The Carolina Panthers have exceeded all expectations en route to their phenomenal 15-1 record in what has been by far the best season in franchise history, winning the NFC South for the third-straight year.

While the team with the best record isn’t always necessarily the best team, the Panthers arguably are just that. They were one sloppy loss in Atlanta away from becoming the second team in NFL history to go 16-0 in the regular season and are only the fifth team to win 15 games in the regular season. The team also had a franchise-record 10 players selected to the Pro Bowl, as well as eight players selected to the AP All-Pro first and second teams.

While critics point out their weak schedule as a reason for their success, they did beat four playoffs teams, all by at least four points, including a 44-16 thumping of Washington.

Perhaps the biggest part of their success is the turnover ratio. Carolina had the best turnover ratio with 39 takeaways (first in the NFL) and 19 giveaways (tied for eighth fewest) for a ratio of +20, as well as the most points off takeaways (148). Only Kansas City (+14) and Cincinnati (+11) had ratios more than 10, and the top-five teams in this category all made the playoffs.

This defensive prowess is led by Pro Bowlers and defensive tackle Kawann Short, linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis and cornerback Josh Norman, who all made the Pro Bowl at his respective position. 

Short led the team with 11 sacks and forced three fumbles (T-second). Kuechly was first in tackles with 118 tackles, tied for second with Davis and Norman with four interceptions (behind only safety Kurt Coleman, who had seven), and added a sack and two forced fumbles, despite missing three games with a concussion. Davis was second on the team in tackles with 105, third in sacks with 5.5 and led the team with four forced fumbles. Norman had two defensive touchdowns, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries while allowing a league-worst opposing passer rating of 54.0.

Another factor was the balance of scoring on each side of the ball. The Panthers averaged a franchise-best and league-leading 31.2 points per game, while allowing a sixth-best 19.2 points per game. Only the Seahawks, who were T-fourth in scoring offense and first in defense, ranked higher in terms of balance.

Now, consider what the Panthers had to work with. First, second-year wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL in practice before the third week of preseason, leaving quarterback and MVP candidate Cam Newton without his No. 1 target. This left the drop-happy Ted Ginn Jr. as the No. 1 wide receiver. Second, star linebacker Kuechly missed three weeks with a concussion. Third, defensive end and the second-highest paid player on the team, Charles Johnson, injured his hamstring and missed eight games. Now, the team is without starting cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Bene Benwikere, who sustained season-ending leg injuries in the final four games of the season.

Let’s start with Newton’s performance. He struggled at first, throwing 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his first eight games and completing just 53.7 percent of his passes. However, he improved drastically in the second half of the season, throwing 21 touchdowns and only one interception while completing 65.9 percent of his passes. Couple that with his dynamic running ability (636 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns) and there should be little argument that he is the MVP.

While Benjamin’s injury certainly hurt the team, it forced Newton to spread the ball out more. Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen led the team with a career-high 1,104 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, but he was the only outlier.

The four leading wide receivers all had at least 31 catches and 447 yards. Ginn led the group as the deep threat with 41 catches for 739 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns (as well as dropping about four other ones). Jerricho Cotchery stepped up as a reliable third-down target and was second in the group with 39 catches and 485 yards. The inexperienced Devin Funchess and Philly Brown had a slow start, but ended the season with a combined 62 catches for 920 yards and eight touchdowns.

While analysts picked on this group for being the weakest in the NFL before the season started, it proved to be more than adequate down the line.

However, the successful passing game was largely set up by the power running attack led by Pro Bowler Jonathan Stewart who ranked second in the NFL with 142.6 yards per game. Despite missing the final 3.5 games, Stewart led the team with 242 carries for 989 yards and six touchdowns, even with Newton and fullback Mike Tolbert vulturing most of the goal-line touches. 

Fortunately for Carolina, Stewart is set to return from injury for the first playoff game against Seattle. His presence will be needed against the Seahawks, who boast the league’s best rushing defense, allowing 81.5 yards per game.

Seattle is easily the toughest opening matchup the Panthers have gotten. Although the Panthers beat the Hawks 27-23 in the first meeting, Seattle ended the season as one of the hottest teams, compiling a record of 9-1 in the final 10 games of the season, tied with the Panthers for the second-best in that span.

While some see the matchup as unlucky, I see it as the true test for Carolina to show that it is the best team in the NFL. If the Panthers beat the Seahawks, and then the winner of the Arizona Cardinals-Green Bay Packers game in the NFC Championship Game (it will likely be Arizona), no one will question that the Panthers earned the right to play in the Super Bowl by taking the toughest road to the big game.

If the Panthers play to their fullest potential, as they have for most of this season, I truly believe that they can scratch and claw their way to the Super Bowl and hold the Lombardi trophy in three weeks’ time.