The 2003 Carolina Panthers will forever hold a special place in team history for their fans because they were the first Panthers squad to reach the Super Bowl, but they wouldn’t beat this season’s version.
Just ask them.
According to David Newton of ESPN.com, quarterback Jake Delhomme and offensive tackle Jordan Gross would pick the 2015 Panthers in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup between the franchise's two Super Bowl participants.
It is hard to argue with their assertions on paper considering the 2003 Panthers went 11-5 and lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots, 32-29, after Adam Vinatieri drilled a 41-yard field goal.