THE PANTHERS
Set a record for most points scored (49) in the NFC Championship. The previous mark was 41 by the 1991 Redskins and 2000 Giants.
Scored the second-most points in franchise history. The only time they’ve scored more was during a 52-31 win over Cincinnati on 12/8/02.
Scored more than 30 points for the eighth time in their past nine games. The Cardinals had held opponents to 20 points or less in six of their last seven games.
Have outscored their past six opponents in the first half, 135-17.
Scored touchdowns on three of their four trips into the red zone a week after they went 3-for-3 against Seattle.
Extended their streak of games with 100-plus rushing yards to 31 (including playoffs). It’s the longest such streak since the 1974-1976 Steelers (37).
Extended their NFL-best home win streak to 13 games.
Are one win away from becoming the first team to go undefeated at home, earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and win the Super Bowl since the 2003 Patriots.
THE CARDINALS
Had seven turnovers, the most by any team in a playoff game since the Packers had eight in the 2001 against the Rams.
PANTHERS
QB Cam Newton
Became the first player in the Super Bowl era to pass for 300 yards and rush for multiple touchdowns in a playoff game.
Has been sacked just once in each of the Panthers’ two playoff wins this season.
Hadn’t scored a rushing touchdown in the playoffs until he scored two against the Cardinals. Arizona allowed just one rushing touchdown by a QB in its previous 17 games.
Threw just his second interception in his past 10 games.
Finished with a QB rating of more than 100 points for the 9th time in his past 11 games.
WR Philly Brown
Put himself in Carolina’s record books with an 86-yard touchdown reception, the longest in Panthers’ playoff history. That play gained more yards than Brown totaled in any game this season (season-high: 59 yards vs ATL in Week 14).
WR Ted Ginn Jr.
Scored his first rushing touchdown since he was with the Dolphins on 12/21/08.
WR Devin Funchess
Continued his streak of scoring in every other game since Week 9.
DE Charles Johnson
Had his second sack in as many weeks. He now has nine sacks in eight games against the Cardinals, including three in the past two playoff meetings.
S Kurt Coleman
Added two interceptions to his regular-season total of seven. He totaled just 10 interceptions in his first five seasons.
S Tre Boston
Caught his first interception since his pick-6 in the 2014 regular-season finale in Atlanta.
CARDINALS
QB Carson Palmer
Threw four interceptions, his most since 12/22/13.
WR Larry Fitzgerald
Was held to 30 receiving yards, his fewest in nine career playoff games.
This is easy to overlook, but on the Peterson INT return, Velasco forces him to veer back to the middle of the field, putting Ginn in position to make the tackle.
I haven’t seen anyone note that Cam broke both of Steve Young’s records last night. In week 17 he’d tied Steve Young in both most rushing TDs by a Qb, and most games with both a rushing & passing TD.
From week 17’s stats & superlatives:
“Cam Newton … Scored two rushing touchdowns, upping his career total to 43. Newton is now tied with Hall of Famer Steve Young for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback since 1970. Young scored his 43 in 169 games. Newton has played just 78. …. Threw and ran for a touchdown in the same game for the 31st time in his career. That ties him with Young for most in NFL history.
So…. Cam now has 45 rushing TDs in 80 games. And he threw & ran for a TD in 32 games.
The NFL does not add postseason to regular-season stats.
Luke may deserve a mention too with his 2 consecutive Pick-6s last week and this week. I’m not sure if that’s a playoff first. I think I read somewhere that it was.
He’s the first to do it since Asante Samuel in 2006.
Fitz had one drop this season and i’m pretty sure two last night.. thought that just proved all was going right