Key Matchups That Will Determine Super Bowl 50

You hear it all the time. Football is a game of matchups.

We totally agree. So we have chosen eight crucial encounters (in no particular order) that we feel will have a major say in deciding the Super Bowl 50 clash between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos.

While the Panthers are making their first Super Bowl appearance since the 2003 season, the Broncos are back in this game for a record-tying eighth time and the second time in three years. Of course, while that's a relatively short period of time, this is a much different Denver team under head coach Gary Kubiak, and it must find a way to knock off a talented Carolina squad that has lost just one game this season.

Can it be done? Or will the Panthers walk away with their first NFL championship? These eight matchups may be enough to convince you one way or another.

Carolina Panthers LT Michael Oher vs. Denver Broncos OLB DeMarcus Ware

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For the first time in his stellar career, DeMarcus Ware will be playing in the season's biggest game. In two seasons with the Broncos, the 11-year veteran will have played in as many postseason games (four) as he did in nine years with the Dallas Cowboys once he takes the field in Super Bowl 50.

On the other hand, Carolina Panthers left tackle Michael Oher is back in the big game for the second time in four years. In 2012 with the Baltimore Ravens, he started 14 of 16 regular-season games at left tackle but played right tackle in the team's finale and four-game postseason run—culminating with a 34-31 win in Super Bowl XLVII.

Oher played one more year in Baltimore and then wound up taking the free-agent route to Tennessee when it appeared the Ravens weren't in a hurry to re-sign him.

ESPN.com's Elizabeth Merrill provided an excellent retrospective look at Oher's journey to the NFL, which was documented in the movie The Blind Side, and she revealed that a message from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton got Oher to Carolina after a disappointing season with the Titans in 2014. Oher's overall grade (via Pro Football Focus) wasn't very high, but he was the 15th-ranked pass-blocking tackle in the NFL in 2015.

Chances are Oher will have to play an exceptional game to stop Ware and the Broncos defense, which led the NFL with 52 sacks in 2015 and has tacked on seven more in two playoff games.

Carolina Panthers CB Josh Norman vs. Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas

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Carolina Panthers All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman was one of the league's most talked-about defenders this season, as well as one of its best. The 2012 fifth-round pick enjoyed a breakout campaign this year, totaling 56 tackles and a team-high 18 passes defensed. Throw in four interceptions (two returned for scores), three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, and Norman had a pretty complete 2015.

On the other hand, Denver Broncos wideout Demaryius Thomas racked up 105 catches for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns, impressive numbers overall. But there were also times he seemed to disappear, most notably against the New England Patriots and cornerback Logan Ryan.

In two games against the Pats this season, including the AFC Championship Game, the talented wide receiver was targeted a combined 20 times and caught three passes for 48 yards.

Not that he's appeared to need much help this season, but it's likely Norman and his cohorts in the Carolina secondary have spent a little extra time watching Thomas' two games against New England. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has always had a good rapport with the receiver, and with two weeks to prepare, he could lean on him more than he has in the team’s first two playoff games.

And Norman will be waiting.

Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton vs. Denver Broncos ILB Danny Trevathan

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton's 18-game resume for 2015 is daunting—and that's an understatement.

The fifth-year signal-caller completed 59.8 percent of his throws in the regular season for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns compared to only 10 interceptions. Newton was sacked 33 times and lost four out of his five fumbles, but he also ran the rock for 636 yards with 10 scores.

In the postseason, a two-game sweep of the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals, the Panthers produced a combined 80 points and eight offensive touchdowns. Newton hit on exactly 70 percent of his passes for 496 yards and three scores with only one interception. Add in 21 rushing attempts for 50 yards and two touchdowns, and it has been an amazing year for the Panthers field general.

Keeping Newton under wraps is far from a one-man task. But could Wade Phillips deploy a spy on the talented signal-caller? In any case, we have opted to give Broncos inside linebacker Danny Trevathan the assignment. The rangy defender led Denver with 109 tackles, knocked down six passes and totaled two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown).

Of course, Trevathan will be one of many Broncos defenders busy trying to corral the NFL's likely 2015 MVP.

Carolina Panthers DT Kawann Short vs. Denver Broncos LG Evan Mathis

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This clash could be worth the price of admission. But in reality this will be far more than a three-hour confrontation between two of the best in the business at their respective positions.

Denver left guard Evan Mathis, who the Philadelphia Eagles discarded during the offseason, latched on with the Broncos and wound up playing 16 games—making a dozen starts. Not only did he grade out as one of the top 10 guards in the league, but no player at his position ranked higher when it came to blocking for the run.

