Super Bowl 50 aftermath

 BRONCOS WIN SUPER BOWL 50, 24-10.

Well then.

I'm not complaining.

The 2015-16 NFL season has come to an end with Super Bowl 50. I would say the result was astonishing, but that's not truthful. In retrospect, it should have been obvious from the moment the Broncos defeated the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Let's reflect on Part 4 of my NFL predictions series. First, how I said the Broncos could win:

"The Broncos can win if they can maintain their defense against a deadly Carolina offense that overwhelmed the Seahawks and the Cardinals. The Broncos proved they can hold off the Patriots, but the Panthers look to be a daunting threat given the thrashing of the Cardinals. Manning has struggled with interceptions, but he has not thrown a turnover in the playoffs so far."

Indeed, the defense showed up strong in Super Bowl 50. The Panthers, having posted a combined eighty points against the Seahawks and the Cardinals, could only muster up ten against a Broncos team that refused to budge. The Broncos sacked Cam Newton seven times and forced three turnovers: a catastrophic fumble-recovery that led to a defensive touchdown, a rushing fumble, and an interception. Manning did not have a stellar game, but the defense held the line just enough to allow the Broncos to post twenty-four points.

Speaking of the Panthers...

"The Panthers must keep doing what they're doing. The offensive line must protect Newton at all costs, knowing how dangerous the Broncos defense was against the Patriots. The defense must relentlessly attack Manning at every opportunity in order to stifle the Broncos offense. The Broncos haven't produced many points in the playoffs (23 against the Steelers, 20 against the Patriots); the Panthers ruthless offense may trigger for the Broncos haunting memories of Super Bowl 48 against the Seahawks.

Indeed, it might just be a rerun of Super Bowl 48, albeit with the Carolina Panthers instead."

Except the opposite happened.

The Panthers, who finished 15-1 on the season, never showed up to play. The feared Panthers offense, which only two weeks ago slaughtered the Cardinals, posted a rushing touchdown and a field goal, all for ten points. The Panthers defense sacked Peyton Manning five times, but what good does that make when the offense barely showed up? The Panthers offensive line buckled and capitulated at critical moments, allowing Von Miller and the rest of the Broncos o-line to deny Cam Newton his first Super Bowl championship. The Panthers leave Santa Clara empty-handed, just as they left Houston empty-handed twelve years ago.

Thanks for reading, and here's hoping the Seahawks return to the Super Bowl in 2017!

2015 NFL playoff predictions (Part 4 - Super Bowl)

Welcome to the final chapter of the 2015 NFL playoff predictions by Thunderbirds101 and AT88TV! After three weeks of playoffs, the Super Bowl 50 match-up in Santa Clara, California is set:

DENVER BRONCOS vs. CAROLINA PANTHERS

Hopefully this will be an exciting matchup, but the ghosts of Super Bowl 48 still haunt the Broncos. The Panthers are back in the Super Bowl, determined to win their first Lombardi Trophy after Tom Brady and the Patriots snatched it away in the dying seconds of Super Bowl 38.

How the Broncos reached the Super Bowl

The Denver Broncos finished first in the AFC, capitalizing on a sudden slump by the New England Patriots, the latter of which lost four of its last six regular season games. Peyton Manning has suffered numerous injuries this season, but has recovered to lead the Broncos to victory over the reigning Super Bowl champions and receive another chance for a Super Bowl victory. The Broncos defense smothered the Patriots dangerous offense; the Broncos benefited further from mistakes by the Patriots, including a missed PAT and two costly turnovers in the AFC Championship game.

In the playoffs, the Broncos enjoyed a first-round bye, first playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional game. The Broncos slipped away 23-16, setting up the match-up with the Patriots in the Championship game. Along with the aforementioned mistakes, Tom Brady threw a game-ending interception when the Patriots desperately needed to complete a two-point conversion to take the game to overtime.

As the Broncos advance to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, Peyton Manning looks for his second ring. His first and only ring came in a victory over the Chicago Bears nine years ago in Super Bowl 41. Since then, he suffered a disappointing loss against the New Orleans Saints in 2009 and a humiliating beatdown against the Seattle Seahawks in 2014. Whether Manning and the Broncos are up to the task remains to be seen...

How the Broncos can win the Super Bowl

The Broncos can win if they can maintain their defense against a deadly Carolina offense that overwhelmed the Seahawks and the Cardinals. The Broncos proved they can hold off the Patriots, but the Panthers look to be a daunting threat given the thrashing of the Cardinals. Manning has struggled with interceptions, but he has not thrown a turnover in the playoffs so far.

How the Panthers reached the Super Bowl

The Panthers dominated the NFL all season, save for a frustrating loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers have obliterated nearly all opponents with ease. At no time were the Panthers playoff hopes in doubt.

In the playoffs, the Panthers enjoyed a first-round bye, first playing the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisonal game. The Panthers destroyed the Seahawks in the first half and opened up a 31-0 lead, but a furious comeback by the Seahawks nearly ruined the Panthers season; the Panthers won 31-24.

Next, the Panthers played and obliterated the Arizona Cardinals, forcing seven turnovers and winning 49-15. The Panthers appear unstoppable, and hunger for their first Super Bowl win, determined not to lose on a last second field goal.

How the Panthers can win the Super Bowl

The Panthers must keep doing what they're doing. The offensive line must protect Newton at all costs, knowing how dangerous the Broncos defense was against the Patriots. The defense must relentlessly attack Manning at every opportunity in order to stifle the Broncos offense. The Broncos haven't produced many points in the playoffs (23 against the Steelers, 20 against the Patriots); the Panthers ruthless offense may trigger for the Broncos haunting memories of Super Bowl 48 against the Seahawks.

Indeed, it might just be a rerun of Super Bowl 48, albeit with the Carolina Panthers instead.

FINAL PREDICTION

Thunderbirds101's pick:

PANTHERS WIN SUPER BOWL 50, 30-17.

 

AT88TV's pick:

PANTHERS WIN SUPER BOWL 50, 42-7.