They Peyton Manning fairytale is real. The 39-year-old quarterback led his Denver Broncos to Super Bowl 50 victory on the back of some incredible work by his defence.
Highly-fancied and MVP Cam Newton was always positioned as the key man in this game, while on the other side, Peyton Manning’s last game before retirement sought to turn the tables on his last two trips to the NFL’s pinnacle, which were met with defeat.
Could he even up his count at 2-2 in the biggest game of all, and his last?
SUPER BOWL 50 LIVE SCORES, HIGHLIGHTS
It was the legend against the new gun. The old hand taking on the young. And both defences were primed to make it hard work for both quarterbacks.
In the end, the Broncos’ defence dominated Newton, sacking the League MVP seven times. In a season that has seen Newton hit record low sack percentages, it was an astonishing turnaround in fortunes for the Panthers.
Linebacker and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller was the face of it for the Broncos, constantly pressuring Newton into incompletions and fumbles. The Panthers never got on the touchdown drives that typified their 2015/16 NFL season.
The Broncos took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Panthers charged back at the start of the second quarter as quarterback Newton led Carolina on a rare touchdown drive.
Newton, the NFL’s best dual-threat quarterback, ran for 11 yards and again for seven and then hit Greg Olsen and Corey Brown on passes to set up a one-yard touchdown plunge by Jonathan Stewart to make it 10-7.
But Denver answered right back when Jordan Norwood cut across the field on a Super Bowl record 61-yard punt return to set up a Brandon McManus 33-yard field goal that put Denver ahead by six.
Denver had jumped out in front in the opening quarter on a stunning sack-fumble on Newton caused by pass-rusher Von Miller that sent the ball bouncing into the end zone where defensive end Malik Jackson scooped it up for a touchdown.
That brilliant play followed a 34-yard field goal by McManus after Denver quarterback Peyton Manning led the Broncos on a 64-yard opening drive of the game.
The game-sealing play came midway through the final quarter, with Miller forcing the ball loose from Newton’s grasp, and the Broncos linemen leaping on it
Manning then led his side to a game-winning drive, handing off for a touchdown from close range before executing on a two-point play that put their lead out to two touchdowns.
It would remain 24-10, with Manning’s offence running down the clock. It gave the Broncos their third Super Bowl victory after their back-to-back wins in 1997 and 1998.
Happy Feet
Guest
You mean there actually was a game? I thought i was a concert highlighting the best in entertainment and advertising, with a small demonstration of American football on the side.
Steve
Guest
Well done to the Broncos...a good win and another amazing defensive performance! I really didn't have much of a rap on Denver all season. The offensive numbers were so terrible that it always seemed like that would catch-up with them. It wasn't to be and so we're left with one of the more remarkable Super Bowl champions ever!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
First half penalties kept Carolina in the game. Second half penalties won Denver the game
Nate
Guest
Not the one 3rd down part no, but around 250 odd yards of offense and the tough D, yeah that's what I expected.
Al
Guest
That game was utter horsecrap.
pete bloor
Guest
So you genuinely expected us to convert one 3rd down all game an average 14 yards a drive... but were all offended by everyone writing the team off? I think if you said to Manning before the game "I'm from the future and you'll only get 194 yards and 1 3rd down conversion all game" he'd have gulped and been worrying about a repeat of 48.
bear54
What a great game!! Well done Von Miller, Ware and Talib you stuck it to "Superman" who, according to last reports, is still in the change rooms rocking back and forth crying "block 58, block 94, block 58, block 94"....... Wade Phillips you're a genius!
Bob
Guest
Congratulations to Denver. Their defence was lights out all season, and it's fitting that the defence ended up winning them a championship. However, the game itself was extremely boring. I hope there weren't too many first time watcher's today, because that's the kind of game that would have people changing the channel.
Nate
Guest
Agreed the punting was huge, I made that comment on the live blog during the game. Colquitt was definitely on form. As for the Carolina defense vs the Denver defense, nobody expected Denver to do much offensively and they didn't. Hard to say how much of that was on Denver or Carolina. However, Carolina has the #1 offense in the league and got shut down. I know which I think is the far more dominant performance.
pete bloor
Guest
For mine the bit being lost is Special teams, the Broncos basically punted for mroe than the difference in their horrible offensive output vs Carolina's merely average output. Without special teams making up for an anemic offence we don't have Von Miller's fumbles basically put 14 points on the panthers. So without the special teams we might be talking about a dominant panthers D, remember they also got to Manning 5 times, allowed only 194 yards, one TD and 1 single 3rd down conversion all game - that's pretty bloody dominant in it's own right and yet they've got a losers speech to whip out of the kit bag... I'm a Broncos fan but that game was far closer than the score line and I never felt like we were going to get a TD that was gifted on a short field.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Yep, they did to Carolina, what they had done to them in Super Bowl 48......great defence wins championships.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Congrats to the Broncos, what an awesome defensive display, Miller and Co were epic. The Sheriff gets to ride off into the sunset now !
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Defense wins all day long.
Nate
Guest
Probably lucky the Broncos ignored all the hype saying how one sided this was going to be and turned up to play the game. If you were to believe what you read then they had no chance so may as well have just stayed home!