Sporting News rates 2015 Panthers better than 2003

[Mr. Scot]

...in this list: Every NFL franchise's best team in the Super Bowl era

 

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Carolina Panthers

Year: 2015  

Record: 15-1

Why they’re here: Despite losing receiver Kelvin Benjamin in the preseason, the Panthers advanced to Super Bowl 50 behind a MVP-caliber season from quarterback Cam Newton, who has 50 total touchdowns through the postseason. Carolina led the NFL in scoring offense with 31.3 points per game. Linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis anchored another tough defense molded by coach Ron Rivera.

One stat: Including postseason, the Panthers have outscored opponents 580-347, a difference of 233 points.

Lasting memory: Newton and the “Dab.”  

 

Side Note: They also rate the 1996 Packers team that beat us in the NFC Championship as Green Bay's best squad,

[TN05]

In any other year our 1996 team might have won a Super Bowl. That team was legit. 

[cookinwithgas]

this really isn't news, we had a great defense in 2003 and our offense was pretty good. In 2015 we had really good offense and defense and either could pick up the slack if the other had a bad day. From the hip I'd say luck had more of a part with our 2003 season than our 2015 season.

[KillerKat]

The 2015 team deserved a Super Bowl win if the NFL's agenda didn't show up. I had a feeling we would get fuged before it even began.

[Daddy_Uncle]

well yeah 2015 we were one of the greatest teams in NFL history as far as roster talent goes. Too bad coaching held us back

[RelaxImaPro]

Well no surprise there.  If we weren't completely ignored overall as a franchise then it would rightly be put up there with the 2007 Patriots as one of the best teams to not win the Super Bowl for that given season.

That team was better than most Super Bowl winners from other seasons and we were without question the best team in the league that year and everyone knew it.  We were outright just kicking ass every week, a lot of times blowing teams out by half time, laughing and having fun while doing it.  Lol we were so good we kicked off a global phenomenon in the dab.  Yeah, Cam didn't invent it but he sure as fug popularized the absolute poo out of it.  It basically became synonymous with winning and doing something good - which we were doing a lot of - as it gained pop culture fame.

One hell of a season that only comes around to a fan base once in a lifetime.  fuging shame we lost SB50.  Seasons like that capped off with a Super Bowl win are what make franchises and it would've been remembered as one of those legendary teams like the '85 Bears.  Now it'll be forgotten before long and people already seem to have forgotten we also started poo like that 'take a group photo while the game is still going on' trend that teams like the Saints, Eagles, Jags, etc. just straight jacked from us.  Lol back when we were doing it all you heard about was how "lame" and "unsportsmanlike" it was, yet now we spawned a bunch of copycats and fans and the media are eating it up.

[Saca312]

Still say if Gronk pulls in that 2 point conversion and the Patriots win the AFC Championship, we would’ve absolutely murdered them in Superbowl 50.

Smh.

[Zaximus]

I still think that 2003 team had more heart though.    Man those guys grinded at all positions.     Statistically, yeah 2015 team may never be matched in our franchise's future.

[carpanfan96]

I think that 2003 team would have punched the 2015 team in the mouth and won. That was a mean, gritty group. Statistically speaking, don't think we'll ever see a team as dominating as the 2015 team was though. 

[hepcat]

13 minutes ago, carpanfan96 said:

I think that 2003 team would have punched the 2015 team in the mouth and won. That was a mean, gritty group. Statistically speaking, don't think we'll ever see a team as dominating as the 2015 team was though. 

I think the 2003 team would win against the 2015 group too. Delhomme had comeback magic. When the Cam Newton panthers go down in a game, they rarely win.

[RumHam]

13 minutes ago, hepcat said:

I think the 2003 team would win against the 2015 group too. Delhomme had comeback magic. When the Cam Newton panthers go down in a game, they rarely win.

That '03 Defense couldn't handle Vick very well, no way they contain Cam. They were led by Fox and Dan Henning was the OC. But there is the a Steve Smith and Moose in their primes with Jake at the helm and proehl in the slot. 2015 guys could get pressure but that roided up offensive line would have helped. Would be a damn good game and this is exactly why Madden needs to bring back classic teams.

[RealisticPanther]

that 2015 team, man, just head and shoulders above everyone. There was the Panthers, and then there was everybody else. Still can't believe we choked so bad in the superbowl and had a perfect storm of bad luck and errors manifest. I lost a lot of money on that game.

[Mr. Scot]

One thing I think everyone would agree upon: As far as offensive coaching, you have to give the edge to the 03 team.

As much flack as Henning got at the time, the reality is that he knew what he was doing and was very capable of adjusting.

2015?  Shula...nuff said.

[t96]

4 hours ago, Saca312 said:

Still say if Gronk pulls in that 2 point conversion and the Patriots win the AFC Championship, we would’ve absolutely murdered them in Superbowl 50.

Smh.

I think so too. Rivera and Cam own Belichick and Broncos D was our worst possible matchup. Pats D would’ve been a joke to us that year. We had the revenge tour with Seattle and Arizona and should’ve finished it off with the cheaters. Oh well...