Earlier, Denver and veteran quarterback Peyton Manning edged last year's champion New England Patriots and their signal caller Tom Brady 20-18 for the AFC title.

After the Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Conference championship game Sunday, the usual suspects took to Twitter to lambast Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

Newton will face a tough test in Santa Clara against the Broncos, the NFL's best defense.

After a long wait, the Panthers hired Rivera as their fourth head in franchise history on January 11, 2011. But for now, he settled for hitting the club after he helped Carolina knock off the Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game.

Benjamin said he spoke with Newton shortly after the injury.

Newton's counterpart, Palmer, was performing like anything but an MVP. And Eli is 2-0 against the oft-favored Patriots in Super Bowls while his big brother is 1-2 in the big game.

The 17-1 Panthers beat the 14-4 Cardinals from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte and will move on to play in Super Bowl 50. "To me this victory sort of is a great example of what this entire season has been like". But after storm conditions all week made it hard for fans to travel to North Carolina for the game, the only question was, "What kept the Cardinals from showing up?"

The betting line quickly dropped to Carolina minus-4 points as money flowed to the Broncos. - Thomas Davis, on his status for two weeks from now. What really stands out with the one that took place five years ago is its quality in the first round, and, as the upcoming Super Bowl will reflect, that started right at the top.

Rivera doesn't plan to change a thing.

This has hardly been a record-setting season for Manning - or, until now, one worth remembering.

Newton was fearless against the Cardinals' talented secondary, throwing for 335 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for two more scores.

"My role has been different and my contributions are different", Manning said.

Can the Broncos match that kind of offensive firepower now that Peyton Manning is staring down retirement? He got to celebrate later in the same drive, though, when he scored on a 22-yard reverse that started left, then came across the field to the right and covered about 60 yards.

"I thought of this moment way before this moment", Newton said. "To get him back there".

For Newton, who is a candidate for league MVP, today's game gives him a chance to live out a dream.

Carolina's D was destructive.