Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers Box Score on Jan 24, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Jan 24, 2016

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A commanding 24-7 lead over the Arizona Cardinals at halftime put the Carolina Panthers two quarters away from a matchup with the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

Quarterback Cam Newton threw a long touchdown pass on third down in the first quarter and scored on a 1-yard dive over the pile in the second as the Panthers powered their way through the Cardinals' defense and kept heat on Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer.

Carolina’s first possession resulted in an eight-play, 39-yard drive and Graham Gano’s 45-yard field goal.

Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.’s 32-yard punt return set up Carolina at the Cardinals’ 49-yard line for its second possession.

Ginn, who played last season for Arizona before rejoining the Panthers, then scored on a 22-yard reverse on a play in which he reversed field after picking up about half of the necessary yards.

Newton’s long pass to wide receiver Corey Brown on third-and-8 resulted in an 86-yard touchdown play with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.

It was nearly a repeat of the strong start for Carolina in the divisional playoffs. The Panthers led 14-0 after one quarter (and 31-0 at the half) a week earlier against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Cardinals finally made it into Carolina territory early in the second quarter, but Palmer fumbled on a sack to end the threat.

Arizona, which started slow for the second week in a row, finally scored on running back David Johnson’s 1-yard run with 5:44 left in the first half. That capped a 10-play, 79-yard drive that lasted more than six minutes.

It looked like Arizona might seize momentum by forcing a punt, but the boot was muffed by cornerback Patrick Peterson and Carolina took over at the Cardinals’ 46.

The Panthers converted five plays later on Newton’s 1-yard touchdown leap, pushing the lead to 24-7.

A sack by Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson gave the ball back to Carolina at Arizona 31.

Then the Cardinals caught a break when Peterson intercepted Newton and returned it 72 yards to the Carolina 22 in the final minute of the first half. The good fortune didn’t last long because on the next play safety Kurt Coleman intercepted Palmer on a throw into double coverage in the end zone.

Cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who was a midseason acquisition, made a couple of key defensive plays in the first quarter for the Panthers.

Earlier Sunday, the Broncos won the AFC Championship game 20-18 with several critical defensive plays.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was hit a season-high 20 times, sacked four times and threw an interception on a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game with 12 seconds remaining. Denver's defense ranked No. 1 in the league in total defense and sacks in 2015.

Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes in the first half and returns to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in his career and the second time in three years with the Broncos. The 39-year-old is 1-2 in the Super Bowl and will be the oldest quarterback to start the championship game when Super Bowl 50 kicks off Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, Calif.

"To be going to our second Super Bowl in four years is very special and just an awesome effort by our entire team tonight," Manning said. "What an incredible effort by the Patriots. For us to beat that team today, a very special win."

Brady credited a ferocious pass rush for keeping the Patriots guessing. New England was playing in a fifth consecutive conference championship. The Patriots fell to 2-3 in those games but won last year's Super Bowl in Phoenix.

"I'm proud of the way we fought, and we certainly fought to the end," he said.

NOTES: The previous meeting between teams came with Carolina winning 27-16 in the wild-card playoff round last January. … Aside from last year, Arizona won the only other playoff meeting (33-13 on Jan. 10, 2009). … All three postseason clashes have come in Charlotte. … Temperature at kickoff was listed at 39 degrees. … The Cardinals’ only other appearance in the NFC championship game came with a victory against Philadelphia in the 2008 season. … The Panthers played in the NFC championship game for the first time since 2005. Of four NFC title games for Carolina, this was the first at home. … Panthers DE Jared Allen, who suffered a foot injury last week against Seattle, was inactive for Sunday’s game. … The Panthers had a league-leading 10 selections for the Pro Bowl, while Arizona had seven.