Pre-Game

It took about seven seconds for the intro to the Super Bowl coverage to call it ‘The Biggest Show in Sports’. On one hand it’s hard to argue with it given the sheer spectacular that the occasion inevitably is. On the other hand, it’s a tough sentiment to get on board with because you just know that whoever wrote that didn’t do an ounce of research for that fact. The Super Bowl, man. It’s an incredible final to a fascinating sport and such a self-contained Americanism that it isn’t always easy to get fully submerged in it. That takes time and dedication, putting in the hours of fandom with all its connotations.

For those of us who’ve made that emotional pilgrimage, however, this is a massive date on the calendar. This is the be all and end all of the season. This year it’s the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. You already know that. By the time you read this you’ll already know who won too. Please no spoilers, it’s still only, like, 12pm right now. Anyway, so what this is, is a live diary of the day’s events. A stream of consciousness through the ins and outs of Super Bowl 50, sounds like a whole lotta fun.

Ooh, look, there’s Peyton Manning sitting prone before his locker with his head bowed while some dude checks the screws in his helmet.

Aaaand now for some ads. Better get used to this I s’pose.

Of course, if you’re gonna turn an event into something almost mythical then it only makes sense that you’d add a little myth to the whole thing. They’re bringing out all the (living) former SB MVPs now, hey there’s Terry Bradshaw. A nice sentiment for a league that famously doesn’t really care about some if its old players – EMMITT SMITH!!! – but then this is all perpetuating self-promotion. Fair enough. Hey, funny thought: Joe Flacco is gonna be among these fellas soon. Elway got a massive reception. Tom Brady did not, huge boos and he’s wearing black sunglasses. Dude probably tied one on last night. Massive cheers for Peyton too even though he’s still sitting in that chair in the locker room, sipping at a Gatorade and contemplating probably his final game. His brother’s here though. Joe Flacco looks sad. Cool photo of the lot of them though, wonder who’s gonna join them next year. If you trust the Vegas odds then it’ll probably be Cam Newton.

Steph Curry’s gonna bang a drum. Get it on, bang a gong, get it on…

Jeez, he’s really wailing on that thing. Keep pounding, so they say in Carolina. Curry’s a Panthers fan from when he was growing up in the area and his dad was playing for Charlotte. Jalen Rose said a few months back that he reckons Curry will go play for Charlotte someday. I reckon sometimes Jalen Rose is full of crap. Sometimes. It’s been a strange double life that Steph’s led as the Panthers’ number one celebrity fan. By day he’s a humble sports fan… by night he wreaks vengeance on NBA perimeter defenders.

“Everyone’s gonna have to do their part, that’s the only way we're gonna have a chance to win” – Peyton Manning

It starts with you, buddy. I’m 99% sure he’s retiring after this and I’m 85% sure that he realises that his arm is gone and his legs are leaden. Yet here he is in the grand finale, ain’t it funny how things work out? His deeply meditative preparation is almost the exact opposite of Cam Newton’s attitudes but then I think I saw Cam close his eyes before.

Here’s the choir take on America the Beautiful now. Resplendent with military propaganda, teary eyed jocks and cutaway tracking shots of gorgeous scenery and national landmarks. Patriotism is a bit of a cult, you realise. Any belief system is a cult the second you stop questioning it. If it can’t stand up to scrutiny then it isn’t real. 

Was that a Confederate Flag? Oh, ffs.

To honour America and to perform our national anthem…

It’s Lady Gaga, and I think she’s trying to look like David Bowie with the hair and makeup. Nothing like a celebrity’s compulsive need to leech onto the latest vogue trend. At least she’s got a very obvious lineage there, so you don’t have to think she heard Ziggy Stardust for the first time last week. And to be fair she just sang the hell outta that anthem. Sole piano accompaniment, flashy vocals but not to show-offy. The fighter jets are flying over and we’re almost ready for kickoff. Once we get through a few more ads and promos, naturally.

