Normally, it’s fairly apparent which two players could end up being Super Bowl MVP. It’s a superstar award, and more often than not, a team’s top superstar is their quarterback. So when you hear that 55 percent of all Super Bowl MVPs have been a quarterback, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
But this time around, things are a little more up in the air, particularly on the Broncos’ end of things. While Peyton Manning is unquestionably the biggest storyline of Super Bowl week, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone picking him for Super Bowl MVP.
In my eyes, and in the eyes of most, if the Denver Broncos win Super Bowl 50, it won’t be because Manning had a resurgent performance; it’ll be because the rest of the team has done everything they can to minimize his impact.
But that makes the MVP discussion much more complicated.
To help simplify things, here are five Denver Broncos with the best shot at winning the Super Bowl MVP:
5. Danny Trevathan
I fully expect Danny Trevathan to play a huge role in Sunday’s game. Not only will he be tasked with shutting down the second best rushing attack in the NFL (142.6 yards/game), but there’s a very good chance Wade Phillips will designate him as the spy, leaving Trevathan to follow Cam Newton’s every movement.
If Trevathan can successfully hold Newton in check, both on the ground and through the air, he could end up being the standout player on the Broncos defense come game’s end.
Plus, Trevathan isn’t a stranger to big plays. He’s already got five interceptions in his young career, one of which he returned for a touchdown; he would have had another pick-six, too, had he not dropped the ball as he was crossing the goal line.
The Broncos will need every bit of Trevathan’s speed and play-making ability if they’re going to slow down the Panthers’ dynamic offense.
