At last, the 2015 NFL season is coming to an end. It has seen a number one seed with a quarterback controversy, an unlikely post-season run from Kansas City, some terrible officiating, the “Deflate-gate” saga, and the meteoric rise of Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers. Back in September, 32 teams kicked off the season with the same chances of playing for the Lombardi Trophy in February, and now only two remain.
Despite being the first seeds in their respective conferences, the Panthers and Broncos were written off before the playoffs even started. The Seahawks and Patriots were destined for a super rematch. Cam Newton, now odds on favorite for league MVP, was considered a liability, and too much uncertainty surrounded the struggling Broncos for them to be taken seriously.
However, despite all that, the Broncos and Panthers won both playoff games, and they did so with relative ease. The Panthers roared off to a 31-point lead over the defending NFC champion Seahawks, and despite an incredible comeback attempt, they came up big where it counted. The next week, they absolutely dismantled the Arizona Cardinals, running up the score in a game that was never close.
The Broncos had a tougher run, squeaking out a really tough win over a beat up Steelers team in the divisional round, but they won where it counted. However, the most impressive win of Denver’s season came in the AFC Championship, when they knocked off the heavily favored New England Patriots. Manning threw twice as many touchdowns (two) as he had at home all season, and the Broncos pass rush harassed Tom Brady all day. The defensive performance was good enough to not only get Brady off of his game, but also good enough to get their offensive line coach, Dave DeGuglielmo fired.
There are many stories heading into Super Bowl 50. Does Peyton Manning continue to follow in John Elway’s footsteps by capping his career with his second Super Bowl win? Does Cam Newton finally silence the critics and solidify himself as an “elite” quarterback? What about the career of Broncos coach Gary Kubiak? Does Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly finally get the credit he deserves?
There’s no shortage of entertaining subplots heading into the biggest sporting event of the year. Unfortunately, the game won’t live up to the hype. The Carolina Panthers defense is just too good.
Last week, the Panthers faced off against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals had arguably the best offense in the National Football League this year, averaging 408 yards and 30 points per game in the NFL’s toughest division. However, none of this would’ve been obvious to anyone who watched the NFC Championship game.
The Panthers sacked Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer three times, forced two fumbles, and picked him off five times. They tore the Cardinals defense apart, and rendered the high powered Arizona offense completely useless. Now they get Peyton Manning and a Broncos offense ranked 18th in the league. Long removed from the legendary 2013 team that shattered offensive records, the 2015 Broncos have struggled mightily. The Broncos have one of the worst rushing attacks in the league, and Peyton Manning only threw nine touchdowns in ten games this year. With an immobile Manning against the best front seven in the league, it’s hard to imagine they’ll be able to score a ton of points.
Despite all that, the Broncos aren’t a bad team. They’ve got the number one overall defense, as well as the best pass defense in the league. They have the best pass rush in football, and registered a league-leading 52 sacks this year. Their performance on that side of the football is the biggest reason they’re even playing in this game.
Enter Cam Newton. At 6’5, 245 pounds, the extremely athletic Newton is arguably the most difficult quarterback in the league to sack. His ability to extend the play, paired with an impressive arm, make him the perfect quarterback to face this defense. Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will be sure to throw many complicated defenses at Newton, hoping to confuse or at least hamper their explosive offense. Ultimately, though, what makes the Panthers offense great is that it is so uncomplicated.
The Panthers simply overpower other teams, using their incredible athleticism to create mismatches. Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. is an inconsistent deep threat, but he’s still good for one deep bomb a game. Tight end Greg Olsen has had an amazing year, leading the Panthers with 77 catches for 1,104 yards, and seven touchdowns, and he’s proven to be too much to handle for even the most experienced defenses.
If a defense manages to shut down that passing attack, then they’re exposed to the number two rushing attack in the entire league. Cam Newton and Jonathan Stewart combined for 1,625 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this year. That’s more than Adrian Peterson had.
Ultimately, the Panthers offense will prove to be too much for the talented Broncos defense, and Peyton Manning won’t be able to move the ball consistently or put points on the board. Newton and the Panthers will aim to match the beatdown that Russell Wilson and the Seahawks gave the Broncos just two years ago, and will deliver Carolina their first Super Bowl victory.
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