Entering the 2015-2016 NFL season, few expected the Carolina Panthers to repeat as division champions, and no one foresaw the team getting 15 wins, let alone making a trip to the Super Bowl. In the summer, Kelvin Benjamin went down with a torn knee. As the Panthers best receiver, this did not bode well for their playoff chances.
At the same time, great teams find ways to win.
This is football. Injuries are inevitable. There really are no excuses in this sport, unless your quarterback goes down.
Welcome to Super Bowl 50, also known as Super Bowl L, in archaic roman numerals.
Are you ready for some football?!?!
The Panthers were a surprise team in 2013, winning 12 games and winning the NFC South. In 2014, the Panthers repeated as division winners, but the accolade was blemished by their sub .500 record and the futility that stymied other teams. Midseason in 2015, however, it appeared as though the Panthers would run the table. Again, this is football, and anything can happen. It is rarely predictable.
The Broncos were another story. This would be the fourth campaign with Peyton Manning under centre. A championship was expected when he signed in Denver in 2012. Anything less would be a disappointment for a franchise that has not won since the late 1990s. I’ve never minced words about the legacy of Manning: he is an amazing quarterback. He will live in football lore as one of the top two quarterbacks, but, his postseason track record is troubling. He seems to come up short in the big games (see: Super Bowl 44, Super Bowl 48, and his current 13-13 record). This will be the fourth Super Bowl which Manning will participate in. He needs to win this championship to cement the claim that he is the best quarterback of all time. Another loss will only add to the criticism and calls for him to hang up his cleats.
Notes: Do not be surprised if this is the last season for DeMarcus Ware, Thomas Davis, and Charles Tillman, regardless of the results. These players have had trouble staying healthy and they are getting up there in age.
Prediction: Panthers win 26-17
Do not let this score be reflective of the divisional round game between the Packers and Cardinals. For football enthusiasts, it will a tense, but enjoyable display of sound defence between both teams. Expect a lot of field goal attempts and short passes. Expect some turnovers. For the casual observer who waits until late January or early February to tune into football, they may find their attention span elsewhere during certain segments.
Then again, there is always the halftime show, right? This is usually the time when I go do things like wash the dishes or shovel snow until the game starts back. I actually find the halftime show to be the lacklustre portion of the festivities. Mostly because it has nothing to do with sports!
Wait…Coldplay. Beyoncé. Bruno Mars. At once?
Shoot, I might even tune into that. Wow, I digress…
Newton is a big dude, but do not expect him to rack up a clinic on the ground rushing. I think both him and Manning will cough up the ball a couple of times. Ultimately, I’ll be watching for the second-best player in the game, Luke Kuechly, a physical specimen who is the anchor of this formidable defence, and probably Hall of Fame bound should he stay on this pace.
Defence and experience wins championships, right? Sure, Denver has more playoff and Super Bowl experience, but Carolina has slowly gained experience over the past couple of playoffs, and are a younger team, led by the most dynamic quarterback in professional football. His offensive threat makes the Panthers running game potent, which will be interesting pitted against the one of the best rushing defences in the league. The Broncos’ passing defence was ranked number one in the regular season, so it will be interesting to see how Newton adjusts to this staunch juggernaut. Their rushing attack is frightening, led by Von Miller and the veteran DeMarcus Ware. Derek Wolfe has had quite the year as well. This game will be won by ball protection. Who forces more fumbles and picks?
Could this be Manning’s last game in the NFL or the just his final stint on the Broncos? If the Broncos are victorious, it is more likely that he retires, but after the atrocious regular season that he had, he may want to come back for one last hoorah. If the Broncos lose, Manning will likely still want to continue his career, albeit with another team. Look out for the St. Louis Los Angeles Rams EDITORIAL NOTE: The strikethrough of “St. Louis” is on purpose, since the team just relocated. Please leave as is, thanks!, Cleveland Browns (new head coach), San Francisco 49ers (new head coach), Miami Dolphins (new head coach), Baltimore Ravens (remember, Flacco tore his knee), Philadelphia Eagles (new head coach), and Houston Texans (lack a competent quarterback) to make a run at the legend. He may be a shell of himself and is just weeks shy of turning 40, but Peyton Manning can still be a valuable addition to a team on the brink of playoff contention or looking to capture a championship.
Super Bowl MVP Prediction: Luke Kuechly.
Predicted stats: 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 defensive touchdown
Kuechly is an absolute monster. He is a smaller, quicker version of J.J. Watt in open space. He has fantastic hands and a bevy of confidence. He will be the difference maker in this game.
Super Bowl MVP Runner Up: Cam Newton
Predicted stats: 190 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 50 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 1 fumble, 1 interception
This will not be Newton’s best game, especially in the air. He may be able to break free for a 15-yard run once or twice, which will inflate his rushing numbers. It really is hard to contain this athletic freak though. Expect some aerial feats that defy the laws of physics near the goal line.
Epilogue:
Cam Newton cements himself as a top-5 quarterback with a Super Bowl Championship and becomes the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. Ron Rivera preserves his job for a long time. Josh Norman makes a lot of money with a new contract. Mike Shula, the offensive coordinator of the Panthers, becomes highly coveted this offseason. Thomas Davis and Charles Tillman retire. Denver makes a big splash in a trade or free agency with a tight end or offensive linesman. DeMarcus Ware retires. Peyton Manning signs with a new team or stays while the Broncos draft their heir apparent.