The defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers, the team they thankfully beat handily in last year’s big game. Although I had picked the Broncos most people thought that the Panthers were a lock to win that game. At the end of that scoring drive Siemian was 17-of-22 for 172 yards.
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The Panthers, established as three-point favorites on the road, need this game more than Denver does, because Newton needs to get his mojo back. Even with a different number at quarterback. To be a successful quarterback in the National Football League you need to have command over the locker room and respect from your teammates. Cam will have to use precision when making throws to keep the ball away from Denver’s incredible cornerbacks. Devin Funchess and Kelvin Benjamin are both almost unbeatable in jump ball battles, so look for Cam to attempt keeping the ball high in the air when he targets his six-foot-four-inch and six-foot-five-inch wide receivers.
The Broncos battered Newton, including three helmet-to-helmet hits. Carolina’s defense ranked sixth in sacks, eleventh in passing yards allowed, seventh in passing touchdowns allowed, and first in total interceptions forced last season. This is a new season, and it’s an opportunity for Carolina to start strong. Maybe that will help the Panthers win – or maybe it’ll be the fact that the Broncos lost a bunch of defensive players and both of their quarterbacks.
Trevor will also be without Malik Jackson, 26, and Danny Trevathan, 26, as Malik signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Danny’s off playing for the Chicago Bears. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound linebacker recorded 118 total tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles, and four interceptions during the regular season a year ago, and was dominant in the postseason with 29 tackles, a sack, two interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns. The Panthers cut ties with All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman, but otherwise retained the bulk of players that led them to a dominant 15-1 record last season.
Tirico: “But Cam, don’t you understand that some people see you after you lose, which you didn’t do a lot of past year, and they say, “Where’s the guy who was doing this (gestures) and the dabbin” and all of that – don’t you have to take the bad with the good, and be better about how you take the bad?” Newton finished the game with a 55.4 passer rating, threw 1 interception and fumbled twice. The Broncos have their work cut out as Kelvin Benjamin will join a confident Devin Funchess in the receiving group this year. “After missing all of last season, the 6’5” wideout will make his return.
Tonight at 8:40 p.m. ET!
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Football is back in our lives, y’all! Olivia is a multi-faceted reporter who has worked with a variety of media outlets including Fox Sports, Tampa Media Group and PBS.
