Super Bowl 2016: Panthers vs. Broncos Box-Score and Stats Predictions

The Carolina Panthers have the opportunity to join a couple of the great teams in NFL history if they can finish the job Feb. 7 in Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos.

The Panthers went 15-1 in the regular season and have recorded convincing postseason wins over the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC playoffs. There can be no denying how good they are if they conclude the season with a victory in the Super Bowl. They will join the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears as the only teams to win 18 out of 19 games in winning the NFL championship.

The Broncos certainly have credentials of their own. They have been a dominant defensive team since the start of the season. Denver ranked first in fewest yards allowed, and it has been at the top of that category from start to finish this season.

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	F
Denver	0	7	0	7	14
Carolina	7	7	10	9	33

That was a necessity because the Denver offense was a far cry from being productive and consistent in 2015. Quarterback Peyton Manning has been merely a shell of himself this season, and his 9-17 touchdown-to-interception ratio is shocking, considering it comes just two years after he threw 55 touchdown passes in 2013.

Manning played in 10 games this year and started nine. Backup Brock Osweiler started the other seven games. While it's not clear if Osweiler has a strong future in the NFL, he threw 10 TD passes this season and just six interceptions. The argument can be made that the Broncos were a more dangerous and productive offensive team when the 25-year-old was in the lineup.

If the Broncos fall behind by double digits at any point in Super Bowl 50, head coach Gary Kubiak may have to consider going with the younger and stronger Osweiler.

Based on the Panthers' two postseason victories, that scenario seem like a distinct possibility. The Panthers raced out to a 31-0 lead at halftime over the Seahawks in the divisional round, and they also took charge in the early going against the Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game with 24 first-half points.

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Quarterback Cam Newton certainly wants to get the Panthers started early once again, but it's clear that the Broncos defense is going to put up a fight. Von Miller (11.0 sacks) has explosive speed coming around the corner from his linebacker position and should be in a position to harass Newton if he can't sack him.

DeMarcus Ware (7.5 sacks) is not as fast as Miller, but he is strong and smart and knows how to defeat the blockers who are going to try to keep him out of the backfield.

Newton may get tested more severely in this game than he has all season, but that does not mean he won't figure out a way to make big plays.

He has done that all season, throwing 35 TD passes and running for 10 more scores. Newton's ability to make big plays when it matters most is the main reason why he is likely to win the regular-season MVP award when it is handed out Saturday night.

Prediction

Here's how I see the game playing out. Newton will probe the Denver defense with short- and medium-range passes, and look for the Broncos to come after him with the same three- or four-man rush that the AFC champions used to limit quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

The difference here is that Newton is a brilliant runner, and if he sees the three-man rush, he will take off and make big plays on the ground. 

Expect Newton to have one or two big runs in the first half. Still, Denver will prove a stubborn opponent and will trail by just a 14-7 margin at halftime.

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In the second half, Newton will have figured out Denver's defense, and he will find tight end Greg Olsen and wideout Ted Ginn Jr. with big plays. Manning and the Broncos offense will be powerless to mount a serious comeback. 

Carolina will extend to a 33-7 lead in the fourth quarter before the Broncos score the last TD to make the final score 33-14.

Newton will complete 17 of 27 passes for 236 yards and also run for 55 yards. Olsen will catch seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, while Ginn will catch three passes for 59 yards, including a 35-yard TD catch.

Running back Jonathan Stewart will have a steady day with 18 carries for 88 yards, and he will find the end zone once.

Manning will put up an earnest effort, but he will fall short of keeping his team in the game. He will complete 17 of 32 passes for 159 yards with one TD and two interceptions.

Running back C.J. Anderson will carry 12 times for 44 yards and score once, while Ronnie Hillman will be held to 31 yards on 11 carries.

Demaryius Thomas will catch seven of Manning's passes for 66 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Owen Daniels will catch three passes for 39 yards.

In addition to lifting the Lombardi Trophy, Newton will also get his hands on the Super Bowl MVP trophy as the Panthers win their first NFL championship.