Disruptive Defense Propels Denver to Super Bowl 50 Victory

Coming into Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos were foreshadowed as healthy underdogs. When making their Super Bowl picks, only 19 of 74 ESPN analysts selected the Broncos. The Carolina Panthers came into this game with high expectations after dismantling the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game. Even though the odds to win the game were slim to none, Head Coach Gary Kubiak was prepared to roll the dice.

On the first series of the game, Denver quarterback Peyton Manning picked apart Carolina's defense, which resulted into three points from kicker Brandon McManus. After that, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips assured Broncos fans that he would limit Carolina's explosive offense. Utilizing a mix of zone, power, and speed blitzes, Phillips unit held Cam Newton to a 55.4 quarterback rating and registered six sacks. Super Bowl MVP, Von Miller, helped generate uncomfortable pressure on Newton. Miller's explosive attack on the edge allowed other Broncos to salvage the Panthers backfield. He recorded 6 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and forced two key fumbles in Denver's victory. Miller's first forced fumble set the tone for Denver's defense, as defensive end Malik Jackson scooped up the ball and score. The touchdown gave Denver a commanding 10-0 lead in the first quarter, which would be held for the rest of the game. The NFL MVP (Newton) continued to get hurried all day long and was unable to have consistent connections with his receiving core.

The sloppy field conditions did not benefit either offense and turned the game into a defensive battle. Carolina and Denver offensive tackles had a tough time finding good traction in the turf. As a result, opposing defenders were able to crash the pocket more frequently. The struggling ball movement resulted twelve sacks and six turnovers in a sloppy and defensive fest. During the game, Carolina forced seven consecutive three and outs (Super Bowl Record) and kept them in for the majority of the game. Reserve defensive end Kony Ealy made most of his opportunities, with 3 sacks, and interception, 3 tackles, and a fumble recovery in just 27 snaps. They also held Denver to the fewest yards by a Super Bowl winning team (194). However, Carolina's offense did not move the ball effectively and converted a mere three out of fifteen third downs and committed 12 penalties for 102 yards. Lack of composure and much frustration from the young Newton, permitted Carolina from finding a rythem. Carolina's third ranked rushing offense gained a respectable 118 yards, but three fumbles limited their chances of scoring. Carolina's lone touchdown came off of running back Jonathan Stewart's leaping scamper, in the second quarter.

Despite a sub-par performance (141 yards, 56.5 QB rating), veteran quarterback Peyton Manning did just enough to help Denver capture its third Super Bowl Title. His go-to receiver, Emmanuel Sanders, hauled in 6 passes for 83 yards. Sanders was a significant target in the passing game, as Demariuys Thomas was overshadowed by Carolina's physical corner Josh Norman. Manning's final pass of the game came on a successful two point conversion to reserve receiver Bennie Fowler. Whether if it is or is not his last pass of his career, Manning added to his already impressive resume with another Super Bowl title. In a 24-10 victory, the Denver Broncos dominate defensive effort brought a resilient feel to the Super Bowl and their team.