Cam Newton no doubt had a certain swagger about him heading into Super Bowl 50, and for good reason. The near-unanimous NFL MVP had a stellar regular season and had steamrolled two opponents in the playoffs. Newton was virtually impossible to stop all season long, having lost only one game all year.
As Super Bowl week wore on, though, it was clear that the bright lights were starting to wear on the young and talented quarterback. He began getting testy with the media mid-week and some of the shine appeared it was coming off a player many experts were touting as the new gold-standard in the NFL. Still, Newton remained bold and brash, even penning MVP on the gold cleats he wore in the game. But when the ball was snapped and the speedy Denver defense was unleashed, it was clear from the start that the moment was going to be too big for Newton, not to mention the rest of his team.
Newton missed badly on several wide-open receivers and he was intercepted after putting simply too much mustard on a ball that bounced off a receiver’s chest and into the hands of Broncos safety T.J. Ward. Newton had only one game all season with three turnovers, all interceptions, but he fumbled twice in the Super Bowl – both via MVP Von Miller – to match that total.
When Newton wasn’t missing them or bruising their sternums, the Carolina receivers still weren’t pulling in catches. They ended the game with just 18 receptions on 40 targets for the day.
The Panthers offensive line, which was much-heralded, surrendered seven sacks to a relentless Denver pass rush. A very pro-Broncos crowd helped draw several procedural penalties. And on special teams, Carolina took several other key penalties that backed them up after punts.
Newton’s body language, captured by CBS cameras, showed that the moment had consumed him. Postgame, he even walked out of the press conference, effectively snubbing the media.
The Broncos were making their second Super Bowl appearance in three years and that composure showed. Carolina looked like a team making only it’s second ever appearance and it showed on the final scoreboard as the top-ranked defense in the league dominated the top-scoring offense.
Here’s what the team from MHS and some of our favorite follows on social media had to say about the bright lights and how they could have affected the outcome…
The Panthers are here for the week, and the Broncos are here for this DAMN Game. . .
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) February 7, 2016
Panthers showing early nerves
— Darren McKee (@DMacSportsCO) February 8, 2016
Cam Newton, looking a little too amped. Throwing all fastballs. And half of 'em overthrown. #broncos #panthers
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) February 8, 2016
Championship game have to make Championship plays! 2 drops by the Panthers thus far! #SuperBowl50 #fb
— Marcus Moore (@mmchi3) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/si_nfl/status/696500351835496448
Cam usually so cool and calm looks very frustrated…#Broncos
— Danny Williams (@TweetsDanny) February 8, 2016
#SB50 I don't believe Cam Newton has smiled yet this entire game. #Panthers aren't "being themselves" as they claimed they would do all week
— Sam Cowhick (@SamCowhick) February 8, 2016
WOOOOOWWW! Cam Newtown decided not to dive on that ball! Wow didn't want it bad enough! #SuperBowl50 #fb
— Marcus Moore (@mmchi3) February 8, 2016
Cam's reaction on the sideline after the last #Broncos touchdown…#SB50 https://t.co/8XQ1PkbrN7
— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/jasonrmcintyre/status/696555326250684416