Super Bowl 50 Preview
By Travis Atkinson
Two of the NFL’s top defenses will face off when the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos meet Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California for Super Bowl 50.
Though both teams come in with highly regarded franchise quarterbacks in Peyton Manning, and Cam Newton, don’t expect to see a flurry of touchdowns from either offense. Instead, defense will be the theme of this game, as both teams field defensive units that are among the best in the league.
Denver ranked first overall in total defense during the regular season, and were fourth in scoring defense, allowing just 18.5 points per game. The Broncos were third in rushing yards per game (83.6), and first in passing yards per game (199.6). It is a physical unit that generates constant pressure on the quarterback through its employment of multiple four-linebacker sets. Its line-backing corps, led by pro-bowl outside backers Von Miller and Demarcus Ware tallied a league high 52 sacks.
On the backend of the Denver defense, pro-bowlers Aqib Talib, and Chris Harris, lead a talented Bronco defensive backfield that can man-up with just about any receiver on the field.
Carolina ranked sixth in both total defense, and scoring defense in 2015. They gave up 19.2 points per game, were fourth in rushing yards per game (88.4), and eleventh in passing yards per game (234.5). It is a defensive unit led by, 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly, and up-and-coming defensive back Josh Norman. 2015 pro-bowl selections, Kuechly and Norman have terrorized opposing quarterbacks all season in route to the Panthers’ league best 15-1 record. Kuechly leads a Panther front seven that garnered three pro-bowl selections (Kuechly, LB. Thomas Davis, and DL. Kawann Short), and was sixth in the league with 44 sacks.
Fourth-year cornerback Josh Norman heads a Panthers’ secondary that led the league with 24 interceptions. Norman had a breakout season in 2015; with 18 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 touchdowns.
Things are fairly similar on the defensive side of the ball when it comes to these teams. They both posses units that defend the run well, and pride themselves on getting pressure on the quarterback. While Denver probably has more depth and the better overall defensive unit from top to bottom, Carolina has the better individual playmakers. These defenses are going to keep the opposing quarterbacks from making plays down the field.
Since both defenses are going to limit the opposing offenses from moving the ball much, this game will be decided on the ground. The Panthers have been one of the best rushing teams in the league in 2015 and have the advantage over Denver here. Carolina led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 19, and was second in rushing yards a game, averaging just over 140 a game. This rushing success was largely in part to Cam Newton’s running ability. The former Heisman Trophy winner is especially deadly in goal line and 3rd-and-short situations, where he brings a physicality to the quarterback position that has rarely, if ever, been seen. In 2015, his fifth season in the NFL, Newton ran for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns, while passing for 3837 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Denver, on the other hand, has had trouble developing a consistent rushing attack all season. The Broncos had the twelfth-ranked rushing attack in 2015, averaging just over 100 yards a game. In a game like this the advantage goes to the team that can grind it out over the course of four quarters. Denver only averaged 25 rushing attempts a game, compared to over 30 by Carolina, and is unaccustomed to playing this style of football.
The Broncos hope to open up the field with Manning. The future Hall of Fame quarterback goes in to what could be the final NFL game of his 18-year career. If he wins, it would be the storybook end to his illustrious career, and would give the 39-year old two super bowl victories, putting him in the conversation with some of the best quarterbacks of all time.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, the Manning they are getting is not the one we are accustomed to seeing. Peyton has struggled with his accuracy and velocity this season. He completed only 59.8 percent of his passes, threw 17 interceptions and had a career low 9 touchdowns.
Denver’s offense will struggle against Carolina’s defense, and ultimately be the deciding factor in this game. Offensively, the Broncos are just not physical enough to keep up with the Panthers. Although Denver’s defense will keep Cam Newton contained, it won’t stop Carolina from putting up more points.
Prediction: Carolina beats Denver 27-16.
