Denver Broncos Take Super Bowl 50: Defense Sends Peyton Out in Style in Probable Last Game
Photo Courtesy of CNN
In what most likely will be his final NFL game, Peyton Manning did not throw a single touchdown pass, did not throw for more than 150 yards and threw an ugly interception to a defensive lineman. None of that seemed to matter though, as the Broncos’ defense tortured Cam Newton all night long to help lead Denver to a Super Bowl 50 win over the Carolina Panthers, 24-10.
The Panthers, who came in as the highest scoring offense during the regular season, could only muster ten points, and were barely able to gain over 300 yards of total offense.
Led by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, the Broncos sacked Cam Newton eight times and held the NFL MVP to 18 completions, no touchdowns and an interception.
Miller was everywhere Sunday night, finishing with five tackles, two and a half sacks and two forced fumbles, which proved to be the two biggest plays of the game. Midway through the first quarter, Miller came around the right end and stripped Newton. The fumble was recovered in the end zone to put Denver up 10-0.
Miller again stripped Newton in the fourth quarter, with Carolina driving to take the lead down 16-10. Three plays later, C.J. Anderson pounded in for the touchdown that put Denver up for good.
Even with the many storylines drawn into the game, Super Bowl 50 will not be remembered as one of the better played Super Bowls of recent memory. Constant three-and-outs, overthrows and penalties continually slowed play and seemed to drag the game on forever. To add to the sloppiness, there were six total turnovers.
The halftime show of Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyoncé provided the only real excitement as the three collaborated to put on an electric performance finishing with Mars’ hit “Uptown Funk.” Beyoncé created the most controversy of the game, as many debated whether she tripped over herself or if the stumble was a planned move of her routine as she entered the stage.
After the game, Manning deflected questions over whether Super Bowl 50 would indeed be his last game, saying that he would take a few days to enjoy his second career Super Bowl and think about what he wants going forward.
Even if Manning surprises us and decides to come back for another season in 2016, there will be no denying that this Super Bowl win cements Manning as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time.