HOW IT HAPPENED
The Carolina Panthers were the NFL's best team in the regular season and cruised through two playoff games. So, as a former coach once said, they picked a bad night to have a bad night.
The Panthers were their own worst enemy Sunday night, piling up mistakes that equaled a 24-10 loss to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
How much went wrong? Here's an incomplete list:
-They had four turnovers
-They allowed seven sacks
-They had six pre-snap penalties
-They had at least three drops
-They dropped at least three interceptions
-They gave up the longest punt return in Super Bowl history
-They missed a field goal
All that opened the door for Peyton Manning to make a perfect exit in what was likely the final game of his Hall of Fame career. He was more of a game manager than anything, completing just 13 of his 23 passes for 141 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.
It was the Denver defense that shined brightest, led by outside linebacker. He terrorized right tackle Mike Remmers all night, forcing two fumbles that turned into 14 points.
The Broncos hadn't played a quarterback like Newton this season, but on Sunday, what mattered most was the Panthers hadn't played a defense like Denver and it showed.
BIGGEST MOMENTS
–Pick No. 2 of the 2011 Draft makes a play on the top pick
Von Miller sack causes Cam Newton fumble, Jackson touchdown. pic.twitter.com/HYPFo6MOUy
— ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD_) February 8, 2016
–Jonathan Stewart goes up and away
Jonathan Stewart got some serious air on this touchdown dive https://t.co/H9tf5mtRuM pic.twitter.com/XoG5dl0gN2
— SB Nation NFL (@SBNationNFL) February 8, 2016
–Who needs two hands?
One-handed #interception for @KonyEaly94!#SB50 #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/jjKlyBg8us
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) February 8, 2016
–Miller again.
Cam Newton stripped by Von Miller #SB50 https://t.co/C26TEPvcGe
— Kevin Causey (@CFBZ) February 8, 2016
NOTABLE NUGGETS
–QB Cam Newton continued a bad trend for regular-season MVPs. Rams QB Kurt Warner remains the last regular-season MVP to win a Super Bowl (1999).
–DT Kony Ealy became the first player in Super Bowl history with two sacks and an interception. He actually finished with three sacks in what was his first multi-sack game, and his interception was his first since he was a junior at Missouri.
–The Panthers gained 73 yards on their first half scoring drive and just 67 on their seven other drives in the half.
–The Broncos were the 1st team to have at least five sacks and three takeaways in a Super Bowl since the 2002 season (Bucs, vs Raiders).
–Broncos WR Jordan Norwood had a Super Bowl record 61-yard punt return in the second quarter.