Tag Archives: Superbowl

Broncos Upset Panthers In Super Bowl 50

Nov 11, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is hit as he throws a pass by Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) and defensive end Robert Ayers (91) in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE ORG XMIT: USPW-82002 ORIG FILE ID: 20121111_bsd_sd2_626.JPG

After gaining a 31-0 lead on the Seahawks in the divisional round and blowing out the Cardinal’s high octane offense 49-15, no one was giving the Broncos a chance in last week’s Super Bowl. The Panthers were hot, finishing 18-1 in the regular and postseason behind league MVP Cam Newton who not only scored with his arm, but his legs as well, gaining 50 total touchdowns despite being held back by the loss of his number 1 WR from the year before, Kelvin Benjamin. The defense was a formidable unit as well, lead by Josh Norman, who week after week shut down the best receivers the NFL had to offer, and Luke Kuechly, who had 118 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and had scored a touchdown the week prior to the Super Bowl against the Cardinals. The Panthers final opponent of the year, the Broncos, were written off as to be the final win the Panthers would get before they could claim the Lombardi. The Broncos starting QB in Peyton Manning had looked bad all season, throwing the 2nd most interceptions in the league this season, despite missing half of it, and throwing an abysmal 9 touchdowns. Despite everything the Panthers had going for them, the Broncos shocked the sporting world, leaving Levi’s Stadium with the Lombardi Trophy, and here’s the 3 reasons why.

The first reason the Broncos upset the 5.5 point favorites in the Panthers was that they limited Peyton Manning’s mistakes. After being put back into the lineup in week 17 versus the Chargers, Gary Kubiak realized that Manning couldn’t make the throws that he used to be able to, so he changed his offense. The Broncos switched to a run oriented offense, focusing on pounding opponents with Ronnie Hillman and CJ Anderson, and when Peyton had to make throws, they were short and quick, as to minimize the damage he could create. While Peyton still threw a pick on Sunday, it was made up for by the Broncos defense.

The second reason the Broncos were able to topple the Panthers on Sunday was that their running game came through for them. Facing the league’s 2nd best run defense didn’t phase the Broncos offense, as they rushed the ball 28 times notching 90 yards and 1 CJ Anderson touchdown that sealed the Broncos’ victory late in the fourth quarter.

The third and the most important reason the Broncos beat the Panthers was their amazing defensive performance. 2 weeks after harassing Tom Brady’s Patriots, the Denver pass rush made swiss cheese out of the Carolina offensive line, getting a Super Bowl record 7 sacks, 2.5 of which coming from Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. The Denver D also forced 3 turnovers, 1 returned for a TD and another giving the Broncos the ball near the goaline which CJ Anderson would turn into a touchdown a few plays later. Thanks to Peyton limiting mistakes, the running game coming through, and Denver’s magnificent play on defense, the Broncos were able to upset the Panthers 24-10 to win Super Bowl 50.

~ Sean

New York Giants Super Bowl Champions: The Party isn’t Over

Big Blue came away with another underdog Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots thus shocking themselves, shocking the Pats, and shocking the world. Going back to the regular season the NY Giants were not looking too good. Prior to the playoffs they maintained a steady, but most certainly not strong record of 9-7.

Sunday January 15 – The Giants begin the playoffs with a game scheduled against the No. 1 seed: The Green Bay Packers. Giants’ quarterback, Eli Manning  outplays Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rogers for a Big Blue win of 37-20.
Sunday January 22 – The playoff game that decides who will be Super Bowl XLVI contenders. New York goes up against No. 4 seed: San Fransisco 49ers, and come away with a nail biting win over San Fransisco: 20-17.
Sunday February 5 – Super Bowl XLVI- New York Giants vs New England Patriots. From the first play of the game it was evident that the New York Giants were going to put up a strong fight. They put up more than a strong fight. Big Blue beat the favored Patriots for their fourth Super Bowl victory in history. The New York Giants are Super Bowl Champions!

The party is not over for the Super Bowl XLVI Champions. On Tues Feb. 7, in the streets of Manhattan down The Canyon of Heroes the Giants were welcomed by over one million fans during the Super Bowl parade including myself. It was exciting from the moment I left Connecticut. Starting with the train ride to NYC, with all of the other Giant fans. Everyone was dressed in their Giant garb headed for the same destination. The excitement I felt when we hit the streets of New York was like nothing I’ve felt before. My family and I followed the energetic  parade from Battery Park to where it wrapped up at City Hall. While making the walk along with the immense crowd, my adrenaline was through the roof.

Despite the fact that the Giants did not start off the season too well, I think the reason they were able to win the Super Bowl was because they fought back over and over no matter how favored the other team was; The New York Giants are known as the underdog Super Bowl champions this year-which is something I can never stop saying.  If all this isn’t enough exhilaration to pump up these champs, then what is? Between The Giants’ 2012 Lombardi trophy, Eli’s MVP award, and Victor Cruz ‘s salsa dance…that’s enough momentum to carry this years victory on forever.

~Brad Sherman

Truly Talented

I think it’s fair to say the Baltimore Ravens are one of the best performing teams in the National Football League. With star quarterback Joe Flacco, league lead rusher Ray Rice, and Pro-Bowlers Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, they’re virtually unstoppable. And that’s just a small part of their team. Together this season, the Ravens, I feel, earned their usual respect from beating other superior teams such as the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, twice. John Harbaugh has once again put together a great team that consists of an outstanding offense who are good friends with the goal line, and a well-known, grid-iron-tough defense that plays every down like it’s their last, the way the game is supposed to be played. And Right now, they’re looking better than ever!

With only four teams left in the playoffs, Baltimore, coming off of a nice win over Houston, is playing the New England Patriots in this Sunday’s playoff match-up. With what I feel to be a more balanced team, I think the Ravens chances are pretty outstanding. With the Patriots ranking close to last in total defense, and a quarterback who has become somewhat inconsistent in the past few weeks, I’m looking forward to this match-up. A win gets them a ticket to Indianapolis. If you think about it, Baltimore’s not too far away from another Lombardi to hoist in the air. I hope to see my team win it big this weekend, it would simply be making close ends meet.

~Zach Feldman