Agreed. The Panthers are not a fluke but they will lack Denver's experience. This is a classic old-school-vs-new-millenia matchup.
The temptation for most fans is to see Manning get his second ring and ride off to pasture so we don't have to watch another Brett Favre act but I'm not sure Manning is going away that easily. To be honest, he's been little more than ordinary since he came back and Denver's best move would be to tell him he's welcome back next year as a QB coach but not under center.
(BTW, one report is that if he retires he'll move into the Tennessee front office with Bill Polian).
This is Newton's MVP year but he'll have many more chances to win a title and if the Panthers come in too cocky or unfocused, he's not going to know what hit him until it's too late.
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