Meanwhile, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short enjoyed a breakout year, leading his team with 11 sacks while providing solid play against the run. The 2013 second-round pick graded out as the NFL's fourth-best defensive tackle this season, behind only Aaron Donald, Geno Atkins and Ndamukong Suh.

Meanwhile, look for another interesting battle up front between Panthers defensive tackle Star Lotulelei and Broncos right guard Louis Vasquez, as Denver will look to control the tempo of this contest with its running game.

Carolina Panthers TE Greg Olsen vs. Denver Broncos SS T.J. Ward

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In recent seasons, given the play of New England's Rob Gronkowski and New Orleans Saint turned Seattle Seahawk Jimmy Graham, one could understand how another tight end could get overlooked.

However, it's hard to ignore what Carolina's Greg Olsen has done during his five-year stint with the Panthers after being obtained in a trade with the Chicago Bears in 2011. In four seasons in the Windy City, the 2007 first-round pick totaled 194 catches for 1,981 yards and 20 touchdowns, missing just two games.

In five seasons with Ron Rivera's club, Olsen has amassed an impressive 348 receptions for 4,311 yards and 29 scores. He's totaled 1,000-plus yards receiving each of the past two seasons and has not missed a game with the Panthers.

One Denver Broncos defender who could be assigned to slow Olsen down is strong safety T.J. Ward. The hard-hitting safety who was injured in last week's conference title game appears ready to take on the Panthers.

"I feel great," said Ward to Jeff Legwold of ESPN on Saturday. "I'm just resting and making sure I'm healthy when it comes [to the Super Bowl]. I'll definitely be ready to play."

Ward and free safety Darian Stewart—who was also injured in the AFC Championship Game win over New England—did not practice this week, but both are expected to be available for the Super Bowl.

The bigger question may be if Ward is ready to slow down the Panthers' most consistent downfield target.

Carolina Panthers C Ryan Kalil vs. Denver Broncos NT Sylvester WIlliams

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This could be the most crucial matchup of all, especially if Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil can handle Denver Broncos nose tackle Sylvester Williams one-on-one.

While Ron Rivera's team finished second in the league in rushing, Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips spearheaded a unit that was third in the NFL against the run. Williams is coming off an up-and-down year, but his forte is still run defense, where he graded out above average.

On the other hand, only three centers in the league rated higher overall than Kalil this season, and only Minnesota's Joe Berger and Dallas' Travis Frederick were better when it came to run blocking. Guards Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner could also help with Williams if need be, but Broncos defensive ends Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson are formidable as well.

If running backs Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert, as well as quarterback Cam Newton, are to rack up their share of yards against Denver's defense, Kalil must come up big—which is usually the case.

Carolina Panthers WR/PR Ted Ginn Jr. vs. Denver Broncos P Britton Colquitt

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As we like to remind everyone at this time of the season, there has never been a punt returned for a touchdown in 49 previous Super Bowls.

In fact, the record for the longest Super Bowl punt return belongs to San Francisco 49ers wide receiver John Taylor, who took a punt back 45 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. If you recall, he was very busy late in that game with other matters—such as catching the game-winning touchdown pass from Joe Montana in his team's 20-16 win.

But we're shifting our focus to this Super Bowl and the possible contributions of Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., who in his nine-year NFL career has taken back four punts for scores. This season, Ginn averaged 10.3 yards on 27 punt returns, and Carolina ranked 12th in the NFL in punt return average.

Meanwhile, Denver Broncos punter Britton Colquitt ranked near the bottom of the NFL in gross average (43.6), but his team finished 12th in the league in yards allowed per punt return.

Sounds like a fair fight. But will we indeed see some Super Bowl history?

Carolina Panthers MLB Luke Kuechly vs. Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning

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Who would have thought that after two playoff games this year, Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly would have as many touchdowns as Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning?

That's the reality of the red-hot Panthers and the determined Broncos these days. The Panthers appear to be clicking on all cylinders, while the Broncos are getting by with exceptional defense and the savvy of a legendary signal-caller.

Then again, Manning hasn't thrown an interception this postseason, which is a major turnaround from the first nine games of 2015, when his pick total (17) was nearly twice as high as his number of touchdown passes (nine). And Kuechly knows he and his team have a different kind of challenge ahead when they face Manning in Super Bowl 50, per Brian Haines of Fox Sports:

"

He's a guy that's got all kinds of calls. You have to try and figure some out but at the end of the day you just have to do your job because I'm sure he's got fake (calls) and he's got real ones. ...

He's still Peyton. He's still up there. He's still got all the hand signals, the code words. He's adjusting everything and getting everybody lined up. He's still Peyton. I don't care what anybody says. He's still got all his gestures and movements and it's fun to watch.

"

By this time next week, we will know just how much fun Kuechly and the rest of the Panthers defense had in dealing with one of the game's best offensive minds.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus.