Super Bowl’s Broncos, Panthers excel at defense differently

The Panthers are six-point favorites, according to Bovada, and three of the last four Super Bowl champions have been underdogs. But maybe it’s just that Knapp had to believe it so he could convince Manning to keep grinding through those early morning workouts with practice squad receiver Jordan Taylor, all while the Broncos were winning games without him. Meaning the Panthers are expected to win by more than 5 points.

So, let’s talk some more about Cam Newton. If he can get to Newton and force him into mistakes, the scale will tilt in favor of Denver.

Darryl Slater: Panthers 27, Broncos 21 The Broncos have a fantastic defense, but Cam Newton and Co. will prove to be too much, while Peyton Manning and Denver’s offense fails to keep pace with Carolina.

“He’s been a great passer”.

But an invite to one of many VIP events may be harder to come by than a ticket to Sunday’s game which were going for an average price of $4,827 on online ticket resale site StubHub, with one fan shelling out $27,983 for lower prime club seat. There is no question Denver’s biggest advantage here is in the secondary, where Newton when throwing must be wary of cornerbacks Chris Harris and Aqib Talib, and where Carolina receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Corey-Philly-Whatever-He’s-Calling-Himself-Now Brown need to hope their breakaway speed is enough to create big plays. We are blessed with one of the NFL’s marquee teams.

As the Cardinals recently learned: Newton is the NFL’s scariest player, as he can beat you with his arm (3,837 passing yards, 35 TDs) and his feet (636 rushing yards, 10 TDs). On the defense, Von Miller is the Broncos beast linebacker and Luke Kuechly is the Panthers interception machine. They have Newton, the league MVP.

Will Kawann Short chase down Peyton Manning. If it is close, it will be interesting to see if the Broncos’ experience – they lost this game two years ago – wins out over a Panthers team that features many players who have never been here before.

“They have a 53-man roster that is built for a championship”, Carter said. Manning has just one turnover in the playoffs – compared with 17 in the regular season – and has done a better job in the postseason pushing the ball downfield on intermediate and dig routes. But they play the games for a reason. Will it be easy against Carolina’s front seven? If the Broncos don’t want the pocket collapsing around Manning all day, their offensive line has to play above its collective talent.

A formal introduction of all the starting players from each team. When the Broncos defeated the New England Patriots to reach the Super Bowl, NFL Films picked up audio of Manning telling Patriots head coach Bill Belichick at midfield, “This might be my last rodeo”. The Panthers are better at every other spot here. Additionally, the Broncos defense gave up more than 30 points just once this season, against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 15.

CBS continues with extensive coverage of what to look out for in the matchup between the Panthers and the Broncos.