Super Bowl 50: 10 Things Guaranteed to Happen on Sunday
It's here. It's finally time for Super Bowl 50.
The Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos will meet to decide who the best team in the NFL is. While the Super Bowl is filled with surprise performers during halftime shows, bizarre plays and insane prop bets, it's nice to know that some things will always stay the same.
Here, we look at 10 things that are guaranteed to happen during the Super Bowl. This list is not ranked by matter of importance or how obvious something may be—please refrain from any Captain Obvious jokes.
Let's get started.
10. Cam Newton Scores a Rushing Touchdown
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Cam Newton just has a knack for finding the end zone.
On top of his 35 passing touchdowns during the regular season, Newton was also a threat as a runner, scoring 10 rushing touchdowns. Much has stayed the same for Newton in the playoffs, as he scored two rushing touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game, including one carry where he showed viewers why he is known as Superman.
It’s hard to imagine Newton having this type of space on an off-tackle run with the likes of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware breathing down his neck, but it’s safe to suggest that his scrambling ability will come in handy for the Panthers, particularly if they get into the red zone.
After all, Newton is a tough guy to bring down.
9. Broncos Defenses Blitzes…a Lot
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Speaking of Miller and Ware, the Broncos will try to neutralize Newton's ability to move around the pocket and create space by pressuring him all game long.
How? By playing to their strengths.
Miller and Ware are two of the premier pass-rushers in the NFL today, combining for 18.5 sacks during the regular season. But taking down Newton isn't a one-man job; it takes a whole team effort. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will show Carolina's offense different looks throughout the game, which will allow other players on the defensive line, like Derek Wolfe, to make plays.
Miller and Ware don't only pressure the quarterback; they also get a lot of attention from opposing offensive lines that have no choice but to double-team and have a running back/tight end help in pass protection. Anytime there is a double-team, someone is either left one-on-one or unblocked, which could be a problem for the Panthers if Newton continuously gets knocked down.
8. Emmanuel Sanders Has Josh Norman All over Him
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Demaryius Thomas might be the bigger target for Peyton Manning and Denver's offense, but Sanders is the most important wideout on the roster.
Sanders can do things Thomas just can't do: play in the slot, catch the ball on a consistent basis and create separation downfield. Sanders caught 76 passes for 1,135 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season and will most likely see coverage from Panthers cornerback Josh Norman.
It'll be interesting to watch Norman to see if he does follow Sanders around the field and if the Panthers feel comfortable leaving Norman on an island with Sanders. If they don't, watch for safety Kurt Coleman to play over the top to prevent the big play, which could Thomas the room he needs to operate and create separation at the line of scrimmage.
Much of the Broncos' success depends on Sanders. If he can make plays, he'll take attention away from Thomas on the opposite side of the field while forcing Carolina's safeties to drop back in coverage, allowing the Bronco's running game to get going.
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7. Panthers Give Footballs to Young Fans After Scoring
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It's been a tradition all season long, so why stop now?
Every time the Panthers score a touchdown, Newton or another Panthers player will give the football to a young fan in the stands, usually behind the end zone. According to For the Win, the Panthers have given out 42 touchdowns to fans this season, so if you don't want to watch Newton's dance moves in the end zone, avert your eyes to the crowd instead.
Once the Panthers offense crosses the 50-yard line, be on the lookout for a mob of young fans racing to the front row for a chance to take home a souvenir.
6. Lots and Lots of Dancing
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Newton's dance moves are well-documented, but what about the other players in the Super Bowl?
5. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware Collapse Newton’s Pocket
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Miller's sack dance moves could be in full effect Sunday night if Carolina's offensive line can't withstand the pressure, but he isn't the only player the Panthers need to worry about.
Ware had a decent regular season with 7.5 sacks, but he struggled to stay on the field for parts of the year because of nagging injuries. Now that there's only one game left in the season with two weeks off before it, Ware and Miller should be 100 percent ready to take on the Panthers line.
While it may sound easy for the Broncos to get to Newton, many other teams (especially in the playoffs) have struggled to get into Newton's face. The Seattle Seahawks couldn't lay a finger on Newton, and the Cardinals...well...they didn't really stand a chance.
Michael Oher and Trai Turner have been huge this season for the Panthers, but it'll take the entire unit of Oher, Turner, Andrew Norwell, Ryan Kalil and Mike Remmers to keep Newton upright.
4. Thomas Davis Makes an Impact
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A broken arm is nothing compared to what Thomas Davis has overcome as a Carolina Panther.
Davis suffered a broken forearm trying to make a tackle in the NFC Championship Game against the Cardinals, but he assured his team and coaches that he would be ready to go for the Super Bowl. Most players would shake their head in frustration and focus on rehab.
Davis? This is just another speed bump.
The All-Pro linebacker has suffered three torn ACLs and has made his way back from all of them. He and Luke Kuechly have formed the most dynamic linebacker combination in the league. It's hard to predict if Davis' injury will affect his ability to make tackles, but it's a certainty that he will be out on the field come Sunday.
3. Greg Olsen Leads the Panthers in Receiving
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Other than Rob Gronkowski, there's little argument as to who the best tight end in the NFL is.
Greg Olsen has been the picture of consistency ever since joining the Panthers from the Chicago Bears in a trade back in July 2011, leading the team in receiving the past two seasons. For the second season in a row, Olsen has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark while scoring 13 touchdowns.
Even without Kelvin Benjamin, who tore his ACL back in training camp after a terrific rookie season, the Panthers haven't missed a beat this season thanks to the play of Olsen, who has become Newton's favorite target.
When the Broncos played the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, safety T.J. Ward was assigned the task of marking Gronkowski. While Olsen is a different matchup altogether, it's safe to assume that Ward will body up Olsen and receive help throughout the game, perhaps from Aqib Talib if Olsen begins to make big plays.
2. A Defensive Game
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Both sides have strong defenses, but if it's a low-scoring affair, that will suit the Broncos just fine.
Wade Phillips and his defense proved against the Patriots that they are a force to be reckoned with. They were able to shut out the Patriots in the red zone on three consecutive possessions to end the AFC Championship Game, which is a testament to their grit and discipline.
Unless you were living under a rock during the NFC Championship Game, you know that Carolina's defense is arguably the strongest unit in the NFL, holding the Cardinals to 15 points. That might not seem like a big deal to the naked eye, but Arizona averaged 30.6 points per game during the regular season, the second-highest in the league and also averaged the most yards per game with 408.
Defense will play a pivotal role in Sunday's game, and if the Broncos can stop Newton from running up the score, they might just find themselves lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
1. Clete Blakeman Redeems Himself
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Clete Blakeman isn't a coach or a player, so don't feel bad for not knowing who he is.
Let's rewind to the NFC divisional round when the Green Bay Packers and the Cardinals lined up in the middle of the field for overtime. Blakeman was the referee in charge of the coin toss and infamously tossed the coin in the air without flipping it.
What does that have to do with anything, one might ask? Well, Blakeman was chosen to officiate the Super Bowl.
Blakeman has—hopefully—been practicing his coin-tossing ahead of the Super Bowl to avoid any further problems moving forward. Another fun fact about Blakeman is that the Broncos are 5-0 in games he has officiated, so keep your eye on the coin to make sure it flips this time.
Super Bowl 50 kicks off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS at Levi's Stadium.
All stats courtesy of NFL.com.
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