The Panthers are young but they are elite...Its like the Packers back when they won with Aaron Rodgers. Everything is clicking for them. This is their year unless Peyton wills his way...More like Von Miller and Demarcus Ware get to Cam Newton. I predicted that is how Broncos will win and that is how I figure the Panthers can lose...If the Broncos can hit Cam, just like the Seahawks started to do in the 2nd half last week. Don't go against this Cam Newton though...Peyton's football floats like a butterfly out there
The Pats had a comparable season overall to the Broncos, and finished 2-4 down the stretch (3-5 if you count the playoffs). That's half a season where they were on a 6-10 pace. I don't see how you can compare their stretch of play since November, to the Panthers same stretch of play. The argument of "the Broncos were counted out before and look what happened" is a logical fallacy. The Pats and Panthers are entirely different teams with different strengths, that have demonstrated different levels of play. The Pats also receive credit for the success of the entire Brady/Belicheck era, which is why one good performance against the Chiefs was enough for people to wrongly assume that this Pats team was the same team that had been to 6 SBs (and won 4). I don't think Denver is a great football team. They have a great D. But had two mostly uninspiring playoff wins in a mediocre conference, one against a severely compromised opponent (Steelers). Just my 2 cents, but how can you not see why people view Carolina as the much better football team?
You still need an offensive line and somewhat of a running game. You can't expect Brady to drop back 50 times and expect the Patriots to win. Hell, if Pete C wasn't such a dumb-ass, the Pats don't even win the SB last year. Brady was hit like 20+ times yesterday. I thought the Patriots would win because Peyton would just turn the football over just like he did all of this season. Not because of the "high powered Patriots offense"
This defense isn't getting blown out. Only way that happens is if Manning throws multiple interceptions, but he's going to come off a bye... I expect to be better than he was this week, but on neutral field with that defense and pass rushers, they're not getting blown out barring any disaster. This team is so different from that team two years ago.
Considering that Wilson and Palmer both threw multiple INTs against the Panthers, and that Peyton led the league in INTs this season, it is not unreasonable to predict a blowout based upon Denver likely turning the ball over multiple times. I don't buy that Peyton magically cured his INT woes because he has not thrown one in the playoffs. The Steelers and Pats had several opportunities for picks that the defender simply failed to convert. The Panthers have excelled at converting those opportunities. In other words, Denver's D does not need to get blown off the field, for them to lose decisively. People are also too enamored by the Denver D yesterday. The week before, Ben efficiently threw for 340 on them without his top wideout, and didn't throw a pick. It is very hard to hold down great offense in today's NFL week after week. You can't really expect it.
Manning wasn't impressive by any means against the Patriots. I see the Panthers defense as far more opportunistic to generate turnovers, I stated that multiple times as the reason why I believe the Broncos will get blown out. @WhySoSerious488 I agree 110%
I'd say more Carolina fans. They are starving for a Championship, the team's enthusiasm carries over to them and they will come out in droves. If I'm a Broncos fan, I'm weighing the cost/benefit of such a trip. The Broncos could win, but there is a greater likelihood of a Broncos beat down than vice versa. Not sure I'd spend that coin. Peyton not the QB he was 2 years ago and that was a brutal game.
Palmer is hurt, and that's why his performance over the last three weeks has been subpar. Wilson's interception was a freak play on the road against a crowd that was rocking. Manning's the most intelligent QB to ever play the game... I doubt he turns over the ball multiple times, with two weeks to prepare and that's the only way the Panthers can blow them out. When you have a receiver who can win consistently at the catch point , like Sanders, teams will miss on potental intercptions. Regardless, I'm rooting for Manning and will likely pick Carolina, but I'm tired of this talk that Denver will get rolled. I heard this last week and wasn't buying it, don't buy it now. I've seen way too many upsets in SB history to think this will be a lopsided victory( and the Steelers couldn't even pt up 20 despite all those yards). And the Broncos earned their repuatin over the course of the season... not last week. We're having this discussion, because of what happened two years ago, to be honest.
He doesn't need to be impressive... he needs to be functional. I don't see the Panthers blowing the Broncos out on a neutral field.
The only way the Panthers have trouble in this game is if Von Miller and Demarcus Ware have a similar game to how they played Brady. Put 15+ hits on him in the pocket and 5+ sacks on Cam Newton. I also have a hard time believing if they start generating a ton of pressure early that Carolina doesn't max protect and start moving the pocket for their athletic quarterback to navigate away from the rush. I don't think it's going to be an absolute blow put though. Carolina has blown two teams out in the playoffs but they really haven't blown everyone out. I think they'll cover a -7 but not much more. There's also no way they have players get open like Philly Brown did on that 75+yard touchdown or the tackling and angles are as poor as on that Ginn reverse. The Broncos can tackle well in the open field and don't give up big plays. The key for Carolina is going to be trying to get receivers open. I think this is gonna be an ugly low scoring game where Cam gets the MVP on the back of a couple rushing touchdowns or something like that.
That's when I had to come in otherwise the final score would have been 240-0. Rex's papa was killing our dreams.
Roethlisberger also lead that team to only 16 points and the decisive play was a forced fumble by the Denver defense. They've only given up 18.5 ppg this season and more than 21 points 5 times. The Panthers feed off of turnovers in terms of momentum and energy. It's obvious to say if the Cardinals only turn the ball over twice then the score isn't the same. But a turnover and a punt are much different. I'm with Snacks. This is going to be a much better game than everyone's giving it credit for.
Experience and savvy in the Denver camp makes this a game. Pressure, adversity gets Carolina off their game. Manning GOAT[greatest of all time]
You are asking him not to turn the ball over when he was leading the league in interceptions throughout most if not all of the season. Even when Peyton was injured, he STILL led the league in INTs Peyton turning the ball over is far more likely to happen then Peyton being functional. Understanding you want Peyton to win the game, but have some logic in your argument.
The guy was playing with a tear in his foot at age 39, that's why he was a disaster against the Chiefs and against other teams . Injuries come with age, but by all account he's much healtheir now than he was two months ago. Of course, he was going to turn the ball over, when you factor that in , along with natual decline that occurs with age. If Manning is a disaster, like you think he'll be, then they'll get blown out. I don't see this happening with two weeks of rest, though.
This. The Panthers also know his arm is compromised, and they love jumping routes. If Peyton stays away from the outside, as has been the case lately, he has to worry about Kuechly jumping stuff over the middle. If he goes outside, Norman will get there before his fluttering ball does. The only way Peyton can get their respect is by hitting some deep balls early, but I have seen nothing to suggest Peyton is capable of throwing an accurate deep ball. Like you, I don't see how anyone could feel confident in Peyton's ability to avoid turnovers this game. Also factor in the quick starts from Carolina. If they can do that in this game, and Denver has to go away from game management offense, I think it spells disaster for them.
It really wasn't Ben's fault that they didn't score more, they absolutely should have but had some weird strategies once they got into Denver territory, and the Touissant fumble felt like it interrupted what appeared to be a TD drive in the making. Ben threw the ball well enough for the Steelers to hit 30 points. In fact, the Steelers exceeded 30 points the last time they played Denver. That's why I don't buy the idea that Denver will definitely keep the Panthers offense to 20 points or less. I think it's wishful thinking based upon the Panthers year-long and recent play.
Peyton was bad last year too. Father time is undefeated no doubt about it. Let's not start making excuses for Manning awful performances now. That Panthers defense could have a field day.
Line opened with Panthers giving 4.5. Gotta jump on that quick, because it'll be over 7 by the weekend IMO. This game's gonna play out for the Broncos like the one they played vs Seattle.