There are six captains each of these teams, all 12 of them lining up for the coin toss. They do things differently in America. They also need another six luminaries to help them toss the damn thing. Tails is the call… it is tails, Carolina wins the toss and defers. Check it out there’s a coin toss cam.

And AWAY WE GO!

First Quarter

So Peyton’s gonna get the ball first, I’m picking they run it up the middle twice then he throws an incompletion. Last time he was here there was a safety pretty much straight away on a wild snap. They lost that one 43-8 and apparently aren’t wearing orange because of that game. Superstition ain’t the way, says Stevie Wonder.

Here’s Gano, big boot and Caldwell takes it back to the 20 yard line. Peyton’s ready to go. Let’s go Peyton. Lobbed over the middle and it’s Owen Daniels with 18 yards on the first play, well bugger me then. Sanders out wide for six, then second down was a mess under pass pressure. Bold stuff from Denver to call Carolina’s bluff on the run game. Third and 4, BIG throw deep right for 22 yards to Andre Caldwell!

The feeling in this one was that the Denver offence was the big weakness between the two teams. Both have superb defences, while Carolina tend to boss things on offence too. In my preview I think I said avoiding turnovers was the key. Here they are rolling it, two runs with C.J. Anderson and they’re at the 15.

Ah but here are the Panthers. Three good defensive plays in the red zone and it’ll be a field goal attempt for the first score. 34 yards and it’s good from McManus. 3-0 Denver.

It’s odd for me to look at Wade Phillips being such a champ of a defensive coordinator for Denver because he was a rubbish head coach for the Cowboys. He’s not missed a beat for these guys though, moulding a bunch of talented free agents and a few young’uns into the best defence in the NFL. Carolina’s is probably second. DeMarcus Ware brings another Cowboys connection for me, I’m happy for the dude but I gave up thinking about the Cowboys the second they missed the playoffs. Sorry, this isn’t about me and my Dallas induced PTSD.

Ooh, Cam Newton is ‘multi-faceted’ apparently. Hand off first and Jonathan Stewart does well to avoid a loss of yardage. Damn, Newton had time to throw and a wide open dude on the side and he missed him by heaps. Third and 8 already, will he run? Nope, though he hits Greg Olsen for… bloody hell was that short or did he make it? Fourth and inches, Broncos with a powerful start on both sides of the ball. Measurement has them half a foot short. It was a great tackle from Aqib Talib, not an inch after the catch. Fair catch at the 24 yard line.

Here’s a stat, this is the first time Carolina have trailed all postseason.

Three and out for Denver. Didn’t look like much pressure on Cam last possession, we’ll see what they throw at him this time. Von Miller is one of the best in the business, Ware is a future Hall of Famer. They mauled Tom Brady to pieces last game which was the key to their victory (along with a missed PAT) but launching dudes at Newton can be futile when he steps up and starts to run.  

Incomplete down the middle, Jerricho Cotchery juggles and it’s called incomplete on what woulda made them at least 20 yards. I dunno, looked like he caught that thing. Sure enough Riverboat Ron Rivera is tossing the challenge flag. It’s always such a defiant moment when that bright red ribbon falls to the floor. Unfortunately this means another ad break, excuse me while I put the kettle on.

Both of these teams have trouble with dropped passes. That one stands as incomplete, looks on review like the ball may have tipped the deck which the commentators missed. Stewart goes down awkwardly on second down for minimal gain. For a guy with a sore ankle that’s ugly to see. Third and long anyway, OH WOW! Goddamn, now here we go!

Four pass rushers, Ware circles behind and down the middle but can’t get through. Newton holds in the pocket through the pressure but on his blindside Von Miller splits his own coverage and sacks him hard, tearing the ball loose. Malik Jackson regathers in the end zone. TOUCHDOWN DENVER!

