Super Bowl 2016 Kickoff Time: When and Where to Watch Panthers vs. Broncos

The deep breath that is the bye week before the Super Bowl has been taken. The intensity is about to ratchet up considerably.

The powers that be in the NFL are gathering in Santa Clara, California for Super Bowl 50. The game between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos has a slew of storylines, and while the quarterback duel between Cam Newton and Peyton Manning is both obvious and compelling, there are many others that will have an impact in this game as well.

"

We'll see you in California #PantherNation! pic.twitter.com/Crs4UmPaba

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 31, 2016"

"

Bound for our second Super Bowl in three seasons. #SB50 pic.twitter.com/3a1BfXQYog

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 31, 2016"

The Panthers have had a remarkable season, going 15-1 in the regular season and registering two impressive victories over the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals in the postseason. Despite those achievements, are the Panthers really getting the respect they deserve?

During the regular season when they kept building each week, they may not have. Yes, Ron Rivera had a nice team, but the NFL was slow to recognize the all-around talent and depth on the Panthers.

The achievement of going 15-1 in the regular season and winning the Super Bowl would put them in glorious company. The only two teams to have done that are the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears. Both of those teams are recognized as all-time great NFL teams, and the Panthers are in the process of stating their case.

What: Super Bowl 50

When: Sunday, Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m. ET

Where: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Watch: CBS

Live Stream: CBSSports.com

While Newton is the trigger man for the offense, the Panthers have a big, powerful offensive line that have opened holes for the second-ranked Carolina running attack all season. The Panthers rushed for an average of 142.6 yards per game this season, and Jonathan Stewart gained 989 of those yards.

Carolina's ability to run the ball takes pressure off of Newton and gives him the opportunity to play free-and-easy football throughout much of the season.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

While Carolina gets support from its running game, the Broncos need a consistent effort from their ground game if they are going to extend this game deep into the fourth quarter.

The Broncos have to run the ball because they don't have the big-play firepower in the passing game. Peyton Manning is a tactician and a field general at this point in his career, but he is not the strong-armed quarterback he was two years ago.

Manning threw 55 TD passes in 2013, but he had just nine TD passes while throwing 17 interceptions in the regular season.

In two postseason games, Manning has dialed it back and he has thrown two TD passes and no interceptions. 

That's the way head coach Gary Kubiak wants it. If the Broncos can run the ball consistently, play hard-nosed defense with the No. 1-ranked unit in the league, then Manning won't have to attempt to do it by himself.

But if the strong-armed Newton, who had 35 touchdown passes this year, gets loose and can put a couple of scores on the board, the Broncos may be at a huge disadvantage. They don't want to see the two quarterbacks get into a passing duel at this point in their careers.

The Panthers have gotten off to excellent starts in both postseason games, and they would obviously like to do the same here.

The Broncos have been a dominant defense all season, and they can't afford any let-up here if they want to help Manning get his second Super Bowl win and possibly walk off into the sunset with the Vince Lombardi Trophy under his arm.