4 times the Carolina Panthers made us proud throughout history

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(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) Cam Newton /

Carolina Panthers Moment No. 3: 2015 vs the Seattle Seahawks

The 2015 campaign was easily the greatest season in Carolina Panthers’ history. With 15 regular-season wins, an NFL MVP, and a second Super Bowl appearance, there are many things that made the fans proud throughout this special campaign.

Arguably the first major hurdle they had to overcome was a Week 6 contest against the Seattle Seahawks, who were the reigning NFC Champions and boasted Russell Wilson under center.

Throughout Cam Newton’s first four years in Carolina, the team hadn’t beaten the Seahawks in any of their four attempts. Leading up to this game, Seattle had bounced the fourth-seeded Panthers out of the playoffs the year before, bringing even more frustration to what seemed to be a budding rivalry between the two teams.

The Panthers entered this game as one of the few undefeated teams in the NFL. Despite their below .500 record, Seattle was still a talented team with a lot to prove.

Jumping out to a 3-0 lead after an early interception by Newton, the Seahawks were in control of the first quarter. The game followed a back and forth pattern, until the second half when the Seahawks pulled away on a long flea-flicker touchdown pass to go up 17-7.

Seattle would add two more field goals as the Panthers struggled to move the ball, with Jonathan Stewart keeping Carolina alive on a one-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Down 23-14 after another Stephen Hauschka field goal, the Panthers’ undefeated record was hanging by a thread with just under 12 minutes to play.

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After an illegal substitution penalty, Newton and the Panthers went three and out, giving the ball back to Seattle. The defense stepped up on the next drive, forcing a quick three and out of their own, giving the quarterback and his offense the ball back with eight minutes left.

On the ensuing possession, Carolina marched down the field with the help of Greg Olsen, whose acrobatic 32-yard catch and run set the offense up inside the one-yard line. A Jonathan Stewart run later and the Panthers completed their third 80-yard drive in the game, trimming the deficit to three after a missed extra point.

Once again, the Panthers defense forced Wilson outside of his comfort zone, causing a devastating holding penalty that led to a quick end to what could’ve been a game-ending drive by Seattle. Following a touchback on fourth down, Carolina had two minutes to score a game-tying field goal or a touchdown that would give them the lead.

Facing the daunting “Legion of Boom,” who had terrorized quarterbacks throughout their history, Newton had another difficult drive ahead of him. His first major play of the final drive was a dart to Ted Ginn near the 50-yard line.

Ed Dickson caught a pass over the middle for another first down on the next play. The Panthers offense was finally in rhythm, with a nine-yard sack not being enough to throw them off.

Two plays later Newton would stake his claim in the MVP race with a perfect 26-yard strike to a wide-open Olsen. With 32 seconds left, the Panthers delivered a come-from-behind touchdown to knock off their rivals in as dramatic a finish as the 2015 season had.

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