Key statistic: The Broncos failed to convert 12 straight third downs – a Super Bowl record.
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The Manning family doesn’t care about the box score, or the fact that Peyton’s highlight came from a two-point conversion. “He always likes to say that mistakes are on him, but the Super Bowl is on him, too”. It’s time to go out on top.
After the Broncos finished with the NFL’s best defense, the writers recognized Phillips on Saturday, naming him the NFL’s assistant coach of the year.
Wade Phillips didn’t have a job past year.
Phillips’ smothering defense shut down Cam Newton and the Denver Broncos beat the Panthers 24-10 to give Peyton Manning his second Super Bowl title Sunday.
Nearing the end of his seventh decade, Phillips isn’t likely to get another shot at a head coaching job, not that he needs one now.
“You’ve got to rate them pretty high”, Phillips told ESPN of his charges.
Phillips put together a game plan that did what no other coach could manage this season.
“He played great all year but the last two games, he even upped his game, which is a great tribute to his talent and what he can do”, Phillips said. “We love playing for him”. The first choice was Vance Joseph, then the backfield coach of the Bengals (who recently left Cincinnati to become the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator).
Phillips defence line have notched up some astonishing numbers for the season and are ranked number one in total defence (283.1 yards), number one in pass defence (199.6), number one in sacks (52), number three against the run (83.6), number four in scoring (18.5) and number three in defensive touchdowns (5). “I’ve been lucky to be around a lot of great defenses and a lot of great games, but this one topped it off”.
Phillips joked about the Broncos’ underdog status, saying, “No we don’t try to use any motivation at all”.
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Of course, it helps when you can write Von Miller’s name on your lineup card. You can see how he utilized Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe and Sylvester Williams, and those guys are more than just run-stoppers. In fact, this was the only game all season in which the Panthers never led, and their 10 points were the fewest they’ve scored in a game all season.
