All year long, the Carolina Panthers' defense dominated opponents. Head coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott led a unit that finished the season sixth in both yards and points allowed while forcing turnovers on 19.4 percent of their opponents' drives, the single best mark in the league.
On Sunday in the NFC Championship against the visiting Arizona Cardinals, the Carolina defense brought more of the same. The Panthers limited Carson Palmer and the Arizona offense -- which finished the regular season second in the league in scoring -- to just 287 yards and 15 points, well below their season averages.