Denver lead Carolina 10-0 after first quarter of Super Bowl

And they won in spite of their offense. A defense, as it turns out, for a generation.

The internet was abuzz late Sunday over why Newton didn’t pounce on a fumble with four minutes left in the fourth quarter that led to running back C.J. Anderson scoring the first touchdown of the game, and Denver going up 24-10.

Peyton Manning wanted to make one thing perfectly clear when he arrived in the Golden Gate City for the golden anniversary of the Super Bowl: “Our defense is what got us here”.

Manning, a five-time league most valuable player, added yet another line in the record books as he became the NFL’s oldest quarterback to play in a Super Bowl and first to reach 200 career wins. The Broncos lead the National Football League in total defense, pass defense and sacks.

Miller did not want to get into comparisons. “But everything will be forgotten by next season if we don’t come home with that trophy. That’s the type of defense that we’ve been playing all year long”. “Ever. It”™s a bold statement, but we have the greatest talent, from the rushers to safeties to linebackers.

Gary Kubiak was an enlightened choice to take over the Broncos when team boss John Elway made a decision to release John Fox.

“Us being down 14 to some very, very good teams, it lets us know we’re battle tested”.

“Elway won his first title as the franchise”™s general manager and paid tribute to owner Pat Bowlen, who is suffering from Alzheimer”™s disease.

“You know, I’ll take some time to reflect”, Manning said.

Denver also forced the first fumble of the season by All-Pro fullback Mike Tolbert.

Manning led a field-goal drive to open the game, but Denver did not get a first down on its next four drives.

Gano hit a 39-yarder with 10:26 remaining to cut the deficit to 16-10, but late in the period, Miller forced his second fumble from Newton. The only chance the Denver Broncos have is for the defense to play lights out, like they have for much of the year, but I don’t see it being enough.

But Miller and Ware overwhelmed from the edges. It was critical for the Broncos to apply constant pressure to disrupt Newton. He threw nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 10 games during the regular season.

“There wasn”™t anything special that they did,” Newton said. We dropped balls. We turned the ball over, gave up sacks, threw errant passes.

The pivotal play occurred with the Broncos leading 3-0 in the first quarter. Newton goes for the gold of Super Bowl 50. Ware had two of the seven sacks, the most ever by one team in the Super Bowl. The simulation said the Broncos will be down 17 points at the half.

Carolina’s problems continued when Graham Gano’s 44-yard field goal attempt bounced the upright on the opening possession of the second half. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 24-10.

A few plays later, Anderson scored on a two-yard run, and Manning tossed a two-point conversion pass to Bennie Fowler to start the celebration.