CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian has a theory: Super Bowl-caliber teams typically stay together and are functional for six years at best.
“Reaching the Super Bowl is the culmination of that climb and natural decline can set in soon after," Polian said.
For the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, it was more like falling off a cliff following the 2015 season after meeting in Super Bowl 50.
Both teams are 4-8 heading into Sunday’s game at Bank of America Stadium and on the verge of a fourth losing season in the five years since Denver won the title with a 24-10 victory at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.