The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos are set to square off in Super Bowl 50, and the game projects to be laden with enough storylines and plot twists to make a soap opera jealous. With that in mind, here’s a look at 15 bold predictions for the festivities (keep in mind, these are bold predictions and not the standard vanilla commentary you see online).
15. Demaryius Thomas Makes Mincemeat Of Josh Norman
Getty ImagesJosh Norman has been excellent for the most part this season, but he has struggled at times against the NFL's premier wide receivers (Julio Jones, Odell Beckham Jr.) and will not have an easy assignment against Demaryius Thomas. With a healthy Peyton Manning playing in what projects to be decent weather in Northern California, Thomas is going to expose Norman in the flats, over the middle, on go routes, in the red zone and seemingly anywhere else he pleases. Expect 100 yards receiving and one TD at minimum from DT88.
14. Greg Olsen Nowhere To Be Found
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Greg Olsen put forth a stellar effort against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC championship game, tallying six receptions for 113 yards. However, defending tight ends is one of Arizona's biggest weaknesses. The Broncos, on the other hand, have been stingy against the position all season, and won't be allowing Olsen the same type of production. In fact, they won't be letting him do much of anything, as he'll be rendered irrelevant as Denver spies on him with a safety to help the linebacking corps out.
13. Emmanuel Sanders Runs Roughshod On Carolina
Getty ImagesNormally, the Panthers are able to put Josh Norman on their opponent's No. 1 wide receiver and expect him not to need any help. Against Denver and Demaryius Thomas, that strategy simply isn't going to work. With Thomas commanding additional focus out wide, Emmanuel Sanders is going to end up in a plethora of single-coverage scenarios. And when Sanders sees one-on-one coverage, he typically runs roughshod. This will be the case against the Panthers, and you can expect him to be right around 100 yards receiving.
12. Cam Newton Shines Despite Little Help From Offense
Getty ImagesCam Newton punished the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC championship game, tallying 382 total yards and four total TDs. Despite facing what is arguably the NFL's premier defense, I'm expecting him to finish with another otherworldly stat line, as he's proved all season that he's capable of shining through adversity. Newton will put up points, even if he has to do everything by himself.
11. Kawann Short Rendered Ineffective By Interior Of Denver's Offensive Line
Getty ImagesDT Kawann Short led the Panthers in sacks during the regular season with 11, and most NFL scholars believe he's going to wreak havoc on the Broncos. However, LG Evan Mathis, C Matt Paradis and RG Louis Vasquez are capable of clogging up the middle, and will keep Short completely in check.
10. Peyton Manning Electrifies
Getty ImagesManning played well against New England in the AFC championship game, and I firmly believe he'll take that momentum into this showdown with Carolina. Expect Manning to electrify, recording 275 yards and three TDs at minimum.
Win or lose, Super Bowl 50 will likely be the last game of Peyton Manning's illustrious, Hall of Fame career. The biggest criticism Manning has received throughout the years is that he only has one ring, and now he has a chance to go out on top having won more than one Super Bowl.
Manning played well against New England in the AFC championship game, and I firmly believe he'll take that momentum into this showdown with Carolina. Expect Manning to electrify, recording 275 yards and three TDs at minimum.
9. C.J. Anderson Only Shows Up To Santa Clara In Physical Form
Getty ImagesExpect Anderson to revert back to familiar woes from earlier in the season, as one boneheaded mistake after another will pile up, making it seem like he only showed up to Santa Clara in the physical form.
C.J. Anderson's 2015 campaign was nothing short of a roller coaster ride. He flashed glimpses of brilliance at times, but for the most part, was a major disappointment. Anderson has played well over the past month or so -- and was solid against New England (90 total yards) -- but he's facing quite a different animal in the Carolina Panthers, who showcase the NFL's sixth-best overall run defense.
Expect Anderson to revert back to familiar woes from earlier in the season, as one boneheaded mistake after another will pile up, making it seem like he only showed up to Santa Clara in the physical form.
8. Jonathan Stewart Pulls Vanishing Act
Getty ImagesJonathan Stewart was solid against Arizona in the NFC championship game, as he finished with a respectable 83 rushing yards over 19 carries (4.3 YPC). However, without an abundance of dynamic weapons in the pass attack, and against a secondary that can handle what the Panthers send in routes, Stewart is going to face a loaded box more often than not. He'll have much less success against the Broncos, and will be held to just 60 total yards.
7. Owen Daniels Exposes Carolina's Painfully Average TE Defense
Getty ImagesCarolina has been average against tight ends this season, and just like New England, the Panthers will be exposed by Daniels in the red zone for one TD at minimum.
After being somewhat of a disappointment during the regular season, Owen Daniels was huge for Denver in the AFC championship game, tallying two receptions for 33 yards and two TDs. With Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders commanding so much attention from defensive backs, Daniels becomes a devastating weapon for Peyton Manning in the red zone, and now that Manning's healthy, he's clearly able to utilize Daniels' skillset.
