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Highlights From Carolina Panthers’ Win Over Arizona Cardinals In NFC Championship Game

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Despite being doubted all season long, the Carolina Panthers continued to pile up win after win and found themselves in the NFC Championship Game against the team most experts believed to be the best overall team in the league, the Arizona Cardinals. In what was expected to be a slugfest, the Panthers dominated all three aspects of the game and earned a trip to Super Bowl 50 with a 49-15 victory. Here are the highlights if you happened to miss the game.

10. Ted Ginn Jr. Reverse Touchdown

Following an eight-play opening drive that ended in a field goal, the Panthers' defense forced the Cardinals to punt. Ginn would return the punt 33 yards which would eventually lead to this wild reverse touchdown later in the drive to put the Panthers up 10-0.

9. Cam Newton Finds Corey Brown Uncovered For 76-Yard TD

This play exemplified Cam Newton's progression as a quarterback this season. When he first goes to release the ball, he's looking for Jerricho Cotchery, but at the last second, he pulls it back because he sees Brown wide open. This touchdown put the Panthers up 17-0 and the rout looked to be on.

8. David Johnson Punches It In

The drive following the Brown touchdown resulted in a Carson Palmer fumble, but the defensive held and forced a punt. On the next drive, Johnson led his team down the field and was able to punch it in from a yard out to cut the Panthers' lead to 17-7.

7. Cam Newton Goes Over The Top

The Cardinals' defense forced a three-and-out on the drive following the Johnson touchdown, but Patrick Peterson muffed the punt and the Panthers recovered. Newton would lead his team down to the one yard line and finally punch it in on third-and-goal by flying through the air to take a 24-7 lead.

6. Kurt Coleman Picks Off Carson Palmer Prior To Half

The Panthers' defense forced a Palmer fumble and had a perfect opportunity to extend their lead, but Newton threw a pick to Peterson on the next drive which Peterson returned deep into Panthers' territory. With any sort of points, the Cardinals would have kept themselves in the game, but Coleman made this incredible play to prevent that from happening and allow the Panthers to enter the break ahead 24-7.

5. Cam Newton Flips Into End Zone For Second Rush TD

On the opening drive of the second half, the Panthers embarked on an 11-play 80-yard drive that ended in a Graham Gano field goal to put the lead at 27-7. Following a three-and-out by the Cardinals' offense, the Panthers responded with another eight-play 79-yard drive that ended with Newton flipping into the end zone.

4. Devin Funchess Puts Nail In Cardinals' Coffin

After a touchdown from Carson Palmer to Darren Fells, and ensuing two-point conversion, the Cardinals cut the Panthers' lead to 34-15. Led by Jonathan Stewart, the Panthers would turn yet another Palmer interception into this touchdown pass from Cam Newton to Devin Funchess to take a 41-15 lead.

3. Luke Kuecly Adds Salt To The Wound

On the first offensive play for the Cardinals following the Funchess touchdown, Palmer threw another interception, this time to Luke Kuechly who returned it for a touchdown and a commanding 49-15 lead.

2. Fan Falls Onto Field Celebrating Kuechly's TD

When Kuechly went to high-five the Panthers fans in the first row, he got a surprise when one of the fans fell over the railing onto the field. Instead of just leaving him there, Kuechly takes time to check and see if he's okay. What a good dude.

1. Panthers Headed To Super Bowl 50

With the emphatic victory over the Cardinals, the Panthers will travel to San Francisco to square off with the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 in two weeks. Congratulations to Jerry Richardson, Ron Rivera and the rest of the Panthers' organization. You guys deserve this.

Jason Fletcher is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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