CAROLINA PANTHERS vs BUFFALO BILLS
This is it: One game to determine a champion.
For fans of the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills alike, Sunday night's 51st Super Bowl will either be a moment to be cherished for the rest of their lives or something that hangs over their heads until their team can finally reach the mountaintop.
Fans of the Bills know the feeling well.
With an 0-4 Super Bowl record in the 1990s, the Marv Levy, Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, and Bruce Smith version of the Buffalo Bills had an opportunity to create one of the NFL's greatest dynasties but instead are remembered as a good team that couldn't win the big game.
For the Carolina Panthers, this newer NFL franchise has been close to reaching the NFL's summit, but have also failed to finish the job.
One of these franchises will finally be able to call themselves the best in the world after Super Bowl LI.
"It's a tremendous burden," Aaron Rodgers said. "I respect the heck out of those great Bills teams. If we can finish this off, they can share in our celebration just the same."
Many former Bills players and staff members are set to be on hand on Super Bowl Sunday and will certainly take Rodgers up on his offer if there is a celebration in the Bills locker room in NRG Stadium.
"I'll be in there crying as if it were us," Jim Kelly said. "Buffalo is a close city and I desperately want those fans to experience a championship."
Steph Curry, an outspoken fan of the Panthers, has rallied fans from his home state to support their group.
"We (Golden State) got a championship and I felt like that could partly go home to Carolina with me," Curry said. "But we love our Panthers man, I can't wait to see them hoist that trophy."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Cam Newton is no stranger to Geno Atkins and the rest of his defensive teammates after the QB's short stint with the New York Jets a season ago. Newton has done wonders to repair his image after being traded three times in less than two seasons from Carolina, to New York, to Cleveland, then back to Carolina.
"It's been a whirlwind," Newton said. "It's weird to be honest. But our old GM here didn't want me, the Jets played moneyball, and the Browns, I guess, liked (Ryan) Tannehill better. I'm glad to be home."
Newton did not fare well against the Bills last year and we don't anticipate it going better this time around either.
PREDICTION: Bills win 35-21