So far Carolina has -6 yards of offence. If only that catch was a catch…

More like it there with a Fozzy Whittaker first down although Tolbert fumbles next play, lucky to recover it himself. Then Newton fires way deep over his man. Big pressure on third down and Newton is sacked again. Hasn’t taken long for them to put the heat on the CAR O-Line – maybe they should make a movie about this pass rush. There is a flag downfield, unsportsmanlike conduct and that’s gonna keep the Panthers on the field. Stewart looks okay but he’s sitting this possession out. Hey a completed pass! Newton’s second on five attempts and it’s a short gain WR-screen. Third and 4… argh and it’s dropped by Cotchery! Good coverage but plenty of wide outs can make that catch. This is the bloody Super Bowl after all.

Haha, Peyton throws that ball spiralling end over end. He was never like Brady with the form on his throws but it also never mattered. Still, as he’s gotten older he’s got these ‘knuckleballs’ all over the place, as the apologists like to call it. I think part of it probably has something to do with that thing he’s said about not being able to feel his fingers in the cold. Funniest thing is that it was still a completion. Sacked on third down though, this ball’s heading back the other way on a punt. We’re almost done in this first quarter, what a ball. Remember Carolina came in about six point favourites and they’re really struggling, down ten. Stewart’s back in, good to see.

Thaaat’s better mate. 20 yards to Corey Brown. The first quarter ends with Carolina at Second and 11 and trailing 10-0. Nice to see Archie Manning there having a watch.

Second Quarter

Tramps like us, baby we were born to ruuuuuun… Cam Newton’s starting to bust outta that pocket now, looking to run a bit more. A couple solid gains rather than trying to play the traditional stuff. There’s a great throw on the run back across him to Olsen and the Panthers are in field goal range. This is what they need to do more of, Newton’s gotta take this on his back. It’s already working, there’s Brown almost getting into the end zone but for a blatant facemask by Talib. You’ll take that for a chance to stop the seven, granted.

Remember Jonathan Stewart’s sore ankle? Yeah, looks alright now. Panthers off the mark, 10-7.

The ideal thing for Denver now would be to score some points. At least get a drive going and work on that momentum. Here comes another challenge, they don’t call him Riverboat Ron for nothing. He’ll win this one too because Peyton slipped over on first, getting touched as he hit the deck. Ruled incomplete on a shovel, will be overturned for a sack. This game feels like it’s swinging.

Potentially valuable development though, you only get a third challenge if you get both right. The call was overturned but in saving a few yards he’s used up his final challenge. Like I said, they don’t call him Riverboat Ron for nothing. Phwoar, that was not pretty on those two passes. Both incomplete, including a near-interception and a huge Luke Kuechly hit. Haven’t said his name yet, that was always an ominous thing.

Three and out with a loss for Carolina too. Defence is the name of the game. Was that contact on the punt catch? Damn right, he got checked and there’s no flag. But here goes Norwood… round the outside, oh man, is he gonna spit this!? Down at the CAR 14!!! Well, now there’s the big counterpunch. I wonder if they stopped playing expecting a whistle. Apparently Jordan Norwood’s 61 yard return there is a Super Bowl record, which seems weird.

Anyway, Anderson was stopped on third and 1. GO FOR IT, GO FOR IT, GO FOR IT... they’re going for it! Looks like Denver showing their hand here, afraid to waste another red zone appearance knowing how rare they’ll be with their offence. Ah, but there’s a flag on the play for holding. Kinda odd, though, that penalty actually gains them 3 points. He would've been plugged without the hold and instead they get to replay fourth down. We’re at 13-7, folks. 6:58 remaining in the first half before we get to meet those sadsack bastards of Coldplay. Really looking forward to that but not really.

I’m getting hungry. This game is well poised.

