I have analyzed and cross-analyzed every aspect and facet of Super Bowl 50 but I think everyone realizes what the stakes are. The Broncos have a chance to send legendary signal-caller Peyton Manning into potential retirement, as a winner.
This, of course, is the same way that 17 years ago, the career of current Broncos vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway, ended when the Broncos bested the Atlanta Falcons, coached by former head coach, Dan Reeves, 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII (33).
Eyeing a third Lombardi.#BeatThePanthers pic.twitter.com/N6mvGxr4J5
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) February 7, 2016
In any event, this rendition of the Broncos, coached by Elway’s former backup, Gary Kubiak, plays the same way many of those Reeves teams did and has the same penchant for pulling out games in the clutch, always finding a way to come up with a key stop and a turnover.
The Panthers bring an offense in scoring 40.0 points per game in the postseason but the Broncos are the top defense in the NFL in pretty much every statistical category so while the media has generally said the Panthers have the advantage in so many areas, perhaps not so much.
For starters, Carolina signal-caller Cam Newton was named the NFL’s MVP Saturday night and Super Bowl MVP’s have lost the last six Super Bowls in which they have played, including Manning himself two years ago when the Seattle Seahawks embarrassed the Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVII (48).
The last time an NFL MVP won a Super Bowl was St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, now an NFL Network analyst with him winning the honors in Super Bowl XXXIV (34), a 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Next: Wade Phillips named Assistant Coach of the Year
Anyway, this is your game thread. If any Panthers fans happen upon us, be nice. Let’s win the Super Bowl pretty please. GO BRONCOS!!!