In less than a week, the Carolina Panthers will play for a trip to the Super Bowl.

Coach Ron Rivera isn't all that impressed.

"This is the fifth straight year the Patriots have gotten to the AFC Championship. That's where the gold standard is," Rivera said Monday.

"That's what you strive for to get to this position. You're not just a perennial playoff team but you're a challenger and by that, I mean getting to the NFC Championship or AFC Championship."

It's not like Rivera isn't somewhat satisfied. It's just one title game in the past decade doesn't yet equal a dynasty.

But, hey, you've got to start somewhere.

"It validates everything we've done so far with development and growth as a football team. It validates the patience that our owner has shown with us and our development," Rivera said. "It validates what (general manager) Dave (Gettleman) and his group have done in terms of looking for players and finding players that would fit into our culture downstairs and fit on our football team."

Players like Jerricho Cotchery, a guy who's not flashy, but who's acted as a father-figure for a young group of wideouts the past two years.

In 2009 and 2010 with the Jets, Cotchery wound up one win shy of his first Super Bowl. Now in his 12th season, he has a third chance.

"It's not, 'Your time is going to be next year or a couple years from now,'" Cotchery said. "You don't get to say, 'We're going to be doing this for a long time,' because you don't know how everything plays out with injuries, free agency and all of those things. You have to make right now your time."

While they moved through the most successful season in franchise history, the Panthers rarely lacked motivation. They were "the worst undefeated team" at 4-0 just like they were at 8-0. Then last week, they were well aware plenty of folks were picking the Seahawks.

Because his team opened as a four-point favorite over the Cardinals, Rivera hasn't yet played the underdog card this week. But it's early yet.

"I'm still searching. I have to wait until I read all of your articles and see what's out there," Rivera said with a smile.

"I have a couple days before I do my first powerpoint on Wednesday morning, so I'll hopefully come up with something."