4 Problems Carolina and Denver Must Fix Before the Super Bowl

Any team that makes it to the Super Bowl is likely to have many more strengths than weaknesses, otherwise they wouldn't find themselves in the biggest game of the year.

Still, no team is perfect, and both the Panthers and Broncos have some holes to fill before taking the field on February 7. Carolina hasn't had to sweat too much in its first two playoff games, while Denver has squeaked by in both of its postseason contests.

Both teams feature stifling defenses, but it is their weaknesses that will ultimately decide who emerges victorious in Super Bowl 50.

Let's get to the nitpicking!

Broncos Problem No. 4: The Running Game

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Denver's running game will need to get back on track in Super Bowl 50 after struggling against New England last week.

Running backs C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman have certainly been less than consistent all season long, a weakness that almost cost the unbalanced Broncos offense dearly against New England.

Denver will likely have to play some “keep away” against the Panthers, who feature an offense capable of putting up points in bunches. Carolina has outscored opponents 55-7 in the first half of its two playoff games, so the Broncos will need a better strategy than what Seattle and Arizona drew up.

One way to prevent a fast Carolina start is to have balance on offense, which involves pounding the ball on the ground 40-50 times over the course of the game. For the Broncos to accomplish that goal, Anderson and Hillman will need to show more decisiveness and aggression when handed the ball.

If Denver is unable to run with any success against Carolina’s stout defense, it could turn into a long day for quarterback Peyton Manning. The Broncos just aren’t built to throw the ball 40 times a game, at least not with the 39-year-old Manning under center.

Panthers Problem No. 4: Wide Receiver Consistency

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Jericho Cotchery is one of the receivers Carolina is counting on to step up in the passing game.

Coming into the season, it was expected to be Kelvin Benjamin…and everyone else at wide receiver for the Panthers. Then Benjamin got injured in the preseason, and Carolina’s year was supposed to be a bust. Supposed to be.

Instead, Cam Newton and the Panthers offense have thrived on the "next man up" philosophy, seemingly featuring a new top wide receiver each week.

With the obvious exception being Greg Olsen at tight end, nobody on the Panthers had more than 800 receiving yards this weekend. None even brought in 50 catches for the year.

Tedd Ginn Jr. has been the most consistent of the bunch, with 44 catches for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season. However, in two playoff games, Ginn Jr. has just two catches for 52 yards and no touchdowns.

Sure, the Panthers didn’t have to throw the ball much after taking a commanding first-half lead over the Seahawks—or in the second half while obliterating the Cardinals.

However, someone out of the quartet of Ginn Jr., Devin Funchess, Jerricho Cotchery and Corey Brown needs to emerge to provide a little more balance for Carolina’s pass game in Super Bowl 50.

Broncos Problem No. 3: Kickoff Returns

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Omar Bolden's injury puts a damper on Denver's special teams unit, as Bolden had returned a punt for a touchdown earlier this seaosn.

Ah yes, the biggest game of the year coming down to special teams? It’s not as crazy as it might sound, especially with two of the NFL’s best defenses going at it.

Denver ranked 23rd in average kickoff return yardage (21.8), and much of that came with Omar Bolden as the main returning option. After injuring his knee in the divisional round, Bolden was placed on injured reserve, leaving the Broncos' special teams unit in a difficult situation.

Carolina features one of the NFL's top defensive units, and the Broncos haven't exactly been lighting up the scoreboard in recent weeks, so points figure to be at a premium.

Denver will likely turn to its special teams unit to provide a spark but will need to find a return threat capable of making up for Bolden's absence.

Panthers Problem No. 3: Kickoff Returns

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Joe Webb has been one of Carolina's main kickoff returners, but has yet to return a kick more than 27 yards this season.

Once again, special teams could be a big factor in the most important game of the year.

The Panthers sit dead last in terms of average kickoff return yardage (18.5), which often leaves Carolina’s offense in difficult field position to begin its drives. Joe Webb and Fozzy Whittaker have been the main returning options for Carolina, but neither has found the end zone in 2015-16.

That obviously hasn’t been a huge problem for the 17-1 Panthers, a team that has been able to move the ball at will for most of the year. However, Denver’s defense is a whole different animal to try to move the ball against. Just ask Tom Brady.

Super Bowl 50 figures to be a low-scoring affair, which often means the team with more favorable field position throughout has an advantage.

If that's the case, Carolina will need a big return of some sort to take the pressure off its offense.

