The Carolina Panthers were inked in as the uncrowned Super Bowl 50 champions by many prognosticators before Sunday's game. The Denver Broncos and the #1-ranked defense in the NFL have other ideas, as Denver used their D to push the tempo early and take a 13-7 lead into halftime.
Swarming Cam Newton from all sides, the Denver pass rush perplexed the 2015 NFL MVP early and often in the first 30 minutes -- riding continued pressure and LB Von Miller's strip sack of Cam Newton at the Panthers' goal line (recovered for a TD by DE Malik Jackson) to a 10-0 lead after one. More on the first half inside the Chat Sports iPhone and Android apps!
After the Panthers offense picked up less than 30 yards in the first quarter, Newton returned to form in the early second.
Partially in thanks to Broncos CB Aqib Talib's second personal foul penalty on a blatant facemask on WR Philly Brown, Newton led Carolina on a nine-play, 73-yard drive punctuated by a one-yard hurdle for a TD by RB Jonathan Stewart to make it 10-7:
The Broncos would throw an uppercut after the teams traded punts, as Jordan Norwood ripped off the longest punt return in Super Bowl history (61 yards) to put the Broncos in business deep in Panthers territory. However, a gutting holding call on a 4th and short conversion left the Broncos with no choice but to kick.
McManus drilled the chip shot to make it 13-7 in the mid-second.
Denver's defense would assert itself again on the very next Panthers drive, forcing a Mike Tolbert fumble after Tolbert broke off an 11-yard scamper.
However, Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy would get it right back for Carolina -- bringing in a nifty one-handed interception of Peyton Manning to put a halt to Denver's momentum:
Nothing would come of it, however, as the Panthers went three-and-out. Denver followed suit with another three-and-out, as neither Newton or Peyton found any semblance of rhythm for most of the first 30 minutes.
Cam did move the Panthers to midfield late in the half, escaping the rush and finding WR Devin Funchess with a bullet throw to midfield. The drive stalled from there, however, and Denver held onto its 13-7 lead into the break.
Notable Stats:
Panthers QB Cam Newton -- 8 of 19 passing, 50 yards + 5 rushes, 46 yards
Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart -- 6 carries, 7 yards, 1 TD + 1 catch, -1 yards
Panthers TE Greg Olsen -- 3 carries, 34 yards
Broncos QB Peyton Manning -- 9 of 16, 76 yards, 1 INT
Broncos RB CJ Anderson -- 8 carries, 58 yards + 3 catches, 8 yards
Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders -- 3 carries, 20 yards