You know, anyone who thinks that Cam Newton is starting a revolution is pretty silly. Nobody else can do what he does, there isn’t a better runner at QB, nobody as strong or as fast. We’re not even gonna realise how good he is until five years down the track when there are a dozen guys trying to copy him and failing miserably. Gee, that don’t bode well for Colin Kaepernick does it? They’re playing at his home ground and everything. Poor guy. In other 49ers news, Jarryd Hayne has laughed off his weekly ‘Returning to the NRL’ headline in the Sydney papers. What a bunch of muppets.

Oh FUMBLE! THAT’S A FUMBLE, Mike Tolbert has fumbled! Man, he hasn’t fumbled since 2011, what a friggin’ jive. Two first half turnovers for Denver and that’s a massive development. Aaaand Demaryius Thomas drops his first of the day. Won’t be the last, how did he get so butterfingery?

SEEE… JAAAAY…. AAAAANDERRRSSSONNNN! Big run from the DEN RB. There’s a bit of niggle emerging, which makes sense. Both of these two teams are used to being bullies. It’s nothing personal, just business. Touchdown coming this time? Nope, interception.

Oh dear. Peyton lobbed that right to Kony Ealy, he never even saw him. In fairness he’s flirted with a few picks already this game. The Broncos have to ride their luck on offence, if it’s their game then it’s their game. Otherwise they’re just passengers to the defence. I am the passenger, and I ride and I ride…

Carolina don’t advance it after the INT but Denver are pushed well back. Might be a good idea to soak up the clock as much as possible. Keep that lead into HT.

Thomas Davis is playing with a broken arm. Hardly missed a snap too. Makes me feel sort of inadequate. The Panthers are gonna get this thing back for one last drive.

Okay, what’d I miss? Nothing? Sweet. Had to take a leak, sorry ‘bout that but there really wasn’t an alternative. Umm, I s’pose there was at least one alternative but no thanks. Tell ya what, the Broncos tackling has been immense. If they go on to win this thing then we’ll be seeing a defensive MVP for only the second time in thirteen years.

The Panthers aren’t really moving it here. There’s mishap with the timeouts and here they are on third and 12 and… did he catch that? He did, fantastic by Newton to dodge pressure then he hurls one downfield for Funchess to get up and claim. Barely held on but he did, which is more than others can say. Kind of slow here, not a lot of urgency. 18 secs to go now and they’ve only got the ball to the 45. The Panthers do get the ball back after the break. Skipping pressure, throwing wide… no good. Dropping back, searching and SACKED, no way he was getting out of that, DeMarcus Ware had a free path to the QB and he drops him to end the half.

Well, well, well, that was not what most people expected. I though the Panthers would control most of the game myself, that they’ve looked as timid as they have is both a credit to Gary Kubiak’s gameplan and probably a reflection of the occasion.

To be honest, though, this hasn’t been the ceremonious sorta game we usually get. That first half was mostly about mistakes and missed chances, a game that suits the Broncos but not one that suits the neutrals. It should swell up in the second half if the Panthers continue to trail as the pressure of the whole thing gets to them. You don’t work all season to lose at the final hurdle – even though they all do.

Half Time

What’s cool is that the Super Bowl fell on a public holiday in New Zealand. Awesome, cheers for that to all involved. What is not cool is that it clashes – is that Seal? – with the deciding third one day international between the New Zealand and Australian cricket teams at Seddon Park in Hamilton. It is Seal. Brendon McCullum’s last ODI, I flicked channels and now Seal’s singing. Doesn’t sound fully on form but that’s a jam all the same. No we’re never gonna survive, uuuunless, we get a little crazy…

KISS FROM A ROSE, SING KISS FROM A ROSE NEXT! TELL COLDPLAY TO SHOVE IT UP THEM AND JUST KEEP GOING! Oh, no. he’s gone, that was just a pre-game thing replayed while they set up the field. Gwyneth Paltrow is there – I thought they broke up? Must be looking after the kiddies. I hate Coldplay, their name is all that is sounds like. Kevin Durant’s there taking photos for the Players Tribute. Drake has already tweeted that he won’t be in the HT show. Gaga’s chilling in the boxes after getting changed.

