stands between Carolina and its first Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl 50.

Colts safety Mike Adams replaces Seattle Seahawks’ Kam Chancellor, who will miss the game due to injury. But I’ll figure out a way to get in that game.

Defensive tackle Kawann Short has proven a quarterback magnet throughout the regular season, which he also translated into the postseason.

Even without Davis, the Panthers managed to finish the game with seven takeaways — six of those on defense. His last appearance was during the 2006 season as Bears defensive coordinator under Bears head coach Lovie Smith, according to his bio on the Panthers’ website.

“I love coach, I have nothing but respect for him and I respected his decision”.

“We’ve been doubted. We’ve been slated; all of the above, but yet when you have turnouts like (Sunday) it makes it all worthwhile”, Newton said after the win against the Cardinals.

And centre Ryan Kalil (knee) “is fine”, Rivera said. Both had multiple interceptions during the regular season, and Kuechly has two interception returns for touchdowns in the postseason, including a 22-yard return against Arizona.

No matter how things turn out, no one can ever question Davis’ toughness again.

TV ratings: The AFC championship game has drawn its second-largest television audience on record.