Give 2 ligit reasons why the Broncos will win

[Balljim55]

The Panthers from what I have watched play a cover-2 trap defense. There are holes in that defense for some plays. As many teams have been trying it does lend itself to give up the big play over the top if the safeties get out of position. If Manning can hit 1 or 2 of those then huge things could happen. This defense also lends itself to holes on the outside in that 5-10 yard out route area and also across the middle where you can flood the middle with Kuechly the only guy covering the middle most of the time. You can dink and dunk wearing out the DL with quick throws in that way.

Defensively for the Broncos it comes down to sound tackling. They are going to have a lot of 1-on-1 match ups. The Panthers thrive on making one guy miss and picking up big chunks of yards forcing a defense to commit more guys to the box and then being vulnerable over the top. If the Broncos can keep the Panthers under 3 yards per play on 1st down they stand a very good chance of slowing that Panthers offense down enough that the offense won't have to get into a shoot out.

great points

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

If the Broncos can keep the Panthers under 3 yards per play on 1st down they stand a very good chance of slowing that Panthers offense down enough that the offense won't have to get into a shoot out.

Another great point. Both units need to force lots of 3rd and longs, then get their defense off the field.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Hard to find two.....

Wade Phillips blitz schemes force Panthers into a couple of turnovers

Manning and Thomas play up to their 2014 standards

 

[Broncos6482]

Cam has completed 70% of his passes in the Play offs.

If a team needs more motivation than what you get from playing in the super bowl then you got problems

And he was not even a 60% passer in the regular season. I'm sorry, but a two game sample size isn't much to go on. And I saw him sail a pass terribly against the Cardinals that Peterson picked.

Like I said, I knew some people wouldn't buy it, but I'm telling you, I've seen it. Sure, everyone gets up for every game, but there's definitely something to be said when elite athletes feel slighted and it pisses them off (how often have we heard the narrative about pissing off the Patriots?).

But if you don't like my second reason, I'll give you another: Wade Phillips. He's the best defensive coordinator in the league, and given two weeks to prepare I believe he can figure out a way to shut down the Panthers offense.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Agreed.

PM does not seem to be forcing it as much as he did earlier in the season.

How a team plays from week to week is much more complex than the narrative it gets. PFM clearly played poorly most of this season, but untangling the effects of his injuries and an inexperienced offensive line is unclear. In any event, it should be a Super game.

 

[flyerhawk]

totally agree on PM's experience and how big of an edge that is.

I am very encouraged about how well the Panthers O-line has pass protected lately. They did a great job of keeping the pocket in tact against both Seattle and Arizona - 2 very good defenses.

The Panthers OL has played well in the playoffs. The Broncos DL has played well. Something's gotta give.

 

[Balljim55]

And he was not even a 60% passer in the regular season. I'm sorry, but a two game sample size isn't much to go on. And I saw him sail a pass terribly against the Cardinals that Peterson picked.

Like I said, I knew some people wouldn't buy it, but I'm telling you, I've seen it. Sure, everyone gets up for every game, but there's definitely something to be said when elite athletes feel slighted and it pisses them off (how often have we heard the narrative about pissing off the Patriots?).

But if you don't like my second reason, I'll give you another: Wade Phillips. He's the best defensive coordinator in the league, and given two weeks to prepare I believe he can figure out a way to shut down the Panthers offense.[/QUOTE

Wades ability to game plan with your defensive talent scares me

 

[cdumler7]

Here is another reason the Broncos will win in the Panthers are not the only team with a QB that can run!

 

[SonnyCID]

1. Von Miller
2. Turnovers

 

[TDs3nOut]

1. Von Miller
2. Turnovers

Love (1). (2) is scary! LOL

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Please make them real football. I am wondering what it would be like to have an actual football discussion on this forum.

1. The Bronco DEF is good enough to keep the game close. I don't expect them to give up more than 21-24 pts.

2. CAR front 7 is clearly the teeth of the DEF...Coleman and Norman are having career yrs, but neither has sustained this level of play beyond this one season...Manning could have some success against the CAR secondary.

That said...I think CAR wins 23-20...I don't see DEN OFC getting into the endzone more than twice.

