Either Peyton Manning rides into the sunset with that legacy-cementing second Lombardi Trophy, or Cam Newton gets the win that fulfills the destiny set for him when he was picked first in the draft just five years ago.
The NFL couldn’t have asked for a better plot for the landmark 50th Super Bowl than what the Panthers and Broncos have written.
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By now, there’s nothing you don't know about both teams. You just want to know who will win.
As usual, Newton and Manning, understandably and fairly, are the two marquee names, yet defense will decide who wins.
The Broncos have become exactly the team John Elway wanted them to be two years ago after they got dragged by the Seahawks in the Super Bowl: defense-first, loaded with talent that has paid off (first in the NFL in yardage and sacks). They put a historic beating on, of all people, Tom Brady, in the AFC title game. They won individual and scheme matchups everywhere. The Patriots’ line was overwhelmed, and the Panthers’ line can be beaten and has weaknesses (whichever side Von Miller lines up on, either tackle, Michael Oher or Mike Remmers, will probably need help, or need to play the game of his life).
However, pressuring Brady and pressuring Newton are two completely different things. Newton is now playing at such a level that a defense can do everything right and still not keep him from making whatever play he needs to, from the pocket, outside it or on the run. His NFC title game against a Cardinals defense that’s as elite as the Broncos’ is, proved that.
Plus, the Panthers can and will run the ball, with Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert and that same line, which is outstanding on run blocking. The Broncos didn’t face anywhere close to that quality of running game in the AFC playoffs.
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If Newton defuses the Broncos’ defense, then, it’s up to Manning and the Broncos’ offense to do damage to the Panthers’ defense — which will have Thomas Davis playing with a broken arm, but otherwise is superlative.
Worth noting: They led the NFL in takeaways with 39, and had seven against the Cardinals. Manning has no turnovers in the playoffs so far … but threw 17 picks in the nine games before he got hurt, and has kind of a rep about that in his playoff history.
That’s a bad combination for the Broncos. There are a lot of bad combinations for them in this game. It’s been said many times throughout this shocker of a season, but the Panthers didn’t get here by luck. They’re 17-1 on merit.
They’ll get to 18-1 the same way.
Prediction: Panthers, 31-17
Record
Championship games: 2-0
Postseason total: 7-3
Carolina Panthers (17-1) vs. Denver Broncos (14-4), at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS