Contributors
-There were some that were saying Peyton Manning should have been benched for Brock Osweiler even before his injury was revealed. Some were saying, even in the face of Osweiler’s blatant mediocrity, that Manning should never play another down in the NFL. While some of those people may have been right at the time, some would like the opportunity now to admit that they were wrong.
-I was wrong. Peyton certainly didn’t carry the Broncos, but in his 2 playoff games, he’s done something that I know I didn’t think was possible. After averaging nearly 2 INTs per week during the regular season, he’s thrown none this postseason, and his only charged TO is a lateral Ronnie Hillman dropped, and should have immediately fallen on just in case. They have a nasty defense, and he’s been more than willing to play to their team strength. Sometimes the hardest thing for a proud, once-great player is to realize he’s no longer great. In that realization, he’s made himself greater. Kudos to Peyton Manning.
-And oh that nasty Bronco defense. Tom Brady has never taken a beating like he took yesterday.
-Tom Brady’s only win over Peyton Manning in an AFC Championship came in 2003. Manning has now won the last 3 meetings when the stakes are at their highest.
-Their reward—a Carolina team that scored 31 in a half against Seattle, then followed it up with 49 against Arizona, two teams that were ranked #3 and #4 in defensive DVOA. Denver is the clear #1. Maybe things will be different…
-I know Cam Newton rubs many people the wrong way. Not me, I think he’s great for the sport. He’s also one of the most deserving MVPs we’ll ever see.
-It’s easy to look at the Jake Delhomme-worthy performance of Carson Palmer, the fumble by Patrick Peterson, the drops by Larry Fitzgerald, or anything else, but while Arizona didn’t look good in either game, Carolina was simply great. Nothing was going to stop the Panthers yesterday.
-If Carolina wins, they need to be considered alongside the other great teams of all-time.
-Carolina has thoroughly dominated two excellent defenses. Maybe Denver will be different, but I doubt it. The problem the Broncos have is if Carolina gets out to another early lead, they don’t have the quick-strike offense to respond. You don’t come back down 3 scores by sustaining long drives. The Carolina defense has allowed nothing on the ground, and has forced 9 turnovers in 2 games after leading the league in forcing turnovers during the season. The Patriot pass rush got to Manning yesterday, especially in the 2nd half, and Carolina will do the same. Denver’s defense has a monumental task ahead of them just to keep them in the game. The best term I’ve been able to come up with to describe the Panther offense is soul-crushing. Denver is a much tougher football team than they were under John Fox, but Carolina is the toughest team in football, and a group whose sum is much greater than its parts, especially on offense.
-He obviously does it in a much different way, but Cam Newton is the best combination passer/runner since Steve Young.
-If Denver wins, credit will deservingly go to their defense. However, if they lose, I hope people resist the urge to lay it at the feet of Peyton Manning.
-I just can’t see Denver sustaining drives against Carolina, leaving it up to Denver’s great defense. Carolina dominated Seattle until they let off the gas, and they destroyed the will of Arizona. Denver is tough as nails, but as soon as the Panthers jump out to an early lead, I think it gets ugly in a hurry. Super Bowl 50 is not likely to be a great game, but will serve as the coronation of a truly great team. This can change as I look into the game further, but my initial hunch has this 45-14 Carolina.