Carolina has been average against tight ends this season, and just like New England, the Panthers will be exposed by Daniels in the red zone for one TD at minimum.
6. Ted Ginn Jr. Only Panthers Player At Skill Positions That Shows Up
Getty ImagesTed Ginn Jr. wasn't able to get much going against Arizona, as he was blanketed by Patrick Peterson for most of the game. However, I firmly believe his downfield prowess will work wonders against the Broncos, as he'll be in a plethora of single-coverage situations as Denver cheats forward to prevent Cam Newton from running wild. Expect 100 yards and one TD from Ginn Jr. as he'll be the only member of Carolina's pass attack to give Newton any help.
5. Cam Newton Sacked Five Times By Viscious Broncos Pass Rush
Getty ImagesCam Newton makes plenty of plays with his legs, which mean he's going to be holding on to the football much longer than Brady did. Newton will avoid plenty of sacks this way, but will also make himself a sitting duck by trying to do too much. As a result, the Broncos will get to him five times at minimum.
The Broncos made Tom Brady's life miserable in the AFC championship game by overwhelming him with pocket pressure. Brady was hit a total of 20 times, which was the most any quarterback had been hit all season, and Denver recorded 4.5. sacks. Obviously, New England's offensive line was in shambles, and Carolina's is in much better shape. However, Von Miller and Co. are on a mission, and will put forth a similar effort against the Panthers.
Cam Newton makes plenty of plays with his legs, which mean he's going to be holding on to the football much longer than Brady did. Newton will avoid plenty of sacks this way, but will also make himself a sitting duck by trying to do too much. As a result, the Broncos will get to him five times at minimum.
4. Ron Rivera Unable To Make Necessary Defensive Adjustments At Halftime
Getty ImagesRivera won't have that luxury against Denver, as Peyton Manning and Co. project to strike early and often. Down by 10 at the half, Rivera won't be able to focus on any one facet of his roster, as the Panthers' offense, defense and special teams will all look lost.
Rivera's one of the greatest defensive minds in the NFL as we speak, but in an unfamiliar situation with an entire nation watching on television, the pressure will be too tough for him to overcome, and he won't be able to make adequate adjustments to slow the Broncos down on offense.
In both of Carolina's playoff games this season, the Panthers have gotten off to a fast start, and have taken big leads into halftime. Thus, Ron Rivera really hasn't needed to make an incredible number of adjustments between halves.
Rivera won't have that luxury against Denver, as Peyton Manning and Co. project to strike early and often. Down by 10 at the half, Rivera won't be able to focus on any one facet of his roster, as the Panthers' offense, defense and special teams will all look lost.
Rivera's one of the greatest defensive minds in the NFL as we speak, but in an unfamiliar situation with an entire nation watching on television, the pressure will be too tough for him to overcome, and he won't be able to make adequate adjustments to slow the Broncos down on offense.
3. Carolina Commits Four Turnovers
Getty ImagesAs mentioned, Cam Newton will essentially be forced to do it all by himself on offense, and will be effective at times. However, the pressure of getting nothing from Jonathan Stewart will force him to throw far more than he should, and the trend will lead to multiple turnovers. Expect two INTs from Newton, and two additional fumbles from Stewart and Mike Tolbert.
2. Gary Kubiak Outcoaches Ron Rivera In Every Aspect Of The Game
Getty ImagesWith Wade Phillips by his side orchestrating a masterful defensive gameplan, Kubiak will coach circles around Ron Rivera in every aspect of the game, as an early lead will knock the Panthers completely off-balance, and they won't be able to recover.
Gary Kubiak's done an outstanding job in his first season as head coach of the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning looked finished for most of the campaign, missed six weeks due to injury, yet the Broncos still managed to make a Super Bowl appearance.
With Wade Phillips by his side orchestrating a masterful defensive gameplan, Kubiak will coach circles around Ron Rivera in every aspect of the game, as an early lead will knock the Panthers completely off-balance, and they won't be able to recover.
1. Denver Defeats Carolina 31-24
Getty ImagesExpect the Broncos to fight off a late surge from the Panthers, and ultimately cement a 31-24 win in the perfect storybook ending to Manning's illustrious career.
The Denver Broncos have a chance to send Peyton Manning out on top, as Super Bowl 50 is likely going to be his last NFL game. Although the Carolina Panthers have appeared to be a team of destiny as well this season, it's just not their time. Heading into halftime down by 10 points will be too difficult for Carolina to overcome, as the gravity of the moment will be absolutely overwhelming.
Expect the Broncos to fight off a late surge from the Panthers, and ultimately cement a 31-24 win in the perfect storybook ending to Manning's illustrious career.
