Panthers Thomas Davis has surgery on his broken arm

It may be hard for casual fans to find anything wrong with Carolina’s game Sunday, but Rivera says his next step will be to find ways for the team to improve. “People are walking around the store with them”, PetSmart store leader Nikki Weaver said. “We all owe it to him”.

Even without Davis, the Panthers managed to finish the game with seven takeaways – six of those on defense. “Three ACLs. Broken fingers”.

The Panthers have gotten this far being themselves on the field, including the way they play.

Davis was hurt with 7:28 left in the second quarter when he hit Darren Fells with his right shoulder as Fells jumped into him after a catch. That possibility seemed remote as Davis knelt on the field and trainers rushing to his side.

“If everything goes well, it is my understanding this is something he can play with”, Rivera said Monday during his news conference.

“I’ll be ready to go”.

“I ain’t missing the Super Bowl”, Davis said. “But at the same time, it was, ‘Let’s find out what we gotta do”.

The most concern was for Davis, who has been with the Panthers longer than any other player. “I’m going to try and take from my experience of having been there as a player, and I will try and share some of that with some of our players once we get into the week”.

The Panthers (17-1) are staying at the San Jose Marriott and will practice at San Jose State.

The 2011 season was a pivotal one in franchise history, the foundation upon which this Super Bowl-bound team was built. The Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals – who Carolina beat in the NFC Championship Game – were the only two teams to average at least 30 points per game in the regular season. His third ACL tear came that September.

Rivera said the Panthers will install their gameplan this week in Charlotte, and then refine it next week in California.

Ron Rivera has been in this very position before. The linebacker also told Terry Bradshaw after the game, “I wouldn’t miss the Super Bowl for the world”. “That’s meant a lot”. His ability to chew up ground and stick with tight ends has made he and Kuechly the flawless linebacker pairing for the modern game.

“One of the things Coach Ditka emphasized to us was to enjoy the moment” Rivera said, via ESPN.