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DSFL 5

Carolina captures the world championship in typical DSFL fashion

DSFL 5 Title Game: Panthers vs Chiefs

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The Panthers were reeling at 4-5 overall. At least, that was the feeling from most DSFL fans. In fact, just about everyone had written them off when they lost 3 straight games. But that wasn’t the feeling inside Carolina’s locker room. The 2015 Panthers began the season with a spectacular training camp fight between quarterback Cam Newton and all-pro corner back Josh Norman. That altercation was the early sign that this team was brash and confident in their own mode of operation.

The Panthers then fought with the play style of the whole league throughout the DSFL 5 season. Ron Rivera’s club attempted the 5th fewest passes in the league (212). They were going against the styles of the 11 other playoff teams. Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers matched the league lead in passing led by an arsenal of wide receivers. New England won their first 11 games, courtesy of the most precise pocket passer on this side of Joe Montana. Meanwhile, the Panthers were slowly slipping out of playoff contention, led by a quarterback that was committing critical errors in many close games.

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Runningback Jonathan Stewart catches the Cam Newton touchdown pass that sends Carolina to the playoffs (Week 10, DSFL 2020).

Week 10, @ Philadephia

Cam Newton had been struggling for most of the game. In fact, the offense as a whole was just 4 of 10 on 3rd down with 3 punts and 3 points. The Panthers were down 4 with 3:47 remaining. The ball was placed at their own two. If Newton swapped uniforms with Superman in cleats, the Eagles wouldn’t have known the difference. The run-first offense, in front of a sell-out crowd, drives 98 yards in 13 plays. It almost looked too easy. They only needed one 3rd down conversion throughout that march. The final drive of the DSFL 2020 regular season was by far and away the best. The Panthers hold on for a thrilling 10-7 win which clinches the final NFC playoff spot.

That win was the momentum they needed two weeks later against NFC champion Seattle. The Panthers didn’t just beat the Seahawks. They would score 21 unanswered points in the first 6 minutes of the game. The drive at Philadelphia and the scoring run at Seattle were two special moments that will forever epitomize the character of this team and story of this league. The 1976 Raiders began a long trend of DSFL champions that few saw coming. Who knows? The Panthers could pull this off again in the coming years. They are nobody’s pick to make it happen. And that’s just the sort of doubt that they need.