#NFCChampionship Wrap Up

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Charlotte, NC

Championship games can make heroes or scapegoats and the 2016 NFC Championship game was no exception. In the end, it was a tale of two quarterbacks. Cam Newton led the Carolina Panthers with 382 yards of total offense while Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer had only 235. Yet it was his mistakes that doomed the Cardinals and put the game away rather quickly.

[Read our Keys to the Game here]

Palmer overcame a very slow start going only 4 of 10 for 37 yards to end the half 9 of 17 for 86 yards yet the turnovers were just a sign of bad things to come. The first series of the second quarter ended with a Palmer fumble. Carolina would punt on the ensuing series and the Cardinals would score on a David Johnson one yard run on their next series.

That portent proved real however. Carolina would punt on their next series too but Patrick Peterson would muff the punt and the Panthers would capitalize scoring on the next drive and putting them up 24-7 over the Cardinals. Palmer would subsequently fumble again on a sack by DE Charles Johnson. Newton then threw an interception but Palmer returned the favor by throwing one of his own thus ending a very messy first half for the Cardinals and a sloppy ending for Newton.Carson Palmer

Unfortunately for Cardinals fans, Palmer’s dreadful night was not yet done. He would go on to throw three more interceptions in the second half. With two lost fumbles and four interceptions, Palmer is a convenient, and probably deserved, scapegoat for the Cardinals loss.

It wasn’t all bad for the Cardinals. Rookie sensation David Johnson continued to show how special he is while a fellow rook, wideout JJ Nelson, showed flashes as well. Johnson finished with 128 yards from scrimmage and Nelson added 25 receiving yards and 45 yards on kick returns. Additionally, undrafted free agent safety Tony Jefferson, now finishing his third season, continues to be a bright spot on the defense shoring up a secondary sorely missing fellow defensive back Tyrann Mathieu.

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The story of the game was undoubtedly Cameron Newton who continued to show the league he is a force to be reckoned with a the rising superstar he proclaims he wants to become.

Despite the sloppy end to the first half, Newton was spectacular in this game throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for two more.

In his post game comments, Newton made it clear neither he nor the team are done.

Speaking of undrafted free agents, the Panthers look to have a special one of their own. Second year wideout Corey Brown led the team in receiving with four receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.

One final note and that is about the home crowd which was absolutely fantastic and seemed to help feed the players. There is a special relationship between this team and its fans and it shows in the game atmosphere. The press box was rocking.

The Carolina Panthers are special and on a historic run to Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara California. 

The Cardinals are a first class organization as well, congratulating their opponent on a game well played.

Final score

Arizona Cardinals 15

Carolina Panthers 49

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