 

[cdumler7]

Interesting stat...Cam Newton has not been hit more than 6 times in any game this year. The Broncos are 12-1 when hitting a QB 7 or more times this season.

 

[Balljim55]

Interesting stat...Cam Newton has not been hit more than 6 times in any game this year. The Broncos are 12-1 when hitting a QB 7 or more times this season.

thanks @cdumler7
I will be counting the hits.

Didn't Brady take more hits last week than any QB this year?
Scary!!

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Interesting stat...Cam Newton has not been hit more than 6 times in any game this year. The Broncos are 12-1 when hitting a QB 7 or more times this season.

Cam is going to get hit more than 6 times I think.

Granted, I'm picking CAR largely because I think Cam will withstand the DEN front 7 better than Manning will the CAR front 7. Both teams, but DEN especially needs to maintain some type of running game...give Manning enough time to get to his 2nd/3rd reads.

I'm thinking the CAR DBs will challenge him early with bump-n-run coverage just to see what he has on his fastball.

 

[cdumler7]

thanks @cdumler7
I will be counting the hits.

Didn't Brady take more hits last week than any QB this year?
Scary!!

You would be correct. I doubt they get in the 20's again but if they can get into double digits for hits it could get interesting. Cam hasn't really had to deal with taking a ton of hits when throwing the football so if it does start to get to him that could be huge.

 

[cdumler7]

Cam is going to get hit more than 6 times I think.

Granted, I'm picking CAR largely because I think Cam will withstand the DEN front 7 better than Manning will the CAR front 7. Both teams, but DEN especially needs to maintain some type of running game...give Manning enough time to get to his 2nd/3rd reads.

I'm thinking the CAR DBs will challenge him early with bump-n-run coverage just to see what he has on his fastball.

They haven't played a ton of bump and run this year though from all the games I have watched. They are like the Seahawks in they run their scheme and believe in it no matter the opponent. Especially now with having some depth issues in the secondary I can't see them switching from the Cover-2 Trap scheme that has gotten them to this point. Now they might play a little closer up where their safeties are not quite as deep and maybe Kuechly doesn't drop back 10 yards but stays at that 5 yard depth just to see what happens.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

They haven't played a ton of bump and run this year though from all the games I have watched. They are like the Seahawks in they run their scheme and believe in it no matter the opponent. Especially now with having some depth issues in the secondary I can't see them switching from the Cover-2 Trap scheme that has gotten them to this point. Now they might play a little closer up where their safeties are not quite as deep and maybe Kuechly doesn't drop back 10 yards but stays at that 5 yard depth just to see what happens.

You win the SB with what got you there, so I agree with you, but I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams mix up a few things.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

They haven't played a ton of bump and run this year though from all the games I have watched. They are like the Seahawks in they run their scheme and believe in it no matter the opponent. Especially now with having some depth issues in the secondary I can't see them switching from the Cover-2 Trap scheme that has gotten them to this point. Now they might play a little closer up where their safeties are not quite as deep and maybe Kuechly doesn't drop back 10 yards but stays at that 5 yard depth just to see what happens.

Right, Rivera has already said they weren't going to change their approach a great deal, going to "stick with what got them here." Doesn't mean they aren't going to adjust based on the opponent, though, but that will be small-scale stuff.

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

Good defense... defense win's championships.... despite the NFL doing everything it can to make that more difficult, it still proves true ... Now that being said, the Panthers have a good defense also so that's what makes them a complete team... But the Broncos still have the edge defensively ... The key for Denver is not falling behind early, Panthers are good at jumping on teams quickly... Also what's the status on Thomas Davis playing? He's a really big part of what the Panthers do on D, that would be a HUGE loss for the Panthers...

 

[cdumler7]

Right, Rivera has already said they weren't going to change their approach a great deal, going to "stick with what got them here." Doesn't mean they aren't going to adjust based on the opponent, though, but that will be small-scale stuff.

Right which is why I mentioned the depth of the zone spots or how deep off the Corners are at the start. Those are small changes that close up some of those short windows forcing Manning to show he can beat you over the top. Going from a Cover-2 Zone though to bump and run man coverage is a huge change in identity. They do play some man but from what I saw it was more off man coverage so again it would be something they haven't done but here and there throughout the year. Hard to see them making such a huge change.