The Carolina Panthers are favored in Super Bowl 50.
When the lines opened shortly after Carolina throttled the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game, Las Vegas liked the Panthers by about 3 1/2 points over the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. Since, the line has grown to about a touchdown, and it could be up over six or seven points by the time kickoff rolls around in California on Sunday.
Most prognostications and predictions are leaning toward Carolina to win the Super Bowl. And they very well may do just that. They were the best football team all season, as evidenced by their 15-1 record. They have one of, if not the best player in the world in quarterback Cam Newton. Their defense is suffocating, headlined by legitimate defensive studs like linebacker Luke Kuechly and cornerback Josh Norman.
However, completely dismissing the Broncos’ chances in Super Bowl 50 isn’t fair. Here’s a few reasons why.
Denver’s defense ain’t bad, either
If you want to know how much potential the Denver defense has, just ask Tom Brady. The Broncos defense was fantastic in the AFC Championship Game, abusing Brady and effectively taking away the quarterback’s weapons for much of the game. The NFL’s fourth-ranked scoring defense also allowed the fewest yards all season. No one allowed fewer net yards per passing attempt, and no one allowed fewer net yards per rushing attempt. The Broncos’ best chance to win starts with the defense replicating its effort from the New England game. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips could be the key to this Super Bowl. He’s got two weeks to come up with something to slow down Newton and the high-octane Carolina offense, and it would be surprising if Denver came into this game without another solid defensive game plan.
The Broncos’ offense has shown signs of life
Look, no one’s going to say the Denver offense is the greatest show on turf or anything like that. Far from it. After their first drive against New England, the Broncos did a whole lot of nothing. But there’s no denying that the Broncos, in theory, have some play-makers who could make a difference. On the outside, Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders make for one of the NFL’s best receiver duos. The Denver running game looks rejuvenated, too. Since Nov. 22, the Broncos are averaging 108 rushing yards per game, putting up totals like 170, 179 and 210 in that stretch. They don’t necessarily need numbers like that, but they do need Carolina to respect the run game. If that happens, it should open the field for Peyton Manning. The veteran obviously can’t move the ball like he used to, but he’s still smart enough to find the best matchup and attempt to exploit that.
Unfinished business
The Broncos were in the Super Bowl just two years ago, although they probably don’t want to think about that. Denver was blown out in the Meadowlands, embarrassed by the Seattle Seahawks. Here’s what everyone overlooks about that game: Denver was missing some really, really important players. The Broncos didn’t have arguably their best player, Von Miller. Chris Harris, a vital piece to the Denver secondary, didn’t play. Neither did Derek Wolfe. All Wolfe did against New England a couple of weeks ago was record six tackles and a sack. If you don’t think those guys aren’t going to be fired up to make the most of a second opportunity they almost didn’t even get, you’re crazy. And don’t discount the impact the Manning thing has on this game, either. The Broncos surely are going to do everything they can do to not only ensure they win a Super Bowl ring for themselves but also help Manning go out on top.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
