The Carolina Panthers attempted to trade for Peyton Manning ahead of the 1998 NFL Draft.

The Panthers offered Kerry Collins and multiple draft picks to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for Manning

Bill Polian had drafted Collins just three years earlier when he was GM of the Panthers.

"Bill was dead set against it," said Dom Capers, Carolina's head coach at the time who was also given control of personnel decisions when Polian left the team after the 1997 season.

"He was set on keeping the pick. You never know on those kinds of things — but sometimes you have to try."

Polian said trading Manning was never a consideration.

"There wasn't anything they could give us that was going to replace Peyton Manning," Polian said.

Thomas Davis expects to play in the Super Bowl despite breaking his right forearm in the NFC Championship Game.

Davis underwent surgery which included 11 or 12 screws and a metal plate inserted into his arm.

Davis is so optimistic about facing the Denver Broncos in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 7 that he fought back when teammates playfully started grabbing at his arm.

"They kind of grabbed my arm like, 'You can't retaliate. You can't do anything,'" Davis said. "It was feeling a lot better today than it was yesterday, so I retaliated like, 'If you want to try me now.'

"It was all in fun. It feels good to be healing up now, knowing I have a lot more time to heal."

The Carolina Panthers opened at -5.5 favorites over the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.

But betting on the Broncos has moved the line to -4.

The over-under points total is 44.5.

When the Manning-led Broncos played two seasons ago in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks, they were 2.5-point favorites and lost 43-8. Gamblers wagered a state-record $119.4 million and books made an unprecedented $19.7 million profit.

Jared Allen has been ruled out of the NFC Championship Game with a fractured foot.

Allen wasn't about the Carolina Panthers' decision.

"Not happy, plain and simple," Allen said Friday. "I am ready to rock. It's a coach's decision. Got to live with it."

Ron Rivera told the NFL's active career sack leader (136) of his decision after Allen was unable to practice Friday in icy, snowy conditions.

"He's very disappointed," Rivera said. "He took it hard. We've got to look at this going forward as far as what's best for the team is concerned on Sunday."

The following infographics show the percentile rankings for all four 2015 NFL playoff teams in the NFC and AFC Championship Games in the categories of DVOA for offense, defense, pass offense, rush offense, pass defense and rush defense. 

The infographics show the strengths and weaknesses of every team.

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

The NFL final four is set this season with the Arizona Cardinals playing at the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship and the New England Patriots playing at the Denver Broncos.

Both the Cardinals and Panthers finished the regular season ranked in the top-10 in both offensive and defensive DVOA.

The Broncos were a top-10 defensive team, ranking first, while the Patriots were a top-10 team on offense at fifth. The Broncos ranked 25th defensively, while the Patriots were 12th on offense.

The New England Patriots are in the AFC Championship Game for the fifth straight season and for the 10th time during the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era.

The NFC Championship features the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, who last were one win away from the Super Bowl in 2008 and 2005 respectively.

Jared Allen is doubtful for the NFC Championship Game with a broken foot.

Ron Rivera said Monday after Allen underwent an MRI that the injury is not as serious as the one suffered last year by defensive tackle Star Lotulelei.

Allen played the final two series against Seattle with his injury.

"For the most part, it's going to be a day-by-day [issue], and we'll see how he is by the end of the week," Rivera said. "He will be listed as doubtful. As he reacts to it, hopefully we'll know going forward.

"For right now, we don't expect him to be on the practice field on Wednesday. He's treating it and doing everything he can, and we'll see how he is on Thursday morning."

The following infographics show the percentile rankings for all eight 2015 NFL playoff teams in the Divisional Round in the categories of DVOA for offense, defense, pass offense, rush offense, pass defense and rush defense. 

The infographics show the strengths and weaknesses of every team as the second round begins.

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

The Carolina Panthers will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round as opposed to the Green Bay Packers.

Many believe the Packers would be the easier matchup for the Panthers but not Josh Norman.

"Why? Why would you want anything in life that is easy?" Norman said Monday, via Black and Blue Review. "Shoot, man, if you don't go for it head on, then how can you say you are the best at anything? I think that is the way we are in our society. We want things the easy way and stuff to be given to us. We don't want to work for it. We want things to be handed to us. And I don't think that's the way it should be done. I think the way it has been set up is the right way."

The Panthers beat the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 6.