Cam Newton, Panthers looking to become just 8th team since merger to be 13-0

Last season, everyone criticized a Panthers team that somehow got into the playoffs with a 7-8-1 record.

Carolina doesn’t have to worry about that kind of criticism this season.

Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton has led the Panthers to a perfect 12-0 record up to this point, securing the franchise’s third straight NFC South title with a thrilling, come-from-behind 41-38 win over the Saints last week.

Now, Carolina can wrap up a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win over the division rival Atlanta Falcons today at home.

The Panthers’ success this season has come under the guidance of Newton, who’s already thrown a career-high 25 touchdowns, tossing 5 TDs in two of the last three games, to go with 7 rushing TDs. Meanwhile, his QB rating of 93.2 would easily be a career-best.

However, what’s also at stake today is a little bit of history.

With a victory, the Panthers would become just the 8th team since the NFL merger in 1970 to begin a season 13-0. If their past results are any indication, that kind of of start would set itself up for a pretty good finish. Here’s a look at the seven previous teams to start a season 13-0 and how their seasons turned out:

As you can see, 5 of 7 teams reached the Super Bowl while three of them won it. Two of the teams to start 13-0 actually met in the 2009 Super Bowl when the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17.

The Panthers host the Falcons today at 1 p.m. ET. on FOX.