Super Bowl 50 Preview

This weekend, we finally get to see the highly anticipated 50th Super Bowl. Like the first Super Bowl, this one will be played in California. 

Let's take a look at the two teams that earned the right to play in this Super Bowl:

The NFC Champions: Carolina Panthers: 

The Carolina Panthers are the favorites. They obtained a 15-1 record during the regular season, and have 40 points in their two playoff games thus far. Behind star quarterback Cam Newton, the Panthers are dangerous on offense. He has the arms that can burn defenses, yet he can run almost as well as any running back, making it extremely difficult for anyone to really find a way to slow him and that offense down, let alone stop them.

On top of that, Carolina has a solid defense, as well. They are a very well-balanced team, with an absence of any major, glaring weaknesses that could be exploited. That is the reason that they started off 14-0. That is the reason that they finished with a 15-1 record, and that is the reason that they blew away their competition in the playoffs so far. Denver is going to have their hands full with this team tomorrow.

The AFC Champions: Denver Broncos 

Denver was not the dominant team in the AFC from the beginning this season, like they were two years ago when they represented the AFC in the Super Bowl. But that might actually bode well for them, given that they seem to have a tougher, more workhorse kind of character than the Broncos did two seasons ago. That team put up some glittering numbers offensively, but they got pummeled by Seattle in the Super Bowl itself. This Denver team appears to be better than the one that made it hear two seasons ago, and the Carolina Panthers are not likely as strong as Seattle was two seasons ago.

Still, the Broncos have their work cut out for them. The defense was the top-rated unit in the league, but the Panthers have an offense that seems to be peaking at the right time, having average 40 points in their two playoff games against two of the elite defenses in the league. That's tough to do, and the Broncos will have to get to Newton, and somehow keep him contained if they want to have any chance at winning this thing. 







My prediction: I am pulling for the Broncos, but I think that the Panthers are the better team, as well as the hotter team. I hope that I am wrong, and that Denver will find a way to win. However, Carolina has too many weapons on offense, and they are simply playing with a lot of confidence and swagger, which would make them tough to beat against anyone. This is not to say that Denver has no chance. Of course they do. However, if I am pressed to answer who I expect is the better team and will walk away with the Lombardi Trophy, it would have to be the younger team. 

So, I expect that the Carolina Panthers will win Super Bowl 50.