With just 30 minutes separating them from the third Super Bowl win in franchise history, the Denver Broncos defense saved their greatest performance for last. The magnificent effort they delivered in the AFC Championship was nothing compared to the virtuoso performance they put on a Carolina Panthers team that led the league in offense and total scoring in the regular season. Super Bowl MVP Von Miller had 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles (both recovered) and one pass defended to go with six tackles, five of the solo variety. The Denver defense allowed 315 yards of total yards, but forced four turnovers and sacked Cam Newton seven times to deliver a 24-10 win.
The offense again struggled, generating only 194 yards, but they converted several turnovers into points including a two-yard touchdown run by C.J. Anderson late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win. Peyton Manning was just 13-for-23 for only 141 yards; he was sacked five times, threw an interception and lost a fumble. But none of it mattered. The second half was a defensive masterpiece performed by what many were calling the greatest defensive performance in Super Bowl history.
Cam Newton came out firing to open the second half, hitting Ted Ginn Jr. for a gain of 45 yards. After a 15-yard penalty, they connected again for a first down that got Carolina into Denver territory. Von Miller made a huge downfield coverage play on a wheel route that could have gone for a touchdown. Another special teams milestone was set when Graham Gano missed on a 44-yard field goal. Gano hit the (right) upright, the first time that had ever happened in Super Bowl history.
Peyton Manning hit Emmanuel Sanders on the first play of the next drive, beating the blitz, for a gain of 25 yards (and only the fifth first down of the game for Denver). Sanders came up big two plays later on another blitz and picked up 22 more. Again, the red zone offense stalled out, though, and Denver was forced to kick another field goal. Brandon McManus was true from 30 yards and Denver had a two-score lead, 16-7.
Carolina went deep again on the first play of their ensuing possession, with Newton hitting Corey Brown for 42 yards; T.J. Ward nearly had a pick, but mistimed his jump. Just a few plays later, Ward would get one. Newton fired a rocket to Ginn, which bounced off the receiver’s chest and into the arms of a waiting Ward at the Denver 10-yard line. Panic ensued slightly when Ward had the ball knocked loose on the return but Danny Trevathan was there to dive on the ball.
C.J. Anderson ran for a first down on the first play of the next drive, but Michael Schofield allowed his second sack of the day and Denver again had to punt. Britton Colquitt again showed off his big leg with a 54 yard kick paired with great coverage. Another penalty on Carolina’s return unit backed them up an additional 15 yards.
The defense continued to swarm Cam Newton, getting a sack on a third-and-eight by the combination of Von Miller and Derek Wolfe. Carolina netted just five yards on the drive and had to punt the ball back to Denver to end the third quarter, trailing by two scores.
After Manning hit Sanders for a 16-yard gain on the next possession, Carolina took another bad penalty, an unsportsmanlike conduct flag that moved the Broncos into Panthers territory. But Kony Ealy continued to have a big day, beating Ryan Harris and getting a strip sack of Manning at midfield.
Carolina would score off the turnover, but only a field goal. A critical third-down false start, followed by a tough coverage play by Bradley Roby forced Gano’s second attempt of the game. He was true this time from 39 yards and keeping Carolina’s hopes alive.
The Broncos offense again couldn’t get anything going, allowing their fifth three-and-out of the night on the ensuing possession. But the defense again answered the bell, forcing one of their own. Denver would need to absorb just over seven minutes of clock time to secure the win.
On a third-and-nine on their next possession, Denver broke one of it’s own sad Super Bowl records. With their 12th consecutive failed third down attempt the Broncos ran a draw for two yards, breaking the record of 11 straight failed third-down tries set in Super Bowl XII.
The defense again had to go to work and Von Miller all but sealed his status as the game’s MVP when he forced a second fumble on Cam Newton. The Broncos handed the ball to C.J. Anderson twice and Demaryius Thomas drew a critical holding call on third down to give Denver a fresh set of downs at the two yard line. Anderson finally found paydirt on the next play and Manning found Bennie Fowler for a two-point conversion and a 24-10 lead with just over three minutes to play.
Denver wasn’t done punishing Cam Newton, though. DeMarcus Ware got Denver’s seventh sack of the day on second down of second down of the ensuing drive and then Derek Wolfe laid a massive hit on Newton who was running for his life on third down.
Manning and the offense ran a minute off the clock with their final possession and Carolina could do nothing with their last one, securing a 24-10 and the third Super Bowl title in franchise history.