Broncos Problem No. 2: Protecting Peyton

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Manning was hit hard on several occasions in the AFC Championship, a trend Denver will hope to change before the Super Bowl.

He’s not exactly a mobile quarterback, regardless of that first-down scramble against New England last week. Manning was sacked three times by the Patriots defense and rushed his throws on several other occasions.

Denver’s offensive line struggled to hold up against New England’s pass rush, especially in its three-point second half performance. Unfortunately for the Broncos, Carolina’s defense isn’t going to make it any easier to protect Peyton.

Carolina ranked sixth during the regular season with 44 sacks as a team but already has eight sacks in the team’s two postseason games. Kawann Short, Charles Johnson and the Panthers defensive line are all sure to pin their ears back if the Broncos are forced into too many obvious passing situations.

Sean McDermott’s defense is also likely to send some linebackers or defensive backs in blitzing situations, which will force Manning into some quick decision-making.

However, if the Broncos give their veteran quarterback enough time, he has the presence of mind to make the proper reads and keep the offense moving. For Denver, that’s a big "if."

Panthers Problem No. 2: Pass Defense (Excluding Josh Norman)

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Kurt Coleman (20) struggled to keep up with Seattle's speedy receivers like Tyler Lockett (16) in the Divisional Round.

We all know Josh Norman is immensely talented. He's a legitimate No. 1 corner and arguably one of the best players in the league. After him, though, it gets a bit worrisome for Carolina's secondary.

The veteran savvy of Charles Tillman served as a solid complement to Norman’s dominance for most of the year, but his loss presents some weaknesses for the Panthers' defensive backs.

Seattle was able to exploit Carolina's cornerback deficiency with a 366-yard performance from Russell Wilson, although many of those issues appeared to be fixed against the turnover-prone Cardinals in the NFC Championship.

With two weeks to prepare, it’s safe to assume the Broncos are planning a passing attack away from Norman, which will test the likes of Cortland Finnegan and Kurt Coleman, among others.

Carolina’s secondary depth will need to build on its strong performance from the NFC Championship, and while another seven-takeaway performance is unlikely, the turnover battle could be key against Peyton Manning’s Broncos.

Denver features some dangerous receiving options in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, so Carolina's secondary will need to be up for the challenge.

Broncos Problem No. 1: Consistency from Demaryius Thomas

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While Thomas is widely regarded as one of the most electrifying play-makers in the NFL, his consistency on a weekly basis is somewhat alarming.

Speaking of Denver's wide receivers, Demaryius Thomas was oddly absent from the Broncos' game plan last weekend and faces an even tougher matchup against Carolina cornerback Josh Norman on Super Bowl Sunday.

While Thomas was targeted seven times against the Patriots, he was only able to record two catches for 12 yards. That just won’t cut it against Carolina. Thomas doesn’t have to bring in 10 catches or 100 receiving yards, but he’ll be asked to win some of the 50/50 balls with Norman covering him.

Being the first option at wide receiver for a Super Bowl team is not an easy responsibility by any means, but if Thomas wants any questions of consistency to disappear, he’ll need a big-time performance against Carolina.

In Thomas’ first Super Bowl appearance two years ago, he caught 13 balls for 118 yards and the team’s only touchdown. Expect him to once again be heavily involved in his second Super Bowl trip.

Panthers Problem No. 1: Less Hits on Cam

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Newton has run the ball 21 times over the past two weeks, and will likely be called upon for several designed runs in the Super Bowl.

Running the ball is evidently a huge piece of Cam Newton's game, but calling upon him to run 10 times while also taking several hits as a passer is asking quite a bit, even for a 26-year-old who's built like a linebacker.

It's understandable that in the biggest game of the season, you need your best players to have the ball as much as possible. But Newton has an extremely bright future in this league. Offensive coordinator Mike Shula understands how incredibly gifted his quarterback is and draws up game plans to showcase that talent as much as possible.

In all likelihood, we can expect to see about 10 designed runs for Newton in the Super Bowl, not to mention the plays where he's asked to make something out of nothing with his legs.

But the hits are continuing to pile up on Carolina's star quarterback, and football fans everywhere want to embrace Newton's immense ability for years to come.

So yes, it is the Super Bowl, a game these players and coaches have been working toward their whole lives. But for the sake of football fans everywhere, protect this guy so we can see him smiling and dancing after first downs for many more years.

Newton's future is as bright as just about anyone's in the NFL, but his health will go a long way in determining how long he can play this game he loves so much.