By Flint Wheeler
Von Miller had 2.5 sacks and forced two Cam Newton fumbles as the Denver Broncos defense dominated the high-octane offense of the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50.
Newton and Miller will forever be linked in NFL lore as the players were selected No. 1 and 2 overall in the 2011 NFL draft respectively. With the game on the line, Miller outplayed Newton, sacking the NFL MVP and forcing two turnovers that turned into both Denver touchdowns.
Newton’s counterpart, Peyton Manning, likely will retire from the game of football a champion, much like Broncos Hall of Fame great John Elway did in 1998. Manning did not have a stellar Super Bowl on Sunday throwing for 141 yards with one fumble and one interception. He rides off into the sunset as a two-time NFL Champion, and 200 career wins (regular season and post season).
Newton did not fare much better as he was a paltry 18-for-41 on the day, throwing for 265 yards, with one interception and two fumbles. In total, both teams combined for six turnovers.
Denver elected to receive the opening kick-off, and Peyton Manning drove the Broncos down the field and into the red zone where he nearly avoided a pick-six. Brandon McManus kicked a 34-yard field goal to conclude the drive and give Denver an early 3-0 lead.
Von Miller made what might have been the play of the game when he sacked Cam Newton on the Carolina two-yard line. Miller stripped the football from Newton as he fell to the ground and the fumble was recovered by Malik Jackson in the end zone for the defensive touchdown.
Jonathan Stewart opened up the second quarter with a one-yard Superman leap into the end zone to get the Panthers back within 3 points. Stewart had left the game early in the first quarter with a foot injury.
Jordan Norwood returned a Panthers punt all the way down to the Carolina 14-yard line, but the Broncos were unable to find the end zone, settling for a field goal that increased the lead to 13-7 midway through the second quarter.
Both defensives took over from there as points were at a premium in the second half. T.J. Ward put an end to what appeared to be a sure scoring drive for Carolina to open the third quarter when he intercepted Cam Newton on the 10-yard line.
Graham Gano curled a 39-yard field goal inside the right upright with 10:21 remaining in the fourth quarter.
But once again, it was Miller and the Broncos defense that took control of the game and allowed Peyton Manning to ride off into the sunset on what is likely his “last rodeo.”
Miller sacked stripped Newton on 3rd and 9 from the Carolina 16-yard line and T.J. Ward recovered the fumble and running back C.J. Anderson ran the ball in for the Broncos score three plays later.
Behind The Bets
$100 on Broncos (before the game) paid +185
$100 on Broncos (before the season) paid +900
Von Miller paid 22/1 as MVP
Team with more turnovers in Super Bowl has now won only 4 of 50 games
National Anthem controversy
Over/Under was 2 minutes and 16.5 seconds
Counting the second “brave” sung by Lady Gaga, her singing time was 2:20 (so OVER would cash)
Not counting the second “brave” clocked at 2:09 (so UNDER would cash)
Some online sportsbooks are paying the OVER and some are paying the UNDER!
Coin Toss
Tails – now 26 Tails and 24 Heads
NFC has now won 17 of last 19 Super Bowl coin tosses!
Updated: After team scores 40+ points in NFL playoffs: now 5-24 Against The Spread their next playoff game!
Official numbers will be reported this week, but early feedback suggests that the sportsbooks had a winning day.
Prior 25 Super Bowls: Nevada bettors profited (in net) against the sportsbooks only 2 times.
Oh, and if you now happen to be watching the NBA on Sundays, Golden State Warriors haven’t missed a beat – and Vegas knows it. Golden State Warriors are now nearly 50/50 to beat the Bulls 72-win season record (Westgate LV is currently offering +100 on YES, and -120 on NO)
