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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Peyton Manning gave himself a chance to have Super ending to his career, and Von Miller and the Denver defense made the plays to secure the title for the Broncos.
Manning and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton were harassed all game Sunday, and the Broncos made enough big plays for the 24-10 victory, Manning’s 200th and perhaps his last before retirement.
He wasn’t the star — game MVP Miller seemingly was everywhere on every Carolina play — but Manning really hasn’t been the headliner in this injury-shortened season.
Emulating his Broncos boss, John Elway, the 39-year-old Manning can ride off with the Lombardi Trophy after leading Denver to its third NFL title, first since 1999 — when Elway was the quarterback.
“I’ll take some time to reflect,” Manning said when asked if Super Bowl 50 is the end. “I got a couple priorities first. I’m going to go kiss my wife and my kids. … I’m going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight. Take care of those things first.”
Denver’s suffocating defense kept Newton jittery all day. Despite wearing gold shoes before the golden Super Bowl, Newton couldn’t finish off a dynamic season in which he was the league’s MVP. Miller twice stripped him, once for a touchdown, the second time setting up a clinching TD. Denver’s top-ranked defense, the one that ran roughshod over Tom Brady in the AFC championship, simply wouldn’t let Newton get comfortable.
“It’s every one of these guys who go me to this,” Miller said.
Newton was sacked six times — receiver Ted Ginn Jr., went down once on an aborted trick play — and if Miller wasn’t torturing him, DeMarcus Ware was. Ware had two of the seven sacks, the most ever by one team in the Super Bowl.
Carolina’s potent offense that led the league with 500 points was held to its fewest points of the year, and Denver set an ignominious mark with 194 yards gained, the fewest for a Super Bowl winner.
So what: The Broncos (15-4) are champions and Manning is the first quarterback to win Super Bowls with two franchises, Indianapolis in 2007 was the other.
Manning finished 13 for 23 for 141 yards against a strong Carolina (17-2) defense that just couldn’t match Miller and company.
“This game was much like this season has been, testing our toughness, our resiliency, our unselfishness,” he said. “It’s only fitting that it turned out that way.”
“I feel very, very grateful. … Obviously, it’s very special to cap it off with a Super Bowl championship.”
Denver’s defense stole Carolina’s act. The Panthers led the league with 39 takeaways and were a plus-20 in turnovers. On the Super Bowl stage, though, Assistant Coach of the Year Wade Phillips got his first ring because his unit was impenetrable.
It was a far cry from two years ago, when the Broncos were routed by Seattle 43-8.
Carolina has made a habit of sprinting out of the gate in the playoffs. This time, it was Denver that got the quick start.
Manning opened the game with an 18-yard completion to Owen Daniels, later hit Andre Caldwell for 22, and C.J. Anderson had a 13-yard run. When the Panthers held, Brandon McManus kicked a 34-yard field goal.
The Panthers went nowhere on their first series, then their defense forced a three-and-out. It was the first of seven such aborted drives for both sides in the first half.
Carolina’s Ron Rivera, the Coach of the Year, lost a challenge on a pass to Jerricho Cotchery , and it was a key decision because two plays later, Miller burst through and didn’t even go for the sack. He reached directly for the ball, stripping it from Newton. It rolled to the goal line, where Malik Jackson pounced on it for a 10-0 lead.
Miller dabbed in the end zone in front of legions of orange-clad Broncos fans after Denver’s first defensive touchdown in a Super Bowl.
Miller spied on Newton at times, and Newton noticed. But Newton escaped him for runs of 11 and 12 yards — Miller’s hard tackle out of bounds bothered several Panthers — and a 19-yard pass to Greg Olsen on a misdirection play kept alive Carolina’s first scoring drive.
Jonathan Stewart, back from hurting his right foot earlier, dived in from the 1 to make it 10-7.
But sloppiness — and strong defense — marked the rest of the game.
The first half ended 13-7 after McManus made a 33-yarder that followed the longest punt return in Super Bowl history. It was a strange runback, too.
Brad Nortman’s kick from his 12 was barely deflected, and the ball fluttered to Jordan Norwood. One Panther bumped Norwood, but he didn’t call for a fair catch, then took off to his right. Escorted by a bevy of blockers, he appeared headed for a touchdown until DE Mario Addison chased him down at the Carolina 14, a 61-yard jaunt.
Broncos 24, Panthers 10
Carolina`0`7`0`3`—`10
Denver`10`3`3`8`—`24
First Quarter
Den — FG McManus 34, 10:43.
Den — Jackson fumble recovery in end zone (McManus kick), 6:27.
Second Quarter
Car—Stewart 1 run (Gano kick), 11:25.
Den—FG McManus 33, 6:58.
Third Quarter
Den—FG McManus 30, 8:18.
Fourth Quarter
Car—FG Gano 39, 10:21.
Den—Anderson 2 run (Fowler pass from Manning), 3:08.
A—71,088.
`Car`Den
First downs`21`11
Total Net Yards`315`194
Rushes-yards`27-118`28-90
Passing`197`104
Punt Returns`3-2`1-61
Kickoff Returns`2-42`2-42
Interceptions Ret.`1-19`1-(-3)
Comp-Att-Int`18-41-1`13-23-1
Sacked-Yards Lost`7-68`5-37
Punts`7-45.0`8-45.9
Fumbles-Lost`4-3`3-1
Penalties-Yards`12-102`6-51
Time of Possession`32:47`27:13
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Carolina, Newton 6-45, Stewart 12-29, Whittaker 4-26, Tolbert 5-18. Denver, Anderson 23-90, Hillman 5-0.
PASSING: Carolina, Newton 18-41-1-265. Denver, Manning 13-23-1-141.
RECEIVING: Carolina, Brown 4-80, Ginn Jr. 4-74, Olsen 4-41, Funchess 2-40, Cotchery 2-17, Whittaker 1-14, Stewart 1-(minus 1). Denver, Sanders 6-83, Anderson 4-10, Caldwell 1-22, Daniels 1-18, Thomas 1-8.
MISSED FIELD GOALS: Carolina, Gano 44 (WR).
