By The Rabbi - OTSL Producer/Video Editor
There's only one number you need to know going into Super Bowl 50, and that number is TWO.
Why 2? TWO is the number that showed what the Carolina Panthers public perception was for most of the season. TWO is the number that signified the 20 consecutive regular season wins as a fluke to the public. TWO is the number that made the Panthers look like a product of just a really weak NFC. TWO is the number that reminds people that the Panthers were a 7-8-1 division winner a year ago. TWO is the number that had people believing Cam Newton isn't even a Top 10 QB in the NFL, and that's a CRAZY thing to think now.
Okay, so let me tell you what the number 2 actually represents: it was the opening Vegas gambling line of Panthers-Cowboys in Week 12. The Panthers were 10-0 going in the game and the rumblings of a 16-0 regular season were getting louder. Carolina had built up a reputation as a big game team and was about to prove their worth against a Cowboy team whose QB, Tony Romo, would be starting in his 2nd game back from surgery.
Were the Panthers favorites in this match up going in? They were not. It seemed crazy at the time even though the Panthers were on the road in this game and it seems much crazier now. There have been a ton of doubters for this Panthers team all season, are there are a ton of different reasons why.
They're not the sexiest team in the NFC. The Packers have the history and fans; the Seahawks had the two consecutive NFC championships before this season; the entire NFC East (even this year) is more watchable to the average Joe than a singular Panthers game.
They are still very weak at the skill positions to the public. RB Jonathan Stewart had a great year, but he was always known as the slightly better portion of a backfield timeshare until 2015. WR's Ted Ginn, Jr. and Jerricho Cotchery? Please, they're just other teams castoffs, is what many said before this year. Greg Olsen wasn't a #1 TE in many people's eyes, because only two tight ends in the NFL were worthy of that distinction: Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. Many people thought this team was done when its leading receiver from 2014, Kelvin Benjamin, got injured in training camp.
Then of course there's Cam Newton, now the very likely NFL MVP. He was always considered a pretty good QB, but one that still needed to prove himself worthy of that Number ONE Overall draft pick distinction in 2011 for a ton of different reasons. He had many injuries (which is to be expected for someone who moves as much as Cam does); he was always known as a out of the pocket QB (when the NFL these days embraces more in the pocket QB's); and he was just not considered as much of a leader (like a Brady, a Manning, or a Rodgers).
Unless you've been living under a rock, you all know by now how the Panthers proved the doubters wrong. They beat the sexy Seattle Seahawks on the way the NFC Championship.
They had the skill positions: Stewart was the main back in the NFL's #2 rushing offense; Ginn had the best year of his career, Cotchery proved he was still a viable wideout, Olsen had his 2nd straight 1,000 yard receiving season and developed into the 2nd best TE in the NFL behind Gronk.
Finally there's Newton: He was injury free in 2015; threw only TWO INT's from the pocket in his last 10 games and he is now one of the most vocal leaders in the NFL.
So, what happened in that Week 12 game vs. the Cowboys? Carolina won EASILY 33-14. Jerricho Cotchery was the team's leading receiver in that game; Newton was responsible for almost 230 all purpose yards plus one touchdown; and Cowboys QB Tony Romo through three INT'S and was re-injured by the very stiff Panthers defense.
The opening line for Super Bowl 50? Panthers by 3.5. The public perception changed big time from just TWO months ago, as the betting public moved the line a full TWO points. Now Carolina is favored over Denver by 5.5, and that line might grow even more.
Do not doubt the Panthers; they're not anyone's number TWO anymore.
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