Ron Rivera and general manager Dave Gettleman said after the 2013 season the Seattle Seahawks were the model the Carolina Panthers had to get to in order to win the NFC.

Carolina then had a deficiency in the secondary, but Josh Norman has since emerged as the NFL's next great cornerback.

The Panthers' defense has been good but it ranks 13th in total defense compared to Seattle's first ranked defense in 2013.

Cam Newton, like Russell Wilson, is capable of being a playmaker at quarterback with his legs.