The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos are set for Super Bowl 50 on February 7 and the matchup has the top seeds in the AFC and NFC battling for the championship.
The Broncos won over the Patriots in the AFC title game to advance, while the Panthers dominated the Arizona Cardinals. The matchup has two of the best defenses in the league going up against each other and the QB battle has the elder statesman in Peyton Manning against the new face of the NFL in Cam Newton.
Here are 5 things to know heading into the Super Bowl:
The Carolina Panthers open as Super Bowl favorites
The Carolina Panthers open up as favorites over the Broncos in the Super Bowl after the dominating performance against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC championship game. The Panthers had the best record in the league this season with a 15-1 mark and the team has both their offense and defense ranked in the top 10. According to ESPN.com, the Panthers are listed as 5.5-point-favorites from the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas.
Peyton Manning can cement his legacy
Peyton Manning has the chance to add to his legacy with another Super Bowl win and he would be one of the oldest quarterbacks to do it if the Broncos win. Manning is a Hall of Fame player win or lose, but over the years some critics have knocked the quarterback for his playoff record and a win here likely would quiet that talk. Manning already has one Super Bowl victory, but capping off his career with another win would cement his legacy as one of the best quarterbacks of all time (which he already is).
The Panthers and Broncos each have top defenses
The Broncos were the top defense in the NFL this season and the Panthers were not far behind and now the two units will match up in the Super Bowl. Both teams have All-Pro level talent on defense, including names like Von Miller, Luke Kuechly, Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and Josh Norman and that should make for some fun matchups for Manning and Newton.
Injuries may play a role
Both teams are dealing with injuries heading into the Super Bowl and those injury issues could play a role in the outcome of the game. Jared Allen is going to try and play for the Panthers after missing the game against the Cardinals, while Thomas Davis said he is determined to play after breaking his arm against Arizona. The Broncos have Darian Stewart and TJ Ward banged up, but the safeties are expected to play in the Super Bowl.
QB Battle: Old School vs. New School
The battle between Peyton Manning and Cam Newton should be a good one and it pits the classic old school quarterback against the young upstart. Manning is the classic drop back passer and is an elder statesman when it comes to QB play, while Newton is the future of the position. Newton is a physical freak and can run the ball just as well as some running backs in the league. Newton is built like a linebacker and that makes him a dangerous weapon when he is scrambling in the pocket and when he is running the ball. Can the defense keep up?
