There aren’t enough adjectives to describe the 2015-16 NFL season. The number of oohhs and aahhs heard around the league week-to-week were astonishing. There were great games, incredible plays and amazing accomplishments.
NFL fans were treated to more one-handed catches this season than every other NFL season combined, true stat (okay that’s not a true but it sure feels like one).
The Packers saved their season twice with last-second Hail Mary completions from Aaron Rodgers.
Josh Norman stole the ball out of Brandin Cooks’ hands in the end zone to pick off Drew Brees and Gary Barnidge caught a touchdown pass with his calves.
Forty-four games were decided in overtime.
Russell Wilson threw 24 touchdown passes in the final seven weeks of the season. That’s more touchdowns than Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan threw all season.
Antonio Brown and Julio Jones tied for the league lead in receptions with 136 each, 25 more grabs than the next closest wide receiver.
After starting the season 1-5, the Kansas City Chiefs unthinkably rattled off 10 straight wins to finish 11-5 and make the playoffs.
In a year that football fans (and the population in general) had every reason to shun the NFL, people attended in droves. Ratings were also off the charts. And the players on the field delivered spectacularly. This was one of the most exciting NFL seasons in recent memory. Which brings us to the two teams participating in Super Bowl 50.
The Carolina Panthers went 15-1 behind an MVP season from Cam Newton. He led the best offense in the league, terrorizing opposing defenses with his arm and legs. Mike Shula’s offense isn’t all flash; there is plenty of thunder. Jonathan Stewart and company wore down defensive fronts all season, averaging 4.3 yards per play and 142.6 yards per game.
The Denver Broncos rode a historically good defense to a 12-4 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Denver’s defense will have no easy task on their hands shutting down the Panthers. But if there’s any defense that’s up for the challenge, it’s Wade Phillips’ group.
There wasn’t a more menacing defense in the NFL this season. It’s a squad littered with superstars and playmakers – Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris, Derek Wolfe and on and on and on.
The Broncos were the only team to allow less than 200 passing yards per game and they were one of three teams to allow fewer than 84 rushing yards per game. Denver’s defensive line has been nearly unblockable all season. Their 52 team sacks were second to none.
Carolina’s offense versus Denver’s defense is classic clash of strength against strength.
The same can’t be said about Denver’s offense against Carolina’s defense.
It didn’t matter who was under center, Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler, Denver’s offense was inconsistent. The offensive line is still a work in progress, the running backs have been underwhelming and Demaryius Thomas – the team’s most athletically gifted player – has been a liability all season. This group will face a very solid defense anchored by stud middle linebacker Luke Kuechly.
Gary Kubiak will need to pull out all of the stops to beat this defense.
Super Bowl 50 is shaping to be a fascinating finale to the 2015-16 NFL season with very compelling storylines.
Does Manning ride off into the sunset with another championship, or does the fun-loving (much-maligned) Newton win a championship to the chagrin of soccer moms everywhere?
Offense wins games, defense wins championships; will that odd cliché hold true? After the AFC Championship it’s hard to imagine anyone slowing down Miller and company. That said, Newton has rolled through two really good defenses this postseason. Something has to give.
The 50th anniversary of what is now the biggest party in America is going to be the culmination of a great NFL season. We can only hope that the final act doesn’t spoil the play.