Dominating Defense surges Broncos past Panthers in a snooze fest Super Bowl

The Carolina Panthers went into Santa Clara cocky and expecting to win. They had time and they had their chances, but, in the end, the Denver Broncos #1 ranked defense was too much for them to overcome.
 

Cam Newton gets strip-sacked by Von Miller in the 4th Quarter to all but seal a Broncos Super Bowl 50 victory.

In the first quarter down 3-0, Cam Newton stepped back to pass and was strip-sacked by Super Bowl MVP, Von Miller. The fumble was recovered for a touchdown and it was at that moment that the Panthers and their fans suddenly knew that they were in trouble. That strip sack represented the theme of the game. The theme of Cam Newton getting hit hard and hit hard often. The Panthers offensive line had no answer for the Broncos’ defense and it proved costly.


Despite all of the Panthers uncharacteristic mistakes, such as turnovers, bad offensive line play, penalties, and falling asleep at the wheel on special teams, they had the football two times in the 4th Quarter down 16-10 and could not do anything with it. Denver later went on to score another Touchdown after Cam Newton fumbled away the Cardiac Cats' last opportunity. On that play were Newton was strip-sacked again, the MVP made no attempt or effort to go after the ball. It symbolized that Cam Newton and the Panthers as cocky as they were did not want it as badly as the Broncos did.

Here is the main problem that arises, the Panthers going into this game did nothing to change their game plan to prepare for the best defense they have faced all season long. The offense that Cam Newton carried on his back all season long did not show up for this game and neither did the coaching staff. Mike Shula as the offensive coordinator ran the same run play on every first down, a run play up the middle. That play did not work a single time. The Panthers were stubborn and refused to adjust the way they played the game versus one of the best defenses in modern history. That is what did the Panthers in, in the long run, and that is why Peyton Manning was allowed to ride off into the sunset in what will most likely be his final NFL game. The Panthers did exactly everything the Broncos expected them to do offensively and the Broncos read them like a book.

Crazy's Super Bowl Prediction, 18-1 or BUST!

Super Bowl Weekend is finally here after two slow weeks of the media running out of questions to ask and watching star players play two-hand touch football in Honolulu. 

Panthers vs Broncos may be the most lopsided matchup since Broncos vs Falcons Super Bowl in the 1998-1999 season. No one is really giving the Broncos a chance and rightfully so. This is not the same Peyton Manning who threw 55 touchdowns almost 3 years ago, this is a very limited Peyton Manning. Going into this game, the Broncos clearly have the better defense, but not the better offense. Sure, Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware can get after the quarterback and Chris Harris and Aqib Talib can lock down your best wide receivers each and every week, but this is not the Patriots make-shift offensive line. This Panthers offensive line might not even be comparable to the Patriots, it is much much better and they very may be able to contain one of the most ferocious pass rushers in the National Football League. Plus Cam Newton is a more mobile quarterback than Tom Brady and is a pain in the neck to bring down. 

This is Super Bowl 48 all over again. Maybe we are saying different things if Peyton Manning is fully healthy and not almost 40 years old, but this is the Panthers game to lose and it is very hard to foresee them choking it away to an inferior team. Cam Newton is playing like the best quarterback in the league and I cannot see the Panthers letting up, especially when he and his teammates absolutely tore up two comparable defenses in the Cardinals and Seahawks. The Panthers will not lose this game and you can hold me accountable for this one. 

I have the Panthers in this game 34-20. As good as the Broncos defense is, it will not be enough to make up for an offense that is a shell of it's former self. I have the Panthers scoring 34 points because I feel as if Peyton Manning will panic with the Panthers front 7 in his face all game long. He will have at least 2 interceptions and one will be returned for a touchdown. Unless something goes horribly wrong, Cam Newton will most likely be the MVP of the NFL and the MVP of the Super Bowl. 

Watching Matt Moore, Chris Weinke, Tony Pike, and Jimmy Clausen set the quarterback position back 50 years was all worth this. Hopefully, the team with two states can bring back the Super Bowl to where it clearly belongs this season. 

I know I am "Crazy For New York Sports", but this Jets fan who has lived in Charlotte for the past decade and is a closet Panthers fan since 2006, says Keep Pounding and bring this Super Bowl back home!