Super Bowl 50 looks like a matchup for the ages with the NFC champion Carolina Panthers bringing the NFL’s top-rated scoring offense against the AFC champion Denver Broncos’ No. 1 total defense. Then Denver beat the Packers and Falcons in back-to-back years (1997 and 1998) by scores of 31-24 and 34-19, respectively.
Advertisement
According to Forbes, the Broncos’ value has surged from $78 million in 1984, when its current owner Patrick Bowlen acquired it, to almost $2 billion today. “We played in the Super Bowl against a team that had a wealth of playoff experience and Super Bowl experience, and we dominated that football game”.
Quarterback Rich Gannon won the 2002 MVP with the Oakland Raiders and lost Super Bowl XXXVII to Tampa Bay; running back Shaun Alexander won the 2005 MVP for the Seattle Seahawks and lost Super Bowl XL to Pittsburgh; quarterback Tom Brady won the 2007 MVP with the unbeaten New England Patriots and lost Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants; Peyton Manning won the 2009 MVP with the Indianapolis Colts and lost Super Bowl XLIV to New Orleans; and Manning won the 2013 MVP with the Denver Broncos but lost Super Bowl XLVIII to Seattle.
Aikman, who dealt with concussions in his playing career and retired after the 2000 season, said he sees a big change in how the league handles the issue now.
In making the announcement that the Broncos would indeed defy convention and wear their away jersey, John Elway, the team’s executive VP of operations and general manager, cited the team’s past Super Bowl performances for the decision, strongly suggesting this was a decision based on superstition.
Eli Manning spoke to a group of media on Wednesday and said he doesn’t know one way or another if Peyton will retire. “But I’m fortunate and grateful that I have the opportunity to contribute still, in some way”. He’s a lock to be named this season’s NFL MVP on the eve of the Super Bowl, which is when the league announces all of its major awards. “I just added this one to it”.
Advertisement
But Manning is not quite as capable as he was, once upon a time, when it comes to putting the football exactly where he wants it, especially on deep routes. “He hasn’t said anything, so I really don’t know what he’s going to do”. “I think it’s something that you see in our team’s play and attitude”. “If someone suffered a concussion, it was unlikely they would ever miss a game, and now we’re seeing players miss multiple games because they haven’t shown signs that they’re capable or ready to come back”. This team has proven to be mentally tough enough and has too strong of a bond amongst the entire team allow another disaster like that to happen again.
