Carolina Panthers Advance to Super Bowl 50

The NFC Championship Game last year ended up with a 27.4 rating and 49.84 million viewers last year, so the AFC Championship this year should sail well clear of 50 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV program in the country since last year’s Super Bowl between the Patriots and Seahawks.

Cliches be damned. The Broncos defensive unit carried this franchise to its eighth Super Bowl appearance.

San Jose host the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow night at the Shark Tank.

The story of the first half saw the two QBs in opposite roles from their historic battles.

Ol’ No. 18 engineered Denver’s 20-18 victory – not settled until Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby picked off Brady’s pass on a 2-point attempt that would have tied it with 12 seconds left.

That really was Peyton Manning lumbering his way down the field for a 12-yard gain and a first down Sunday.

“It’s not just one individual’s fault”, Gronkowski said.

The Carolina Panthers earned their right to become part of Super Bowl 50 only for the second time in its two decades in the league, but it couldn’t have come at a much better time.

PEYTON’S SEASON: Denver quarterback Peyton Manning’s up-and-down season includes a remarkable twist that has the five-time NFL MVP back in the Super Bowl.

Teammates said Gostkowski, one of the game’s most accurate kickers, was being too hard on himself.

Football fans gearing up for the big game will likely need some deep pockets to make it to the stands at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California, Feb. 7. Manning’s numbers have dropped (he threw nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 10 games during the regular season, a far cry from his hall-of-fame-worthy career stats), and his health and arm strength have been concerns.

“There’s no question this is a sweet day; this was a sweet victory”, Manning said.

Denver’s defense is no joke. I just think we all feel, as coaches, players – it’s such a fine line today between winning and losing that we all could have just done a little bit more and it might have had a different result. He was responsible for four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) and had one interception.

Linebacker Von Miller led the way for Denver, with 2 1/2 sacks and an interception.

“We’ve just got to try to get some pressure on (Manning)”, Kuechly said.

Whether it’s been Manning lining up under center this season, or Brock Osweiler, who took snaps while Manning was injured for six weeks toward the end of the season, the Broncos have depended on a defense that gave up the fewest yards and came up with game-saving plays time and again.

“He understands where he is and what we’re trying to do offensively”, Elway said of his veteran QB, who has a chance to walk off a champion, the way Elway did.

In all, the Cardinals turned the ball over seven times.