SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Carolina Panthers looked tight in the first half of Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos. Malik Jackson recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to put Denver up 10-0.
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Newton finally got rolling, in part thanks to his ability to make plays with his legs, and running back Jonathan Stewart leapt over from one yard out for the NFC champions’ first points of the game early in the second quarter.
Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyonce came and went during the half-time show, yet the Panthers could still not exit their rut when they returned as Gano missed a 44-yard field goal when the ball struck the right upright.
The Denver Broncos, heavy underdogs before Super Bowl 50 began, took home the title due to a stout defensive effort.
The Panthers, who led the National Football League with a plus-29 turnover margin, were able to thwart another scoring drive when Carolina defensive end Kony Ealy snagged his first career interception with 4:28 left in the half.
“In the quarterback matchup between Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos and Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers, the differences are literally black and white”, the video description reads.
On January 11, the AP reported that the grounds crew had replaced the field entirely from artificial turf to natural turf, which they do before every Super Bowl. The Panthers appeared ready to get in position to score a go-ahead TD but Jerricho Cotchery dropped a pass at the Broncos 5-yard line on the right sideline. Peyton Manning completed 9 of 16 passes for 76 yards, and Denver managed just four first downs in the first half.
The Broncos enter Super Bowl 50 as underdogs, but that doesn’t mean they should be underestimated. Expect offensive coordinator Mike Shula to give Newton opportunities to use his running ability to create an advantage against Denver’s defense, which allowed the least yards per carry (3.3) this season. If the Broncos held the Panthers to less than 100 yards on the ground they would be the first team to do so all season. However, Panthers quarterback and 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton breathed new life into the team and ended the regular season 15 – 1. But four plays later, Newton was intercepted by T.J. Ward. After the made two-point conversion, Denver led 24-10.
Philly Brown hauled in a 42-yard heave from Newton over the middle of the field, setting up the Panthers at the Broncos 38.
Panthers’ coach Ron Rivera said Newton played “pretty well” but pointed to the turnovers as the most significant factor in the loss.
On the ground, Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson are a force to be reckoned with – they combined for 1,583 yards and 12 touchdowns.
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In this game, Carolina is heavily-favored by most to beat the Broncos, who are without much of an offense.
