In an epic SUNDAY FUNDAY, two Sundays before Super Bowl 50, fans got to finally see who the matchup will be against. The final games AFC Championship- Patriots Vs. Broncos, NFC Championship- Cardinals VS. Panthers. Going into these games, my hopes were that the Broncos would beat out the Patriots(although, I think everyone who counts out the Patriots knows that you always hold your breath knowing they can never truly be counted out) and for sure the Panthers were going to go.
Why the Panthers? Even though my team (Steelers Nation stand up) was still in the running for the Championships a week ago- we got edged out by the Broncos. I have loved what I have seen out of Carolina. And in previous blogs I have talked about Cam Newton and the energy he brings to that team and city. For one when Cam first came to Carolina, he had huge games. There wasn't much to question about his ability as a Quarterback. But what you felt bad for was no matter what Cam did, his team in the early stages just couldn't back him up the way they needed to, in order to solidify wins. But this season he had the surrounding cast that he needed and they just fit together. The energy this team has played with all season has been exciting. They have continued to get stronger and better and even with their only loss of the season they have just bounced back. They have jelled like a team and in many ways remind me of the NBA Championship Oakland Warriors. The spirit, the fire, the tenacity- both teams have the making of an incredible legacy for the cities they are representing. So I guess for me, the question was, why not now? Why couldn't the Panthers take it? They had the right formula and even though I would love my team to win, something sat with me for a while that this team would get to Santa Clara.
The AFC was a little less easy to choose, I am a Steelers fan- proud of it! So of course I want my team to win. And we had an incredibly great run, but injuries in the end destroyed us and that is heartbreaking. It seems like at least in the last two seasons we peak at the right time, but then an injury destroys us. Last season it was the late injury to LeVeon Bell, although I still question whether he was the key. But this season, he was out early and our team just soared. Our offense was incredible and our defense while they definitely need work, started to create an identity- but alas, it's not about the Steelers.
All I know is this, if my boys aren't in it I sure as heck don't want the Patriots or the Ravens representing us. And when you break down the stats the Broncos, the Steelers, the Ravens and the Pats have been the AFC champs in the last several years, so it says something. So when it comes to the AFC, the road was a lot longer in deciding who should be in it. And it really came down to our matchup against the Broncos before the AFC Championship to know for sure where it was going to go. My team was still very much in it, again despite a horrendous game against the Bengals. But after an honorable game, the Broncos edged us out and were set to be up against the Patriots in the AFC championship. Then the decision became easy. The Broncos!- and not just on the principal that I literally cannot stomach another Patriots Super Bowl and potential win, but because they are the Broncos. The team that literally MY favorite Quarterback built. I was once a young Broncos fan, through and through. And Elway was at the center. It wasn't until middle school that I fell in love with the Steelers and hard. But that's not this story. Anyway, so I have a soft spot for the Broncos, the organization is classy and the way that the team started to build around Peyton Manning was definitely a great thing to witness. It didn't hurt that one of my beloved former Steelers- Emmanual Sanders was playing for them, or that my beloved Ohio State had representation in number 29 #BRoby! But Peyton is the pinnacle of all things great with the league. I mean I don't think a bad word can be said about Peyton. He is the NFL's golden boy and not in the Brady way. He loves the game, he plays the game with honor (regardless of what recent articles and reports have started to say) and it's because of that class, that many people love playing against him & respect him. There was a question as the season started to wind down if Peyton was going to be able to make it though. An injury had him sidelined and the question came up, what if the team can't carry this game in his absence? But they did and then he played my team and they won. To think that Peyton wouldn't be at the helm of this team during the AFC Championship would have been a dumb thought.
So when you have, and yes I am biased, one of the greatest players, and one of the classiest organizations against well the Patriots, the choice is pretty easy.
So here was are, both home teams won the championship game and the matchup for SuperBowl 50 is:
(image courtesy of ESPN)
And my Prediction: PANTHERS
Here's why: I know everyone is going to talk experience and that this is Peyton's year and Peyton's championship. And while I would love Peyton to go out on a high note- let's be honest he only has a small level of gas in the tank, it's not Peyton that I am worried about. I know he can lead a team, but I just don't see this TEAM winning against this vibrant energizing Panthers team.
Legitimately you have the dominating teams on both sides of the ball against each other. But the game in which the Broncos play is too traditional for the way that the Panthers play. It's not just the usual suspects that the Broncos Defense needs to be ready for, it's that they also need to be watchful of Cam and he's not one to be taken down easily and he uses his arsenal in a balanced way. It's that game play that I think is going to confuse the Broncos Defense. Nothing that the Panthers offense does is too predictable, because this season it has just been so high powered and different with each game and each drive. Then you have their Defense, it's not to say that tradition won't win out, and you see that Peyton has some long balls in him, hello that needle thread to Sanders (I'll wait, you watch)
But I just don't know if this Broncos Offense can make plays that are going to cause the Panthers Defense to be on their toes too much.
I guess what I mean to say is this, like the Warriors Championship season last season, there is something about a team that is just coming together on all sides of the ball, that momentum is sustaining each and every game, even with losses and it's that momentum that I believe is going to make your Super Bowl 50 Champions the Carolina Panthers.
But what do I know, I don't really have a horse in this race and I am just a girl who thinks she knows a thing or two about the sport. That's all she wrote folks, see you on February 7th!
At this point and time Panthers have a defense that can cause some serious problems and Manning. Cam is on a mission and the Panthers remind you of the Cowboys of Old with all phases of the game
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