Panthers become sixth-ever 15-1 team, clinch top NFC seed

The Carolina Panthers might have come up short in their quest for a perfect season, but things have turned out quite nicely nonetheless.

With their 38-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17, the Panthers became only the seventh NFL team to finish 15-1 or better, and they'll be at Bank of America Stadium for the remainder of the playoffs prior to Super Bowl 50.

(If you're a curmudgeon/realist, we should mention that of the members of that club — the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, 1985 Chicago Bears, 1998 Minnesota Vikings, 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers, the 16-0 2007 New England Patriots and 2011 Green Bay Packers — only two went on to win the Super Bowl. The first two, mind you, so it has been 30 seasons since a team that accomplished won it all.)

But these Panthers rebounded in fine form following their only loss, last week's shell-shock defeat to the Atlanta Falcons, to romp the Bucs and withstand a chippy atmosphere and avoid the emotional traps that have opened in the past two games as teams have tried to get under the Panthers' skin.

Running back Jonathan Stewart and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. should heal up within two weeks, in time for their first playoff game, and they are two wins away from the Super Bowl. The Panthers are 8-0 at home, have won 11 straight there (including last season's playoff game) and have beaten three playoff teams this season in the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, any of which could be the team they play in their next game.

Cam Newton and his 45 touchdowns (35 passing, 10 rushing) is the MVP favorite. Ron Rivera might be Coach of the Year. Luke Kuechly, who appeared to avoid major injury in the Bucs win, is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

If the secondary and offensive line and — gasp — Newton can have some good luck in terms of health, there's no reason the Panthers can't make it to Santa Clara. They have the type of elements that recent Super Bowl champions have had, including a confident coach, a clutch quarterback, a run game and a defense.

And if the Arizona Cardinals or anyone else are going to take down the Panthers, they're going to have to do it in Charlotte.