10 Key Plays From Super Bowl 50
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (The Sports Xchange) - Von Miller and the Denver Broncos' No. 1-ranked defense dominated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
The Panthers, who had the highest-scoring offense in the NFL in 2015, and NFL Most Valuable Player Cam Newton didn't find their way fighting for survival against a potent pass rush led by Miller and eight-time All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
Ware smothered Newton at the Carolina 6-yard line with 2:40 left in the game for Denver's seventh sack in the game.
Here are the 10 critical plays in Super Bowl 50:
--Fourth quarter, Panthers ball, third-and-9, Carolina 25 (4:03 left)
The Panthers took over with 4:51 left in the game. Newton checked to a run to fullback Mike Tollbert that gained 1 on first down and fired low and well wide of rookie receiver Devin Funchess on second down. On third-and-long, Newton stepped up in the pocket, but Miller swiped the ball out for the second time in the game. Safety T.J. Ward recovered at the 4.
--Fourth quarter, Broncos ball, third-and-4, Panthers 4 (3:13 left)
The Broncos were on the verge of choking in the red zone for the fourth time and going for a field goal, but quarterback Peyton Manning was bailed out when Panthers cornerback Josh Norman was flagged for holding on a pass that sailed well over the head of wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
Running back C.J. Anderson plowed through a Luke Kuechly tackle for a 2-yard touchdown, and wide receiver Bennie Fowler caught the two-point conversion pass to give the Broncos a 24-10 lead.
--Third quarter, Panthers ball, fourth-and-5, Denver 26 (8:22 left)
A 45-yard completion from Newton to wide receiver Ted Ginn and a 14-yarder to Ginn helped get the Panthers into field goal range.
Kicker Graham Gano was brought on to try a 44-yard field goal after three consecutive plays netted a total of minus-1 yard. However, Gano's try nailed the right upright and fell no good, keeping the Denver lead at 16-7.
--Third quarter, Panthers ball, second-and-10, Denver 28 (5:57 left)
Newton sailed a pass down the middle intended for Ginn. Ward made the interception on one knee at the 5, stumbled, then fumbled when he got to his feet. Linebacker Danny Trevathan recovered to keep the ball in Denver's possession.
--Second quarter, Panthers ball, first-and-goal, Denver 1 (11:25 left)
Carolina opened the second quarter with the ball, trailing 10-0, and delivered its best drive of the game.
Newton ran for 11 and 12 yards on consecutive plays and hit tight end Greg Olsen for a 19-yard completion off play-action on third-and-1 from the Denver 34.
His next pass was a 13-yard dart to wide receiver Corey Brown to the 2, and running back Jonathan Stewart dove in for a 1-yard touchdown.
--Second quarter, Panthers ball, fourth-and-12, Carolina 47 (9:29 left)
Before he fielded the punt from Carolina's Brad Nortman, Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood was grabbed on the left hip and shoulder by Panthers special teamer Colin Jones. No flag was thrown for not giving Norwood space to make the catch. That worked to the benefit of the Broncos.
Norwood fielded the ball and with some players slowing up anticipating a fair catch or penalty, bolted to his right and down the Denver sideline for a Super Bowl-record 61-yard return. He was pulled down at the Carolina 14-yard line by hustling Panthers backup defensive end Mario Addison. The Broncos moved to the Carolina 5 before a holding penalty on guard Louis Vasquez negated Anderson's first-down run on fourth-and-1.
Brandon McManus kicked a 33-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 13-7 lead with 6:58 left in the half.
--Second quarter, Panthers ball, first-and-10, Carolina 49 (6:39 left)
After the McManus field goal, the Panthers picked up a first down when defensive tackle Malik Jackson was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a hit away from the ball that followed a near-fumble by Newton.
On the first-down play, Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert fumbled for the first time this season at the end of a hard collision with Broncos safety Darian Stewart.
--Second quarter, Broncos ball, third-and-8 at Carolina 24 (4:28 left)
The Broncos popped a 33-yard run on the second play after Tolbert's fumble. Anderson shook free from nose tackle Star Lotulelei at the line of scrimmage, shoved free from Kuechly and broke linebacker Shaq Thompson's tackle try to rumble 34 yards on a play up the middle. It was one of four first downs in the first half for Denver.
Two failed Ronnie Hillman rushes later, Manning dropped back on third down.
Staring left from the snap, Manning threw well behind wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, and Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy was gifted an interception that hit him directly in his extended hands. On the play, linebacker Thomas Davis blitzed, steering Manning to his left, where the Panthers dropped Ealy off the line for the pick.
--First quarter, Panthers ball, third-and-10, Carolina 15 (6:34 left)
Newton was sacked at his own 5-yard line by Broncos outside Miller, who pawed the ball away. Jackson fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown and 10-0 Denver lead. The fumble recovery for a touchdown was the first in 22 years in the Super Bowl. Miller gave Panthers right tackle Mike Remmers trouble for much of the quarter. On the sack-fumble, Remmers lunged the wrong way, and Miller was on Newton before the 6-foot-5, 250-pound quarterback completed a dropback.
Newton was sacked twice in the quarter.
--First quarter, Broncos ball, first-and-10, Denver 20 (14:56 left)
On the first snap of the game, Manning lined up with three receivers and immediately faced a blitz -- Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott brought pressure on the first two plays -- but hit tight end Owen Daniels for a gain of 18 yards. He completed a 6-yard pass on the next play.
Then on third-and-4 from the Denver 38, Manning completed a 22-yard pass down the right sideline to wide receiver Andre Caldwell to put the Broncos in field-goal range. Anderson had runs of 7 and 13 yards on consecutive plays, but the drive ended in McManus' 34-yard field goal.
