Feeling nostalgic.
With the Super Bowl in the rear-view mirror, and nothing going on in the Carolina Panthers’ offseason – for once – let us recap the Carolina Panthers’ two Super Bowl appearances, highlighting key moments.
Super Bowl XXXVIII
February 1st, 2004, Carolina took on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Sports Illustrated called it the “greatest Super Bowl of all time”.
This was the Panthers first Super Bowl. Awaiting them in Houston was Tom Brady and Bill Belichick looking for their second Super Bowl rings.
The game was scoreless with 3:05 left in the second quarter, setting a record for the longest time a Super Bowl remained scoreless.
Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme had completed one pass in his first nine attempts. The Panthers had a net loss of nine offensive yards.
Then, 24 points were scored in the final three minutes of the half. Patriots led 14-10 at halftime.
During the break, the most memorable halftime show occurred as Janet Jackson took to the stage with Justin Timberlake. What happened next – well, if you know you know.
Anyway… the third quarter, much like the first, hit a stalemate. In the final quarter the Patriots immediately extended their lead. This triggered an explosion of 37 points being scored in the final 15 minutes, the most in a single quarter in Super Bowl history.
The Panthers bit back and then failed on a two-point conversion. Following a Panthers interception of Brady in the endzone, Delhomme completed the longest play from scrimmage in Super Bowl history; an 85-yard touchdown completion to Muhsin Muhammad.
Carolina became the first time in Super Bowl history down more than 10 points in the fourth quarter to come back to take the lead.
But with 1:08 left to play and the Panthers having tied the game at 29-29, an out of bounds kick-off gave Brady the ball back at their 40-yard line. The Patriots put Vinatieri in position to kick a 41-yard field goal with 0:04 left. The rest, as they say, is history.
Super Bowl 50
Some 12 years later, the Panthers were back for a second time. San Francisco, February 7, 2016.
Led by MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Cam Newton and Coach of the Year Ron Rivera, the Panthers opened as 5.5 point favourites in Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos.
They went 15-1 in the regular season, having one of the greatest single seasons in NFL history.
This game did not have the drama and suspense of Super Bowl XXXVIII. The first touchdown was scored by a defensive tackle after Von Miller strip-sacked Newton and the ball was recovered in the end zone.
This was the first fumble return touchdown in a Super Bowl since 1994. The Panthers only touchdown of the game was a one-yard run by Jonathan Stewart early in the second quarter.
At 16-10 with 4:51 to play, the Panthers had a chance to start a game-winning drive, but Miller strip-sacked Newton for a second time and the ball was recovered by the Broncos at the Carolina four-yard line.
Newton had an opportunity recover the ball but hesitated to give him much criticism in the media and from fans.
The Broncos scored and a successful two-point conversion gave them a 24–10 lead with 3:08 left, earning Payton Manning his second career Super Bowl ring in what was his final game before retiring.
With only won playoff appearance since – a 2018 defeat to the Saints in the Wild Card round – when will the Panthers be able to mount another Super Bowl run?
