Super Bowl 50 is a battle of youth vs. wisdom at the quarterback position. Peyton Manning is 39 years old, potentially starting his final career game, and he will be looking for one more day in the sun, one more shining moment to go out as a champion.
Super Bowl 50 is one week away. February 7th is the day, Levi Stadium is the place. The Carolina Panthers will do battle with the Denver Broncos for the right to call themselves “world champions”. One of the biggest storylines, the sentimental favorite for the game, the man who many want to see go out on top, is Peyton Manning.
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At age 39, he is the oldest quarterback to ever start a Super Bowl. He has already won one with the Colts, and earned an MVP award, but that was a different Peyton Manning. This Manning relies on a strong running game and a strong defense, combined with the ability to complete timely passes. Gone are the days of Manning’s right arm carrying the day. He must lean on his teammates, and lead with his head.
The question is, can he go out a winner? Can the football gods smile one more time, giving the cagey veteran one more day in the sun, confetti flying everywhere? Can Peyton Manning ride off into the sunset as a champion?
The answer is yes, but he is going to have to “get by with a little help from his friends”.
C.J. Anderson is going to have to be a big part of the equation. He may have only posted 720 yards rushing in 2015, but when he performs well, the Broncos win. In Denver’s only three losses of the year, Anderson carried the ball less than ten times. Like we said before, if Manning is forced the throw the football 40 times, the Broncos don’t have a shot. C.J. Anderson must be a major part of the offensive gameplan.
It rolls right into the other major key to the game for the Broncos’ offense; time of possession. The Broncos averaged 22 points per game, the Panthers averaged over 31, leading the league. Getting into a shootout will not work for Denver. It may have worked a few years ago, when Peyton still had his signature zip and arm strength, but that is no more. Peyton can’t stay with a game like that anymore.
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To win this game, Peyton and the Broncos must be able to make 21-24 points be enough to get the job done.
It’s possible, and a strong faction of the NFL fan public will be pulling for it.