Panthers crush Cardinals, to meet Broncos in Super Bowl

Palmer was bit by the fumble bug for a second time later in the quarter, losing control of a pass and giving the Panthers the ball deep in Arizona territory.

The Cardinals were the victors in one of the best postseason games in recent memory, surviving an Aaron Rodgers miracle to run out with a 26-20 overtime victory. Even when Cam threw an interception, Carson Palmer came out and threw it back to them.

Most recent example: New Orleans' Sean Payton over Indianapolis' Jim Caldwell - and Manning again - in Super Bowl XLIV. Newton accounted for four touchdowns, as the Cardinals defense couldn't find a way to stop Carolina's offensive juggernaut.

It wasn't a fun end to a special season.

Palmer's three first-half turnovers, including an interception in the end zone that would have gotten Arizona back in the game shortly before halftime, did the Cards in.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Carolina Panthers will be favored to beat the Denver Broncos and win the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.

A few hours earlier, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos outlasted New England in the AFC Championship game, and Manning is the epitome of the NFL's prosperous Old Guard. "We'll have a good plan ready to go (for the Super Bowl)".

He's going to California thanks in large part to the league's best defense, which led the NFL with 52 sacks and allowed fewer yards than anyone else this season, then made life hard as can be for Tom Brady and the Patriots on Sunday. They led 17-0 after one quarter, and for the second straight week they confronted the kind of challenge only dominant teams face: not becoming complacent after building an immediate, massive lead. DeHaven is battling prostate cancer and his inspiring story promises to be a Super Bowl-week highlight. Earlier in the day, in the AFC, the Denver Broncos narrowly survived a late-game push from the New England Patriots to emerge with a win.

The thrilling victory sends the Broncos through to a record-equalling eighth Super Bowl.

Right now Manning, who won Super Bowl XLI with Indianapolis nine years ago, is just about the opposite of all that, and the gold standard for what's about to be replaced. Linebacker Thomas Davis, Carolina's spiritual leader, left in the second quarter with an arm injury and he watched the second half from the Panthers' sideline with his right arm in a sling. It forced seven turnovers, picking off Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer four times and forcing him to fumble twice. The real truth of it is, this year's Super Bowl would have felt incomplete without Newton.

"We're not going just to take pictures", Newton said. Any momentum that was gained from the score was quickly diminished when Newton responded with a one yard touchdown of his own that brought the score to 24-7.

• Du Plessis dropped, South Africa bat first

• Sanders stops in Independence, claims he's more electable than Clinton

• Zhang's run continues with 4th-round win over injured Keys