No masterpiece, but Manning rides off with a win

Manning had one of the least productive games Sunday of his brilliant career.

Those closest to him say it doesn’t matter, that Manning’s legacy is set regardless of the outcome of Super Bowl 50, because just getting here at the end of the most tumultuous year of his career has been the ultimate victory.

The Panthers won the coin toss when Thomas Davis called tails but elected to defer so NFL MVP Cam Newton has to wait to take the field. He lost two fumbles, threw an interception and failed to produce a touchdown for the only time this season.

Manning is technically under contract with the Broncos for one more season, though everything they’ve done over the past year – fire John Fox, hire Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips, revamp the offense – has spoken to a desire to build a victor that will last beyond Manning’s tenure in Denver. The defense was the reason Denver won this game.

Thanks to Miller and Co., Peyton Manning did not need to do much with Denver’s offense: The Broncos’ 194 total yards were the fewest ever for a Super Bowl victor.

That score, which made it 13-7, was the final one of the half as both sides committed turnovers prior to the interval, Denver’s an ugly Manning interception straight at defensive lineman Kony Ealy. But the drive stalled and the Panthers had to settle for a Gano 39-yard field goal, cutting Denver’s lead to 16-10 with 10:21 left in the fourth. While most fans had tickets for the game, some made the long trip just to soak in the Super Bowl atmosphere.

They did that when Jordan Norwood fielded a punt that Panthers gunners Colin Jones and Teddy Williams seemed to think was a fair catch, but Norwood gave no such signal and returned it 61 yards, the longest punt return in Super Bowl history.

They harassed Newton on every snap, hitting him 10 times and sacking him seven.

Miller finished with 2 1/2 of the Broncos’ six sacks, two forced fumbles and was named the game’s MVP.

The Broncos went up 16-7 after a 30-yard field goal from Brandon McManus on the team’s first offensive possession of the second half. Dungy, Manning and Harrison led the Colts to a Super Bowl title nine years ago.

“He was on a team that could help him get a win”, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said.

The Panthers took the opening drive of the third quarter and had a lot of momentum following a 45-yard crossing route completion to Ted Ginn down to the Denver 35.

“I’ll take some time to reflect; I’ve got some other priorities first”, Manning said on the field immediately after the game.

“We got all the way to the south entrance, but without a ticket that’s as far as I could get”, said Pelton, who had tried taking the San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Trail but found it closed off by authorities.

Denver’s first touchdown came when Miller blew past Remmers and ripped the ball out of Newton’s grasp.