A look at Carolina Panthers-related news and nuggets from around the web.
Seth Wickersham of ESPN.com profiles Cam Newton and other young quarterbacks:
The most important thing Newton does with his right hand is write in his notebooks. He updates them meticulously, head down in meetings, scribbling each day, his notes ranging from keys to the defense to reminders to be patient and take what the coverage gives him. These notes don't just reveal why he has been so successful. They could be the key to answering a long-running question: When will a true dual-threat quarterback dominate the league?
Read it at ESPN.com
Neil Paine of FiveThirtyEight.com examines the Panthers' rise using advanced statistics:
Based on our preseason Elo ratings — FiveThirtyEight’s favorite system for estimating an NFL team’s skill level at a given moment — there was a 1.8 percent probability that the Panthers would be 8-0 through Week 9. By contrast, New England had a 6.6 percent probability of being unbeaten at this stage.
Read it at FiveThirtyEight.com
Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer catches up with a proud dad:
Shula really likes tight end Greg Olsen. “He’s exciting to watch and is really their big-play guy whenever they are struggling,” Shula said. And of course he likes the job his son is doing and enjoys watching the rest of the Panthers’ team on TV every week in Miami.
Read it at CharlotteObserver.com
David Newton of ESPN.com compares the Panthers to the 2013 Seahawks:
The Seahawks won the NFC West with a 7-9 record in 2011 and then won a playoff game. The Panthers won the NFC South with a 7-8-1 record in 2014 and then won a playoff game.
Seattle went 11-5 the next season and then won the Super Bowl in 2013 with a 13-3 regular-season record.
The Panthers are starting to get mentioned as a Super Bowl contender, having won 12 consecutive regular-season games since opening last season 3-8-1.
Read it at ESPN.com
Lindsay H. Jones of USAToday.com with overreaction Panthers fans will love:
A 37-29 win over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday was their most impressive win, even though they needed a defensive stand to hold on after nearly wasting a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Carolina has a two-game lead in the race for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and they're 5-0 at home. So, book those plane tickets to Santa Clara, Panthers fans.
Read it at USAToday.com
Pat Kirwin of the Real Football Network breaks down Carolina's 'double mug' pressure scheme:
#KEEPPOUNDING