5 Denver Broncos Who Could Surprise in Super Bowl 50
The Denver Broncos are feverishly preparing for Super Bowl 50. They have had a week to rest and get the game plan in order. Now, they’re in Santa Clara, California, putting in the practice time to prepare for the Carolina Panthers.
Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak feels good about where the team is in its preparation for Sunday.
“I feel good," Kubiak said. "When we left town, I feel like we could’ve played a football game. Obviously, there are some things we’re trying to touch up and improve upon throughout the course of this week.
“There’s still a lot of work to do. We’ll stay in our routine, but our work last week was very good.”
In the Big Game, we could see a few players surprise with their performances. Some of these players may be lesser-known assets who have been trending up in recent weeks. Others may be players who largely disappointed in the regular season but can create mismatches against the Panthers. Still others may be players who are discounted because of their age or the opponents they’re going up against.
Here are five Broncos who could surprise with their performances on Super Sunday.
TE Vernon Davis
1 of 5
The Broncos traded for tight end Vernon Davis earlier this season, but so far they haven’t gotten much out of him. In eight regular-season games with the Broncos (20 catches, 201 yards), Davis did essentially the same thing he did with the San Francisco 49ers in six games (18 catches, 194 yards).
In two games through the postseason, Davis has barely played. In the playoffs, he has only run five routes and has been targeted only once—on a 15-yard pass that fell incomplete.
The veteran tight end is ready for his opportunity if it arises in Super Bowl 50.
“You know it’s been tough, but I know who I am and I know what I stand for," he said. "I know what I can bring to the team. I don’t let things like that get me down. I just continue to do everything that I’ve been doing.”
The talent is there, but the production has not yet come through. It’s winner-take-all in Super Bowl 50, and we could see a talented player like Davis get a few more targets. He is playing back in San Francisco, and perhaps he’ll be able to rekindle the production he showed earlier in his career.
A weapon like Davis cannot be forgotten—if only the Broncos could find some way to prime him.
S Shiloh Keo
2 of 5
After tweeting to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips about getting a job, safety Shiloh Keo found a home with the Broncos. His play on defense and special teams helped the Broncos beat the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
Keo played 36 snaps on defense and 29 more on special teams in that game. On the intercepted two-point conversion pass intended for Rob Gronkowski, Keo blanketed the big tight end alongside cornerback Aqib Talib.
When the Patriots tried an onside kick in a desperate attempt to win at the end of regulation, it was Keo who secured the ball and ended the game.
Phillips has had a good relationship with Keo dating back to their time together with the Houston Texans.
“I tend to have a closer relationship than people think coaches ought to have with players sometimes, but I care about him," the defensive coordinator said. "He made a great play last week, the onside kick plus he made some plays in the game. I was glad for him.”
As of right now, it looks like both safeties Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward are going to play in the Super Bowl despite their minor injuries. That should limit the defensive snaps for Keo, but he’s shown that if he needs to step up and perform, he can.
DE Malik Jackson
3 of 5
The Broncos defense is the strength of the team, and pass-rushers such as linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware (understandably) get a lot of attention. Going up against Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is going to be an incredible challenge for the Broncos, and interior pressure from guys such as Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson would help.
Wolfe has been getting a lot of attention since signing a contract extension late in the season. In addition to signing the contract, he has also been doing a good job of snaring quarterbacks in the postseason.
In two playoff games, Wolfe has played 101 snaps, compiling 10 tackles and two sacks. During that time, Jackson has played 109 snaps while collecting only four tackles with no sacks.
The Panthers are going to show great concern for Ware, Miller and Wolfe. However, if they underestimate Jackson, he has the ability to make them pay.
Jackson appreciates Phillips’ approach to the talent on the defensive side of the ball.
“He lets us [show] our personality, he lets us be players, great players on the field," Jackson said. "He puts us in the right places to be and that’s one of those things as a player you can ask for, so that’s what I like him.”
If the Broncos win the Super Bowl, it will likely be due to the strength of the defense. Jackson is just one of many playmakers who could make a difference Sunday.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
CB Bradley Roby
4 of 5
The Broncos have a ferocious secondary with starters Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. Both could be considered top-10 corners in the NFL (maybe higher), and they should team up to blanket guys such as Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.
Behind Talib and Harris, Bradley Roby has shown plenty of playmaking ability in 2015. He’s developing as the team’s nickel corner but has the upside to transform into a shutdown corner someday.
If Newton tests him, Roby can make a difference. He could cover veteran wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery or rookie Devin Funchess at certain points in Super Bowl 50.
Roby has supreme confidence in his ability.
“I’ve felt like I’ve always been all this powerful to get here," he said. "I feel like I’m always going to great heights and whatever and it’s just every step of the way, you know I just feel myself slowly getting smarter or making better decisions. So, it’s pretty cool."
Confidence is not a problem for Roby. While Newton may choose to stay away from targets covered by Harris or Talib, he could look to exploit Roby. That may be a big mistake for the likely NFL MVP quarterback.
QB Peyton Manning
5 of 5
Some may wonder why Manning is on this list. Simply put, few people out there expect much from Manning in Super Bowl 50. In fact, some think his play could be the downfall for the Broncos in the Big Game.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Playing in what could be his final NFL game, Manning may have more success through the air against the Panthers than some people think. It’s a chance to win it all and go out on top for the future Hall of Famer.
The Broncos want to win with defense and a strong rushing attack. However, if they need to air it out, then perhaps Manning could surprise.
Tight end Owen Daniels doesn’t think Manning needs to go nuts Sunday: “He doesn’t need to go out and be a superhero. We’ll help him out. It’s going to be a team effort like it has been all season for us.”
Manning wants to get off to a good start against a swarming Panthers defense.
“I think you always want to get off to a good start in any game that you play," he said. "That’ll be something that we certainly want to do. It’s easier said than done, but it’s still—the goal is try to start well but certainly to try to finish even better.”
The Panthers jumped out to a huge lead against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game. If that happens again versus the Broncos, then it will be up to Manning to fire up the offense through the air to bring the team back.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