There’s Chris Martin there, crouching like the douchebag he is as a rainbow array of people run past him cheering because they’re deaf. Tom Brady and Gisele are off to the bathrooms or something. Fair enough.

“Whoever you are, wherever you are. We’re in this together, let’s go.” – Chris Martin.

Bugger off lad, you’re trash. You’re the Bono of your generation and at least Bono wrote a couple decent songs. The guitarist is wearing green chinos. What is this, Sunday brunch in the suburbs? There are flowers everywhere. Right now I’m craving some depravity in among this freaking watered down flower power milky white prissiness. Give me Iggy Pop in a dog’s collar with his cock in his pocket any day of the week. At least we haven’t lost a wicket yet in the cricket. Come on Baz, get it done. 42 off 23 balls, good get so far.

I don’t know this song, shouldn’t they be playing Yellow or something? I wonder if they’d be allowed to play that if the Steelers had made it. Now there’s a DJ in a gold jacket and I believe that’s Bruno Mars. Didn’t he do this last time? Uptown Funk, naturally. I don’t believe him, I’d better just watch.

OH LOOK, IT’S BEYONCE! She did this before as well, is there some kind of union? Where’s Keef Richards? Well you can always trust Bey to light it up, seems there’s gonna be some sort of showdown between Beyonce’s army of Feminist Black Panther dancers (very cool, very powerful) and Bruno’s 90s hip hop throwback team (cheesy but the right kind of cheesy).

Aaaaand Martin’s back. He’s never looked less cool. Or more white, TBH. That was strange but worthwhile. For some reason they’re playing highlights of old half time gigs with Martin playing at the piano. Yellow, of course. Reminding us what we’re currently missing out on. Ah Christ he’s doing a medley (“It’s a beautiful day… purple rain… I think you’re amazing”). We live in an age of pervasive irony, folks. Nobody seems to be able to do anything for themselves, everything is referential and self-aware. Somebody crank the bloody sincerity levels up somewhere for God’s sake. Even I, right now, am doing it wrong.

Ah feck, McCullum’s out. Excuse me while a grab some refreshments.

The National Football League thanks you for watching the Super Bowl 50 half time show!

Third Quarter

Some first half stats for ya:

• Peyton Manning: 9/16 passing for 76 yards and an interception.
• Cam Newton: 8/19 passing for 95 yards.
• Nothing pretty there, C.J. Anderson does have 58 yards on the ground though.
• Teams trailing at half time are 10-36 in Super Bowl.

Ladies and gents, our first Brock Osweiler sighting. He’s in a baseball cap patting guys on the back. Might be the last one too. I’m pretty curious who the impending free agent will be playing for in 2016, if Peyton retires then you’d imagine the Broncos give him a handy offer but there are others that could use a slightly-above-replacement-level-with-room-to-grow quarterback too.

BOOM, early gauntlet thrown by Carolina as Newton fires one into Ted Ginn’s path for a 45 yard gain. First catch for that guy, he’s the worst of the droppers for CAR but he’s got some serious heels. A dumb flag then sets them back after a nice gain on the ground but Ginn’s back on the slant route for a first down.

It feels like the Panthers are running on 1D every time, for bugger all gain. Mate, that’s exactly what the Broncs want you to do. Newton deep to the right siiiideliiiiiiiineeeee… incomplete. Bloody hell, Cotchery, that was one you’ve gotta take. Might’ve been a TD, would’ve at least been first and goal. Fourth down on an incompletion soon after, Gano drills the field goal to make it 13-10. NO, IT’S OFF THE POST! That sucker really tailed late. Remember before the season when Kelvin Benjamin was injured? After 18 games the Carolina Panthers are finally missing him. That Cotchery drop is huge.

