Panthers will Beat Broncos in a Slugfest Super Bowl

On February 7, the Denver Broncos will meet the Carolina Panthers for the National Football League’s 50th Super Bowl.

This game will be a defensive slugfest, a knockdown dragout that will be won by the quarterback who’s still standing in the fourth quarter.

Cam Newton has made a name for himself this season as one of the league’s best passers, and the venerable Peyton Manning has won three straight after missing much of the regular season due to injury.

Manning is in the twilight of his career, and it’s fading fast. He was carried all season by the Denver defense. This is his fourth Super Bowl, but he’s lost his last two, to the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks. Against the Seahawks, the Broncos only managed eight points, as Manning threw two picks and couldn’t even complete half of his passes.

In the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots, he was a nonfactor, completing just 53 percent of his passes for only 176 yards. He’s been a liability this season. Despite starting only nine games this season, Manning threw 17 interceptions. Only Blake Bortles of the Jacksonville Jaguars threw more interceptions, and at least he started all 16 regular season games.

Von Miller and the Bronco defense have smothered offenses in 2015, ranking first in the NFL in yards allowed and fourth in points allowed. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots looked pitiful in the AFC Championship Game, as the Bronco defense recorded four sacks and two interceptions.

If the Broncos win the Super Bowl, it will be on the defense’s coat tails, but they’ll have their hands full.

Unlike Manning, Newton is entering the prime of his career. He threw 35 regular season touchdowns and just 10 picks. His offensive line is among the best in the league, allowing the 11th fewest sacks and paving the way for the league’s second best running game.

Tight end Greg Olsen has been a reliable target for Newton, hauling in 77 catches for 1,107 yards and 7 touchdowns. Wide receiver Ted Ginn scored ten touchdowns as one of the league’s best deep threats. Not to mention, the Panther defense ranked sixth in yards and points allowed.

That’s not to say Denver is without talent. They have the best defense in the league, and Manning has a pair of dangerous weapons in Demayrius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Both teams are even across the board.

What separates them is the quarterback position. For the first time in a long time, Manning isn’t the best quarterback in a game he’s playing in. For most of his career, Manning has been the league’s best passer, but age and injury have taken their toll on him. He still has his pin-point accuracy, his passes no longer have the zip they used to. His body is breaking down, and the Panthers will pound him to the point where he just can’t perform – just like the Seahawks did two years ago.

Newton has an absolute cannon for an arm, and he’s an athletic marvel, capable of beating a defense with his arm and his feet. No other quarterback had more rushing yards than he did.

My prediction is a 20-13 win for the Carolina Panthers. The defenses will keep it close until halftime, but Newton’s Superman-type heroics will give the Panthers the extra edge to pull ahead, as the clock ticks on Manning’s career.