The Carolina Panthers will visit the Denver Broncos to kick start their 2016 season on September 8th, but odds-makers at many a sportsbook online are not the only ones eagerly anticipating the Super Bowl 50 rematch. Outside linebacker Von Miller is psyched to see Panthers QB Cam Newton on the gridiron again, and why wouldn’t he be? Miller was named MVP of that game after his 2½ sacks on the league MVP resulted in a fumble-recovery touchdown by defensive tackle Malik Jackson, and a two-yard touchdown plunge by RB C.J. Anderson.
One could certainly expect Newton to be as fired up for this game as Miller is. As any sportsbook online user would tell you, football is all about “what have you done for me lately?” sure, he had a hell of a 2015 season, but as the man himself said regarding the Super Bowl loss to the Broncos: “who likes to lose? You show me a good loser and I’m going to show you a loser. It’s not a popularity contest. I am here to win football games.” Interestingly, Newton has only had one opening-day win to his name; the 20-9 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13th, 2016.
That does not bode well for the Panthers’ sportsbook chances, nor does their history with the Broncos. Carolina and Denver have met each other in a football battlefield five times since their first encounter in 1997. The Broncos lead the series 4-1-0. Why not take the opportunity to revisit these games and determine in more detail how the Panthers have fared throughout?
- November 9th, 1997. The Panthers set foot inside Mile High Stadium for the first time ever in their third season in the NFL. Needless to say, Cam Newton was still a long ways away from becoming an end-zone dancing quarterback – what with his being 8 years old at the time and what not. However, one could argue that an eight-year old Cam Newton might have done a better job that Panthers QB Kerry Collins. Then again, having to play opposite John Elway did Collins no favors. The Broncos shutout the Panthers 34-0.
- October 10th, 2004. The Panthers returned to Mile High stadium on a day that will be remembered as featuring the longest touchdown that never happened. Outside linebacker Julius Peppers ran 101 of the 104 yards that separated him from the Broncos’ end-zone. Carolina had improved quite a bit since ’97 but were still no match for Denver, who won 20-17.
- December 14th, 2008. Fast forward four years. The Broncos make their first official visit to Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers were having a breakthrough season, and were undefeated at home. They beat Denver 30-10 to clinch at least a tie for the NFC South title and keep the Broncos from clinching the AFC West.
- November 11th, 2012. Cam Newton had debuted the year prior and was now set to face the Broncos for the first time. It’s safe to say it didn’t go quite as he may have planned it. Not unlike Kerry Collins before him, Newton had a tough task measuring up to Peyton Manning. He was sacked seven times, and Miller pressured him into an interception that allowed Tony Carter to return 40 yards for a TD. See a pattern here? The Broncos won 36-14.
- February 7th, 2015 – Super Bowl 50 at Levi Stadium. Newton lost two fumbles, threw an interception and failed to produce a touchdown for the only time during the
- season. ‘Nuff said.