Emmanuel Sanders dropped a few catches this season but he’s been great these playoffs and almost perfect today. Two big receptions take the Broncos into the red zone. Peyton’s arm always seems so much better after a rest. Not there though, overthrowing DT under the posts. Third and 5… this is huge, this is massive… broken up, ballooning into the air… incomplete. Ha, wow, that coulda gone anywhere, Sanders had zero room there and it rocked off his shoulder, into a defender and into the air. Field goal is good for a 16-7 lead, it’s back above a single score. Tell ya this: that Cotchery drop is already defining. Looks like the Blackcaps are recovering after losing that wicket, at least. 118/1, Guptill with 50.

For the first time I’m feeling like this game is Denver’s to lose. They’ve got the drop on Cam Newton (as nobody else in the NFL has managed all season) and have been able to capitalise on their chances to score, albeit with three field goals. Had there been another TD in there they’d be all in control. As it is, maybe Carolina are hanging in just a little too close. It’s getting tense now, this is good fun.

Amy Adams is a Broncos fan. That’s sexy. She’s sitting in a box with January Jones from Mad Men and that chick from Empire. Taraji P. Henson is her name, sorry. Don’t watch Empire, is it as good as they say? Looks a little soapy for my tastes.

WHAT A CATCH FROM COREY BROWN! Newton threw that up there as he got slammed into the ground and Brown made a diving catch in double coverage falling backwards. Then Ginn shows composure to run all the way around the other side for a gain after a WR screen was flooded with defenders. He ran like 35 yards for a 4 yard gain.

At what point do you have to start battling that nagging feeling that it isn’t gonna be your day? When that voice pipes up, the doubts begin. The white flag starts waving in the distance waiting for you to grab it and run. Cam Newton just threw deep down the middle and was intercepted by T.J. Ward, Ted Ginn Jr having that pass flip off his fingertips. There was a fumble after the pick but it was recovered. Anderson then carries defenders on his back like children for a 1D.

Sacked, this ball’s getting punted back. No team has ever won the Super Bowl without an offensive touchdown, Peyton has only ever won five games (including playoffs) without one. Meanwhile Cam Newton needs some goddamn help.

Ginn caught one, good for him. Donald Trump just tweeted that this game is boring, unlike politics. What kind of world is this that we live in? Can someone rip that polished slab of roadkill off his head and make politics boring again? All he’s doing is telling stupid people that the horrible, bigoted things that they’ve come to believe in order to justify their own stupidity and the lives that they don’t have the IQ to control (blame the immigrants for a problem that doesn’t exist!), that those things are all true when they clearly aren’t. Politics is supposed to be boring, that’s boredom is the gatekeeper that stops people like Trump from unlocking democracy’s dangerous potential. My latest fear is that maybe Trump is a pace-setter for this Ted Cruz guy, who I’m petrified isn’t getting any focus globally. For all we know he’s a sociopath but he’s gonna get away with that because however bad he is he’s gonna look good compared to Trump.

Right, we’re at the end of the third quarter and Denver leads 16-7. We’re in championship time.

Fourth Quarter

Five sacks, three interceptions, only seven points conceded. Denver’s defence is getting it done against the favoured opposition. Tom Brady couldn’t quite lead his team back… can Cam?

The Broncos are trying to move this thing again. They’re not going far, it’s third and 14 and they’re 1/10 on 3D. It’s Manning and… he’s in trouble here. Big trouble, down and THE BALL’S LOOSE! Carolina recovers in midfield! Now there’s another turning point, though the Panthers are still two scores away.

Kony Ealy probably needs his team to win this game to get it but he’s gotta be in the MVP reckoning. Three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. From a bit part name to a superstar, call it Malcolm Butler Syndrome.

This is a brutal game, the refs are going easy on the contact flags. Could’ve been one on DEN there but instead it’s fourth down and the strip-sack is turned into three points. 16-10 to the Broncos. Gano missed from 44 yards before but he hits from 39 yards and the Panthers are within striking distance.

