Broncos D dominates Panthers in 24-10 Super Bowl win

Peyton Manning & Co. have done it against the odds – they managed to best Carolina Panthers in the exciting season final to claim the highest prize of them all – 50th Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California at the Levi’s Stadium.

A few feet away, teammate Brandon Marshall explained why Miller’s first-quarter strip-sack of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was such a significant moment in Denver’s 24-10 victory Sunday night that earned rings for the Broncos.

Manning is also the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.

It proved to be very important only seconds later, when Von Miller sacked Newton for the game’s first touchdown.

Miller had 2.5 sacks Sunday night, and the Broncos had a total of seven, tying the Super Bowl record. He was visibly frustrated after throwing an interception and slammed his hand on the turf when a referee didn’t call a late hit in the fourth.

Manning finished 13-of-23 for 141 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. Most people expect Manning, at 39 the oldest quarterback to win the Super Bowl, to retire, as his boss, Broncos general manager John Elway, did after winning back-to-back championships in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. He is slated to make $19 million next season, and the Broncos are fond of Brock Osweiler who played well for Denver during Manning’s absence. T.J. Ward recovered the ball at the Carolina 9, and four plays later C.J. Anderson bulled in for a 2-yard touchdown. The Broncos hold a 16-7 lead and have the ball at their own 32 heading into the final quarter.

But Newton was smothered by the Broncos defence and gave up three turnovers – including one fumble that led to a touchdown. All anyone will remember is that he left the field for what was likely the last time with the Lombardi Trophy, joining little brother Eli in the exclusive club of multiple Super Bowl champs.

That opened up an early 10-0 lead for Denver, quarterbacked by veteran Peyton Manning, and they never lost it.

Key player: If Denver was going to win, its stout defense was going to be the reason. And while his deteriorating arm strength wouldn’t allow Manning to become the quarterback he once was, he was good enough to be the game-managing quarterback that coach Gary Kubiak had envisioned.

It was all part of quite a display by Miller and the rest of Denver’s defense, making the NFC champion Panthers (17-2) and their No. 1-ranked offense look mediocre at best.

Newton, who had shown unbelievable improvement in his accuracy this season, completed only 18 of 41 passes while under intense pressure from a defensive line that never stopped the harassment. Denver’s 11 first downs were the same as Manning would’ve racked up in a quarter a few years back.

Back came Carolina though, and in Newton’s only drive of note, he set-up Jonathan Stewart to leap over the pile-up and score from close range to reduce the lead. This time, Broncos safety Darian Stewart forced a fumble from Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert; inside linebacker Danny Trevathan recovered.

Mistakes and turnovers piled up instead of points Sunday to doom the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

He added a 30-yard field goal to provide the only scoring in the third quarter and increase the Broncos’ lead to 16-7.

Norwood’s 61-yard punt return on a play where it appeared like the Panthers defenders thought he called a fair catch set up McManus’ second field goal that made it 13-7.

The only time Newton produced came on a 73-yard drive to make it 10-7.