The last time the Carolina Panthers started a season this strong, a second-year defensive end from the University of North Carolina named Julius Peppers fought through a season worth of double teams to pick up seven sacks during the 2003 Super Bowl run.

12 years later, plenty has changed for Peppers. Now 35, he's on a different team playing a different position. But when he returns to Bank of America Stadium on Sunday with the Packers, one thing that could look the same is how he pressures the quarterback.

Peppers is experiencing a bit of a renaissance in his second season as an outside linebacker. He has a team-leading 5.5 sacks after totaling seven each of the past two years. Not bad for a 35 year old.

“He’s a freak of nature,” Panthers safety Tre Boston said. “With him going to UNC, I've kept up with him, he's a freak. He's dominant. A guy who is going to do his job every time.

"When you're at his age, people know who you are, where you're at, and people know how they need to try to stop you and right now he's still playing great ball.”

And right now, Peppers is just adding to his Hall of Fame résumé. After racking up a franchise-best 81 sacks with the Panthers, he's added 50 more with the Bears and Packers.

Before coming to Carolina, cornerback Charles Tillman spent four seasons with Peppers in Chicago. Tillman, 34, is a year behind Peppers, but they have both drank from the same Fountain of Youth.

“Taking care of your body and the grace of God, those are the two things,” said Tillman, who's playing 79 percent of the snaps in his 14th season. "Those are the two secrets.”

Peppers' dominance was never a secret in Carolina, but the longer he's played elsewhere, the more the memories have faded. On Sunday, the Panthers hope to limit any reminders.

"He just doesn't age," center Ryan Kalil said. "It's crazy."

Added coach Ron Rivera:

“Some guys stay a couple steps ahead of Father Time. He’s one of those guys.”