Super Bowl 50 features the two top seeds from both conferences, as the Denver Broncos face the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday. The Panthers are lead by league MVP quarterback Cam Newton and the NFL's highest scoring offense, and head coach Ron Rivera will look for his offense to get off to a hot start Sunday night. The Broncos finished the 2015 regular season with the number one ranked defense in terms of yards allowed, and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is looking to win his second Super Bowl in his Hall of Fame career.
Manning has reportedly already told his close friends that Super Bowl 50 will be his last game, and head coach Gary Kubiak will look to establish a strong ground game to protect his veteran quarterback. Broncos third-year running back C.J. Anderson will look to carry the load for Denver's offense and rushed for 72 yards in both of the Broncos' playoff games this postseason.
Anderson will look to get off to a strong start, as that will open play action pass calls for Kubiak and the Broncos offense. Manning will have plenty of weapons to choose from on Super Bowl Sunday, and wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders will look to create separation and get open down field for Manning. Tight end Owen Daniels has become a reliable target for Manning this postseason and is coming off a two-touchdown performance in the AFC Championship game.
While the Broncos offense is loaded with playmakers, it's their defense that separates this team from others. Linebacker Von Miller is reportedly expected to receive the franchise tag this offseason, as the Broncos don't want to lose one of the top talents in the league. Miller recorded 11 sacks during the regular season and is coming off a huge performance in the AFC Championship game against the Patriots. Miller and defensive ends Derek Wolfe and DeMarcus Ware will look to contain Newton on Sunday, and they know that they have a difficult task ahead of them.
The Panthers quarterback has been nothing short of spectacular this season with 3,877 passing yards and 35 touchdowns during the regular season. Newton was also second on the team in rushing with 636 rushing yards this season, and he is arguably the best dual threat quarterback in the game. Running back Jonathan Stewart led the Panthers in rushing this season and will look to find holes in Denver's stingy defense.
Newton will look to target tight end Greg Olsen and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., as they are both playmakers for Carolina's offense. Olsen led the team with 77 receptions for 1,104 yards and has proven to be an elite tight end this season. The Panthers offense averaged 40 points in the first two games of their postseason run and will look to get off to an early start as they did against both the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.
The Panthers offense has been dominant all season, but Carolina's defense is also one of the best in the league. Linebacker Thomas Davis will start in Super Bowl 50 despite breaking his forearm in the NFC Championship game, and he plays next to one of the best linebackers in the league in Luke Kuechly. The Panthers star linebacker has developed into an all-around defensive playmaker and has returned a interception for a touchdown in each of the Panthers' playoff games.
Super Bowl 50 is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and it's only fitting that the top seed from the AFC face the top seed from the NFC on Super Bowl Sunday.
Where To Watch: CBS at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
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