Peyton Manning is gonna be the story if the Broncs hold on but it’s a bit unfair because he’s not player that well and he’s been quite crap all season for that matter. This is his last game, his shining moment, one of the all-time greats in his final bow. He knew the key was to preserve the ball and he’s fumbled and thrown an interception. He’s been sloppy and risky and yet is somehow still the figurehead of this team. You can call that a nostalgic trip if you want but I’m so impressed by the way he’s riding this line despite failing returns. You’ll never convince me that Brock Osweiler could ever be the stable leader that Peyton is even now, not with twice the numbers.

Cal Ripken and Pat Riley are sitting with Michael Douglas in his boot. Catherine Zeta-Jones is in there somewhere too. Whatcha gotta do to get a seat at that table?

We’re at that stage where every possession matters in relation to the final possession. How many more chances with Carolina get? Not too many if they keep bloody jumping offsides. 4/24 on third down, that’s the figure for the game. Defence, cha-cha-cha. Powerful hit from Chris Harris to save a first down. We’re not in 4D territory yet but it’s getting there. 7:07 to play after the Denver fair catch. Now would be a good chance for Peyton to come up with that one crucial, title-winning drive.

Chris Harris. Harry. The Blackcaps are 171/3, Nicholls and Elliott righting the ship. Ah, make that 171/4. Hank Nicholls is gooooone.

Is Eli Manning cheering for the Denver Broncos? Is that a conflict of interest?

Six minutes to go, these are the easiest seconds to burn before timeouts start to get called. Broncos go nowhere, Panthers get it back with under five to play. Remember that Cotchery drop? Remember the missed Gano FG? My heartbeats getting up already. Third and 9, 4:16 to play… Miller gets his arm on Newton’s shoulder there. WAS THAT A PASS ATTEMPT? BECAUSE IF IT IS THEN THAT’S A FUMBLE! IT’S A FUMBLE!!!

Holy crap.

Panthers can’t challenge anyway but it looks like that was a fumble. Denver ball first and goal. Even a field goal makes it a nine point game and Von Miller is back in the MVP lead. Miller was being held back, he was being fouled and he still got to that. What a game for him, he missed out with injury last time the Broncos were here and it cut him up and now he’s making amends. Wow, just wow. The Panthers make two stops but there’s a pass interference on third down, we’ll do it all again and Cam Newton is having a hernia on the sideline. 3:13 left. Anderson up the middle… TOUCHDOWN!

Another monstrous carry from Anderson, it’s under review but it looks good. He’s battled fiercely through contact today, he’s got 82 yards and a TD on 20 carries and none of them have come easy. I was secretly hoping Peyton might lob one in for the highlight reel. Two point conversion now to make it a 14 point lead… there’s Peyton’s moment. Fowler skips his man and that’s a slam dunk for a 24-10 lead. Possibly Peyton’s last ever NFL throw coz if they get this back it’ll be runs and kneels ‘til the death of it. There’s dabbing on the Broncos bench.

On the other side of things, Cam Newton and co. have 188 seconds to score two touchdowns with two timeouts remaining. First pass is broken up. Where has his run game been? There was that period where he loosened up but he’s only six rushes all together. The Broncos have done the impossible by getting pressure on him without letting him escape the pocket. He’s gotta dodge a dude there, he does, but there’s no beating that one. DeMarcus Ware with the sack and it’s third and 24. Mass pressure, thrown away. If it’s happening it’s happening now. 24 yards on fourth down. Newton’s frustrated, this is Hail Mary territory from almost his own end zone. Nope, they’re kicking it back, hoping for a turnover to change this thing, there’s a pat on the back to the Broncos right there.

I never saw it happening like this. Two years ago I picked the Broncos to win, my vision clouded by admiration for a resurgent legend. I wanted Peyton to win that last ring and it was never even close. This year I just couldn’t see it. He was barely even holding onto the starter’s job when the playoffs started. But it’s as they say, you know? Offence wins games. Defence wins championships.

