Super Bowl 50: Panthers vs. Broncos odds, analysis, commercials, halftime info, more – Washington Post
Peyton Manning and the Broncos will run out of the tunnel in Santa Clara on Feb. 7 to oppose the Carolina Panthers. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The Game: News and info | Analysis
The Spectacle: Halftime | Commercials
The board is set, but we’ve still got a ways to go before the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers kick off Super Bowl 50. That’s plenty of time to study up on the two sides, plan out your party and learn how to make the meanest batch of queso the world has ever seen. Dig in to all The Washington Post has to offer below, from game insights, to commercial breakdowns to the best spots to settle in for the big game.
The Game
Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers
Sunday, Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Odds: Carolina minus-4.5 (as of Jan. 26)
More information can be found here.
John Elway puts Peyton Manning in position for a glorious career finale
The Broncos legend walked away from the game after winning a Super Bowl, now Manning, in the twilight of his career, may be able to do the same. And it will be largely because of the supporting cast Elway has put together around his quarterback in Denver.
Almost all of the talk in the Broncos’ locker room following their dramatic triumph over the New England Patriots in the AFC title game on Sunday in Denver was about Manning beating his nemesis, Tom Brady, to return to the Super Bowl, and about the defense that made it happen.
But few people in the room deserved more credit than the quarterback already enshrined in Canton who stood near the locker room exit, smiling broadly and chatting with reporters while wearing one freshly earned AFC championship cap and holding a handful of others. – Mark Maske (Read More)
10 weird, but true, facts about Super Bowl 50
Get smart with these strange-but-true Super Bowl nuggets. (Read More)
Early Preview: QBs will be focus, but defenses could decide it
An early look at the two teams who will battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy:
It will be a memorable Super Bowl no matter what happens. It will be Cam Newton’s first. It could be Peyton Manning’s last. The superb defenses of the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos will square off in 13 days in Santa Clara, Calif. – Mark Maske (Read More)
How they got here: Panthers rout Cardinals in NFC title game
Five years into his NFL career, Cam Newton has found an appropriate platform for his luminosity, the proper forum for his talents. Newton’s season would have been lacking without performing in the largest spectacle in American sports. The real truth of it is, this year’s Super Bowl would have felt incomplete without Newton. – Adam Kilgore (Read More)
How they got here: Broncos defense holds off Patriots for AFC crown
Peyton Manning isn’t quite finished. He wasn’t derailed yet again by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. He had his defense to thank for that.
In a season in which Manning at times looked done, he is back in the Super Bowl. He prevailed here Sunday in his 17th career quarterbacking duel with Brady, aided greatly by an often-overpowering, resilient-when-needed Denver defense that carried the Broncos to a 20-18 triumph over the Patriots in the AFC title game. – Mark Maske (Read More)
If you’re a Panther Luke Kuechly loves you. If you’re not? Watch out.
The Carolina linebacker has a soft spot in his heart for all his teammates, new and old, which doesn’t exactly jive with his on-field persona of a hard-hitting linebacker.
Kuechly has carved a surprising identity among teammates. The snarling middle linebacker at the heart of Carolina’s menacing defense is, it turns out, kind of a softie. His nastiness on the field yields to gentleness off of it.
“Luke’s the nicest guy I’ve ever met in my life,” safety Roman Harper said.
“I can agree with that,” linebacker Thomas Davis said.
“He’s a really, really nice guy,” wide receiver Jericho Cotchery said.
“He’s so friendly,” quarterback Cam Newton said. “Like, extremely friendly.” – Adam Kilgore (Read More)
Fancy Stats: Panthers D shouldn’t scare Peyton Manning
While a strong unit, Manning has faced at least two better defenses in his previous three Super Bowl appearances.
The Panthers are a high-turnover team that can intercept the ball (24, most in league) as easily as they can create fumbles (15, second most). Defensive lineman Kawann Short was rated by the game charters at Pro Football Focus as the seventh best interior defenseman while linebacker Luke Kuechly was the league’s best linebacker. Cornerback Josh Norman, meanwhile, held quarterbacks to a league-low 54 rating against in primary coverage, making this one of the most well-rounded defenses Manning has faced.
But it isn’t the best defense that has stood between him and a championship ring. – Neil Greenberg (Read More)
The best draft of the millennium
The No. 1 overall pick of 2011, Cam Newton, will meet the No. 2 overall pick, Von Miller, in Super Bowl 50, helping to show how that draft class has been the strongest since 2000.
While Newton and Miller topped the draft order that year, they aren’t even the best players from that draft — that distinction goes to J.J. Watt, a two-time defensive player of the year.
Also drafted in the 2011 first round was cornerback Patrick Peterson, wide receivers Julio Jones and A.J. Green, defensive end Robert Quinn and offensive tackle Tyron Smith. – Neil Greenberg (Read More)
The Spectacle
Coldplay will perform and the Internet will lament…
The British superstars were not greeted with much enthusiasm after the announcement they would play the Super Bowl halftime show.
[A] wave of pessimism swept through Twitter after the announcement. Most of the complaints came from those who fear the show will be another snoozefest – Marrisa Payne (Read More)
… but Beyonce will join them and the Internet will rejoice
The follow-up announcement was greeted with roughly 8,000,000 times the excitement.
Fans called for Taylor Swift. They called for Adele. All they hoped for was someone awesome to blow the (nonexistent) roof off Levi’s Stadium, but the NFL and Pepsi gave them Coldplay. … Lo and behold, the NFL (and Pepsi) has heard the world’s cry for a mind-blowing performance, announcing Thursday that Beyonce will be joining the English quartet on stage. Get ready for her to rock your socks off (just like she did at Super Bowl XLVII) before Coldplay puts you to sleep before the start of the second half. – Oliver Macklin (Read More)
Here come the ads …
Amy Schumer, Seth Rogen get you in the mood for Super Bowl ad season
Based on the final wardrobe choices (look past the Spanx) and the buttons they’re wearing, this would seem to indicate some sort of political-themed ad and not one touting an actual party featuring nothing but Bud Light, which I’m guessing would be a tough sell. – Matt Bonesteel (Watch)
The 60-second version of the spot features people around the globe intoning “I can do that” as they prepare for a Pokemon tournament. A 30-second version of the ad will run during the NFL title game. – Cindy Boren (Watch)
Source: Google News Super Bowl Commercials
