The Broncos will never complain about leading a Super Bowl at halftime, given their forgettable history in the big game.
Advertisement
But it was the top-ranked Denver defense that can claim credit for the victory after holding the league’s highest-scoring offence to a single touchdown and 10 points. Denver scored on Von Miller’s first quarter strip sack as Malik Jackson pounced on the ball.
Levi’s Stadium’s turf troubles are well-known, as last year, the team repeatedly replaced hundreds of yards worth of field, and this year the field’s been re-sodded at least six times. More on the first half inside the Chat Sports iPhone and Android apps!
They got the longest punt return in Super Bowl history on a weird play in which the Panthers thought the play was dead. The Panthers stopped a Denver possession with a sack of their own when linebacker Luke Kuechly threw Manning for a 9-yard sack on a third-and-3 play from the Denver 20.
The Panthers, having lost just once coming into this game, were accustomed to having their way offensively. The play also marks the first defensive score of any kind in the Super Bowl for the Broncos.
By halftime, Newton completed 8 of 19 passes for 95 yards, and he certainly didn’t look like the NFL’s Superman.
Broncos safety Darian Stewart put a wicked hit on fullback Mike Tolbert, dislodging the ball with his helmet, ending another Panthers drive with 6:32 left in the second quarter. Newton appeared to have a chance to pounce on the ball, but hesitated during the scramble.
Advertisement
Carolina Panthers’ Jonathan Stewart (28) scores a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. Only two quarterbacks have thrown interceptions in four different Super Bowls: Hall of Famer John Elway (5) and Manning (4).
