Monday 25 January 2016 11:36, UK
Cam Newton says the Carolina Panthers' 49-15 demolition of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game proved a lot of people wrong.
The Panthers failed to convince everyone of their Super Bowl credentials despite building a 14-0 regular-season record before suffering their lone loss of a 15-1 campaign.
But inspired by Newton, who threw two touchdowns and ran in two more as the Panthers capitalised on seven Cardinals turnovers, Carolina booked their place in the San Francisco showpiece against the Denver Broncos - who edged out the New England Patriots - to prove they are the real deal.
Newton was not alone in his heroics, with Ted Ginn zig-zagging in for a 22-yard score, Kurt Coleman swiping a pair of interceptions while linebacker Luke Kuechly ran his pick back for a 21-yard touchdown.
"We wanted to be efficient, we wanted to start fast, wanted to keep the pressure on and wanted to finish, most of all," said Newton.
"We won as a team. We came out here and fought our tails off, and we did what a lot of people said we couldn't do. It's not over yet. We'll be ready to go in two weeks.
"It isn't going to be instant grits, quick grits. It's going to be a process, like long-cooked collard greens. I think those collard greens are brewing right now. You can smell it from a mile away."
Tight end Greg Olsen said: "We felt pretty confident all year long with the guys that we have and the character that we have. When we're playing, we're as good as it gets."
All Pro cornerback Josh Norman said no one should be surprised.
"It's not by chance that we have done this. Today is our day. The time is our time," he said after Carolina shut down the league's top-rated offence. "We've been doing this all year."
Nine-year Panthers veteran Charles Johnson reserved his praise for Newton, adding: "What can you say about Cam? It's his world. He's the MVP. I call him Obama. I'm just glad he's on my team. He does amazing stuff."
