SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Every Bronco had watched Cam Newton from afar over the last five seasons -- and some have played against him, including those who were on the 2012 team that dismantled the Panthers 36-14 in Charlotte.
But that was years ago -- and the Newton of Feb. 7, 2016 will be different than the one the Broncos saw.
"They've got a different scheme going for him," said defensive end Vance Walker, who faced him four times in the 2011 and 2012 seasons while playing for the Atlanta Falcons.
Between the change in offensive coordinators from Rob Chudzinski to Mike Shula, the maturation of Newton and the natural evolution of personnel, the Panthers' attack is more diverse than it was in the early 2010s.