Plenty of reasons to be intrigued by NFC championship game

He also lost a pair of fumbles in what was easily his worst performance of the season as the Cardinals fell to the Panthers 49-15 in the NFC Championship Game.

The Cardinals and Panthers have been two of the NFL's most entertaining teams this season, and that sets the stage for what could be a classic conference title game. The last trip was a decade ago, and the Panthers' lone Super Bowl appearance came at the end of the 2003 season when they lost to the Patriots.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Denver Broncos' No. 1 defense is fully aware of the challenge Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton presents in Super Bowl 50.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - For all his daring and dabbing and Superman persona, Cam Newton quickly reminds everyone that football is all about team.

If you thought Carolina beat teams down in the regular season, they have taken it to another level in the postseason. And it goes beyond Newton showing a clear separation on the same field in one game.

"When you give a guy a contract like that, what are you saying to him?" general manager Dave Gettleman asked.

The Panthers (17-1) have written quite a story so far. The Panthers go through periods of dominating on defense, but they shut down.

Carson Palmer's horrific day continued with a pick six when Luke Kuechly got some garbage time fantasy points for Carolina's defense.

Superman is headed for the Super Bowl. Though founded in 1993, the Panthers didn't play their first game until 1995.

He followed with a dab or two, handed the ball to a fan in the end zone, and ran to the sideline to chants of "MVP!"

And one of his TD passes was an 86-yard catch-and-run by Philly Brown, helped by Rashad Johnson's botched tackle.

Newton completed 19 of 28 passes for 335 yards. On Sunday, all of those talents were on display. "We're going to be excited". "Watching him grow each and every year, it's been incredible, and this has been a big year for him?"

"Probably not having enough opportunities", head coach Bruce Arians said of what the quarterback's biggest problem was.

"Yeah, we are going to the Super Bowl. That's the things we'll learn from". Arizona and Carolina play...

Palmer was charged with six of Arizona's seven turnovers, twice intercepted by safety Kurt Coleman. Tre Boston had one and Kuechly got the capper.

Meanwhile, Arizona's defense allowed several big plays. Kyle Love had the other sack.

"This is as low as you can feel, " Palmer said in a hushed tone. "It's a very solid group".

This guy was too pumped. The plan going into this game was to take more risks and be the Cardinals again, but with risk comes the chance things will not work out.

Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.'s 32-yard punt return set up Carolina at the Cardinals' 49-yard line for its second possession.

This doesn't take away from a superb regular season that earned Palmer comeback player of the year honors from Sporting News. He's a 13-year vet - I'm quite sure he'll bounce back as well as ever.

"I did what I always do", Ginn said. "My team knew it was personal". It led the league with 39 takeaways, and at times it made an Arizona team that gained more yards than anyone look amateurish. They were denied their second berth in the Super Bowl.

"You put so much pressure on yourself", he said. "To leave the way we're leaving, it just hurts".

"Playing the sheriff", Newton said of Manning. All of the Panthers recognize the storybook ending Manning could write to his Hall of Fame-caliber career.

"He's still our quarterback; we love him to death", cornerback Patrick Peterson said. "We're about winning a championship".