As they’ve done all season, the team from MHS was all over the action, providing commentary via social media alongside some of our favorite follows. Here’s a look at how the second half of Super Bowl 50 unfolded on Twitter.
Carolina came out of the half ready to spark their offense…
Wow. What a job by the #Panthers o-line picking up that blitz. Ted Ginn got open and found 45 yards of football field.
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) February 8, 2016
But Von Miller was making plays all over the field…
Von Miller in coverage tho … wow. #Noflyzone
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) February 8, 2016
A missed FG was a good sign for the Broncos…
Missed placekicks proved crucial vs. Cincy and New England … we'll see if that proves crucial, too.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 8, 2016
And the offense looked like it had made some halftime adjustments…
The Broncos went 53 minutes between offensive plays, and immediately went no-huddle. They don't look rusty at all.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 8, 2016
But the offense again stalled inside the 20…
Broncos just can't figure out the panthers redzone defense. Another redzone trip another redzone field goal. 16-7 Broncos #SB50
— Press Box Insider (@PBIOnAir) February 8, 2016
T.J. Ward and Danny Trevathan came up with the first big defensive play of the second half…
That's turnover #3 for the juggernaut Denver D. Ward the pick Danny T right place right time recovery. #9sports #9news
— Rod Mackey (@RodMackeySports) February 8, 2016
In the field position game, a kicker got some love from a former safety…
Britton Colquitt is a weapon believe it or not!! #FieldPosition
— Brian Dawkins (@BrianDawkins) February 8, 2016
Von Miller and Derek Wolfe put the Broncos in rare company…
Broncos are the 1st team since the Bucs in 2002 (1-of-10 overall) to have at least 5 sacks and 3 takeaways in a Super Bowl.
— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) February 8, 2016
Despite a two-score lead entering the fourth, there was still only cautious optimism…
Teams with leads of 2+ scores after 3 quarters were undefeated in Super Bowls (30 of 30) … until last year.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 8, 2016
For a reason…
That's 2 turnovers by Peyton. With a defense this good just don't make mistakes. #9sports #9news
— Rod Mackey (@RodMackeySports) February 8, 2016
Graham Gano did not miss this time…
It's good. Barely. But it's good. #Broncos 16 #Panthers 10. 10:21 left.
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) February 8, 2016
All Denver really needed was a field goal, by some estimations…
It feels like the @Broncos will need at least 19 to win…6 or 7 min drive that ends with points would go a long way here
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) February 8, 2016
The offense again failed the defense, though…
Three and out by offense. They are awful. Defense will have to win this. Cam has it down 6. #SB50 #Broncos @DenverChannel
— Lionel Bienvenu (@lionelbienvenu) February 8, 2016
The defense remained on a mission on the next drive…
Chris Harris was not letting the Panthers get a first down there. Big deflection by Sly Williams on 2nd. #Broncos move this ball! #SB50
— cover32 Broncos (@cover32_DEN) February 8, 2016
And the offense again couldn’t answer…
12 straight failed 3rd downs by the #Broncos is an #NFL record. In a bad way.
— Rich (midnight blue 🌠and sunshine yellow ☀️) (@RichKurtzman) February 8, 2016
But a second strip sack in the red zone for Von Miller all but iced two things…
Von Miller just won the #SB50 MVP.
— Renaud Notaro (@RenKnowItAll) February 8, 2016
In the end, the offense finally game through
Studies in contrast: Cam Newton backs off from the loose ball scrum; C.J. Anderson battles through tacklers for the TD.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 8, 2016
Manning finally made a play worth celebrating with a two-point conversion…
EXCLAMATION POINT FROM THE SHERIFF!
— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) February 8, 2016
There was no doubt who was to thank for the victory, although Denver still had 2:00 to run off the clock…
#Broncos annihilated Rothlisberger, Brady, and now Newton.
This is, without a doubt, One of the greatest defenses in NFL history!
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) February 8, 2016
There was never any real doubt about who would be named the MVP…
#Broncos linebacker Von Miller: 6 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. #SuperBowl50MVP
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) February 8, 2016
And another MVP would be there to hand out the hardware…
It's coming back home baby. #SB50 #Broncos #WorldChamps pic.twitter.com/8J0r9QgjPQ
— Terrell Davis (@Terrell_Davis) February 8, 2016
There was only one thing left to do…
"This one's for Pat!" https://t.co/zTeydF40cL
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) February 8, 2016