Carolina Panthers vs Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 Preview and Prediction
Disclaimer: These are NOT professional opinions and are
solely the opinions of a junior writer. If you wish to share your opinions with
me, contact me on Twitter @jcs436.
So, here we are. Just hours away from the last game of the
year until August rolls around. And boy has it been a fun year. The Hail Marys
(looking at you Rodgers) the stumbles of former top teams (looking at you
Detroit and Baltimore), and the glories of retired legends (Woodson). Like ever
year, it’s been a wild ride BUT we aren’t finished yet! So without further ado,
let’s look at both teams and why they should win.
Carolina Panthers:
Why wouldn’t you pick Carolina? They are the most balanced team in the NFL
that finished with a 15-1 season record and are now 17-1. Gone are the doubts
of them having one of the weaker schedules in the NFL to go 15-1 as they
dominated Seattle and then treated Arizona as if they were the Baltimore
Ravens. There is a lot to like about Carolina but there are 3 reasons why you
SHOULD like them to win.
1.
Cam Newton
No, but really, Newton is not being over-exaggerated.
He is the golden child of the NFL right now showing why he (and not Aaron
Rodgers) should be considered the best player in the NFL right now. Rodgers has
always had a cast of stars to work with and boy does he work with them. Newton?
Nope. Not a single runner or receiver had 1,000 yards and yet this offense
still managed to generate the second most points of all NFL teams AND had a
record of 15-1. Astounding. And the reason they did it is because Newton is the
Carolina offense when no one else steps up. It’s his offense and his show to
run.
2.
Carolina’s Defense
Everyone talks about how this is going to
be a defensive game. Honestly, that will not be up to Denver (the No. 1
defense). It will be up to Carolina. Carolina’s defense is astounding from top
to bottom and Luke Kuechly is almost on the same level as J.J. Watt and has
made a case every year as to why he should be Defensive Player of the Year.
When this defense is at it’s best, no one can score and it gives Carolina’s
offense the field advantage they always want. The synergy between both sides of
the ball on Carolina has worked well all year and why shouldn’t it now?
3.
Carolina’s “have fun” personality
Why would this be a reason? Isn’t this a
loser’s mentality? “As long as you have fun in the game.” No. No it’s not and
if you think it is, don’t tell Carolina. They have had fun all year and it’s
the heart and soul of this Carolina team. It’s why an inferior roster on paper
is doing so well. They have fun with each other and they have fun with their
fan base when they play. They don’t stop having fun and it keeps the mojo
going. The fact that their Super Bowl team picture was everyone doing “the dab”
shows just how much fun and care free this Carolina team is while having
dominated everyone in their path.
Denver Broncos:
The legendary Peyton Manning. The legendary Broncos defense
looking to solidify themselves among the names of other defenses like the
Legion of Boom, Monsters of the Midway, the Steel Curtain, and the Purple
People Eaters. This team, at least on paper, looks superior but, in game, looks
like Carolina can smack them. This however, probably will not be the case. When
you have so many playmakers and a QB who has looked the best he has all season
in the Super Bowl practices, this team should not be under-estimated. And
Carolina knows this. Here are 3 reasons why you SHOULD think that Denver can
win.
1.
Denver’s running game
This is no long Peyton Manning’s offense , let alone Peyton Manning’s
team. Collectively, this roster has won games as a team and has truly defined
what teamwork means and what can happen when all players work together for a
common goal. But, a big difference on the Denver offense has been the running
game. They are undefeated when the running game runs for over 105 yards. They
must continue this streak to create balance and keep pressure off of Manning so
that he can do his job as well.
2.
Peyton Manning
No, Peyton Manning will not carry the game on his shoulders. No, Manning
will not make the amazing plays that made him arguably the greatest QB the NFL
has ever seen. But, what Manning can still do that remains ever valuable, is
the ability to read and decipher a defense. This is important even with
Manning’s diminished skills. The ability to read and predict a defense has
separated great QBs and elite QBs for decades. If it comes down to Manning
having to lead a final drive to win the game, I can guarantee the ability to
dissect a defense will be the most valuable thing the Broncos will have in that
moment to win.
3.
Wade Phillips and his Orange Crush defense
Phillips has been lauded as one of the best defensive coordinators to
ever be in the NFL and he can solidify that thought by winning the game for
Denver through his genius schemes. No one has figured out how to stop Cam
Newton and the Panther’s offense but I would bet money Phillips has something
up his sleeves and Denver has the talent to work with whatever scheme Phillips
makes up. Do NOT under-estimate Denver’s ability to smother receivers.
Predictions:
I hate predictions. You never really know who can win. Even
when conventional wisdom (which says the Panthers WILL win) is there, the NFL
is only predictable in one way. And that’s that the NFL is unpredictable. Okay,
here we go.
Believe it or not, we have seen
this type of Super Bowl before. We saw it two years ago when Seattle faced
Denver and stomped Denver 43-8. That’s not happening here but that previous
experience is how I see this Super Bowl going. The Panthers have steamrolled
everyone that they have played offensively. Denver did the same thing 2 years
ago. Denver, has held on to their games through good defensive play and mistake
free football on offense. Seattle did the same thing two years ago. See where
I’m going with this? I firmly believe that a defense has the ability to control
a game more than an offense, especially these days and the top 4 teams (Denver,
Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals) all had the best defenses in the league. You
must have a defense to win a game against a quality opponent. This is the game
where Newton and the Panthers offense finally meet their defensive equal and
struggle to score the 35 points a game that they are used to. Newton is
sometimes an inaccurate passer when he throws deep (look at Cards one
interception two weeks ago) and you can’t be that way against players like
Talib and Chris Harris Jr. let alone that TJ Ward is the one in the back as
well. This game will come down to defensive play and it should go to the better
defense on paper.
TLDR
Denver's defense will show why not a single player on the Panthers has
reached 1,000 yards besides Newton.
Denver 27 Panthers 23
Cheers everyone!
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