Based purely on record, the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals were the two best teams in football exiting the 2015 NFL regular season. With a combined 28-4 record, the two teams easily locked up the top two seeds in the conference.
Things were less easy in the divisional round of the playoffs for both teams; the Cardinals required overtime to knock off a plucky Green Bay squad in one of the greatest playoff games you're ever likely to see, while Carolina staved off a 24-point rally by two-time defending conference champion Seattle to sneak through to the next round.
Tonight, the Panthers host the Cardinals in the NFC championship game. The game features bona fide stars, on both sides of the ball, between both teams. The winner faces the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 in two weeks.
This is your open thread for the NFC championship game. Who are you pulling for, Bills fans?