And what a defence. Can we put them in the same category as the ’85 Bears? Is that sacrilegious? They just manhandled an outstanding offensive team, leaving them a tattered mess. They’re about to get their final bow with a punt coming and 61 seconds remaining. There are pats and congrats on the Denver sideline. The Panthers have surrendered, this thing is all formality from here. Ware and Miller have the Gatorade poised and ready, Gary Kubiak’s got it coming. Remember when they sacked John Fox to put Kubiak in charge? It was controversial, it was unfair. It’s worked like Steve Kerr in the NBA. He’s bringing them a championship. There are 23 seconds left. DOWN goes the Gatorade, they pretty much missed him, only a wet back. Peyton still hasn’t smiled but goddamn does he look satisfied. There’s a flag on the field and we’ll get one more play. 11 seconds left. No, there’s a ten second runoff with the flag, there’s one second left. One second left. Elway and Manning embrace. That’s it, it’s all over. The Denver Broncos are Super Bowl champions, defeating the Carolina Panthers 24-10.

Post Game

Do you recall that episode of The Simpsons when Homer got that job working for Hank Scorpio, who was basically a Bond villain? And he admitted that deep down his life’s dream was to own the Dallas Cowboys. Then in the end Hank thanked him with a gift waiting at his abandoned Springfield home:

Homer: (Reading note) "Project Arcturus couldn't have succeeded without you. This will get you a little closer to that dream of yours. It's not the Dallas Cowboys, but it's a start. Drop me a line if you're on the East Coast, Hank Scorpio." Aw, the Denver Broncos!

Marge: I think owning the Denver Broncos is pretty good.

Homer: Yeah, yeah.

Marge: Well, explain to me why it isn't.

Homer: (Sighs) You just don't understand football, Marge.

I wonder how DeMarcus Ware feels about that. Granted it was over 20 years ago. Ware ended with two tackles for loss, two sacks and four QB hits. There were 13 QB hits in total for Denver.

Peyton Manning: 13/23 for 141 yards, 0 TD/1 INT

Cam Newton: 18/41 for 265 yards, 0 TD/1 INT

Anderson rushed 23 times for 90 yards while Stewart rushed 12 times for 29 yards.

It’s all prep for the presentation now, the Broncos family and friends are coming out onto the field, almost every one of them with their phones out recording. Super Bowl 50, man. Peyton Manning is the first quarterback to win one of these bad boys with two different teams. He’s the oldest starting QB in SB history and the oldest to win one too, obviously.

Terrell Davis is gonna present the Vince Lombardi Trophy. No wait he handed it to Joe Namath. Joe is dressed very sensibly for once. Now the baton is passed to Lynn Swann, they’re carrying it through a Denver guard of honour, the players reaching out to brush their prize as it passes by. Sheer joy on every face. It must be incredible, it must be indescribably to win. To be a champion knowing all the sacrifices that it takes. This is a life’s work achieved already and something that can never be taken away. These men will always be Super Bowl champions.

Is that a cheer for Roger Goodell? Only coz he shouted out the Broncos fans. He also used the word ‘rodeo’, wondering if it was Peyton’s last one. Peyton had his back turned. Pat Bowlen's wife Annabel Bowlen takes the trophy. “THIS ONE’S FOR PAT!” declares John Elway. Pat Bowlen suffers from Alzheimer’s and no longer runs the team he owns. Von Miller is the MVP, no doubt about it. He’s got his SB champion tee on over his shoulder pads. Miller was the number two pick the year that Cam Newton was taken first overall.

Are you retiring Peyton? Well, are ya? He won’t say it but he is. Before he does anything he says he wants to kiss his wife. He wants to kiss his kids. And…

“I’m gonna drink a lot of beer tonight, Jim”. – Peyton Manning.

Budweiser, apparently. Von Miller’s buying.​