The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos are set for the Super Bowl on February 7 and the game features two of the biggest stars in the league with Peyton Manning and Cam Newton in the quarterback matchup.
The Panthers come into the game after a dominating performance against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC title game, while the Broncos come in after winning over the Patriots in the AFC. The Panthers and Broncos are both number one seeds and this marks the third year in a row that the top seeded teams in each conference are playing in the Super Bowl.
The Panthers finished the season with the best record in the league at 15-1 and started off 14-0 before losing their first game. The Broncos finished the season 12-4 and ended up with the top seed after beating the Patriots during the regular season. Home field advantage helped the team win in the AFC title game and now the team is back in the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons.
The Broncos made the big game two years ago and faced off against the Seahawks at MetLife Stadium in what ended up being a major blowout loss. The Broncos now have the chance to make up for that loss this year and it could be the final chance for Manning to get a second Super Bowl ring. Manning signed with the Broncos to try and win another championship and now he has his team in position to do it.
It won't be an easy task against the Panthers and this matchup has some of the same feel that the Seahawks-Broncos Super Bowl had. That game had Manning facing off against an electric, young, mobile quarterback in Russell Wilson and a dominating defense. The Panthers have that in Newton and their defense has been one of the best in the league all season. The Panthers are stacked with talent on defense with players like Luke Kuechly, Josh Norman and Thomas Davis, although Davis broke his arm against the Cardinals and could be questionable to play in the Super Bowl.
This matchup has the potential to be one of the best Super Bowl games ever with Newton's high powered offense going up against the stingy Denver defense. The Broncos are one of the best teams in the league at getting to the quarterbacks, but with Newton's size he is one the best players in the league at bouncing off hits and that could be one of the key factors that determines the outcome of the game.
Prediction:
Panthers win over Broncos
Luke Kuechly wins MVP
