Sunday's match up between The Carolina Panthers and The Denver Broncos is going to, for better or worse, answer some career defining questions for two NFL quarterbacks. One revered as QB royalty in his 18th season, the other seen as a petulant upstart, in spite of five consistent years and and this season coming tantalisingly close to regular season perfection. For the Carolina Panthers, their years of intelligent team building have paid dividend as the pieces finally look to be falling into place, those pieces being a mature, and magnificently mercurial Cam Newton and the simply outstanding Luke Keuchly. Meanwhile in Denver, a predatory pass rush combined with a quarterback whose acquisition was seen as a risky last roll of the dice in a waning career following neck surgery three years ago has yielded a second Superbowl appearance in three years.
For Peyton Manning, this result of this game will define his legacy. Already seen by many as the greatest regular season QB of all time, a win on Sunday would dispel the murmered doubts over his patchy playoff record and singular Lombardi win (it surely must grate on him that Eli has two rings...). Given the cloud of suspicion, whether deserved or not, that has tarnished the Patriots enviable record in the past decade and a half, victory for a Manning led Denver would shove him right back into the conversation as the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time). The real difference maker on Sunday however, and probably the main reason for the Broncos being here in the first place is their Defence, with a capital D. A tight secondary backs up what can only be described as a nasty pass rush, a unit that consistently put Tom Brady on his ass two weeks ago. and as the old saying goes, "Offence Sells Tickets, Defence Wins Championships"
Unfortunately for the Broncos, the Carolina team that they face has, on paper at least, out-performed them on both sides of the ball. Carolina have not looked vulnerable at any meaningful time this year, their single loss to Atlanta coming at a time when their focus was clearly on the postseason, and a late game scare from a Seattle rally more a result of the Panthers easing off (no disrespect to the Seahawks). For me the defining difference between the teams will be Cam Newton. While Denver were able to ragdoll Brady, Cam is a very different beast. A supreme hybrid of intelligence and athleticism, Newton has managed to successfully be the rushing quarterback that people hyped back when RG3 had functional knees and a career, with the crucial smarts and physicality to stay healthy where other scramblers have fallen.
For me, The Carolina Panthers are the clear favourites in this one. Part of me even worries that Denver may suffer another devastating blowout like the loss to Seattle. Now because I've said that, watch Manning boss the game and then ride off triumphantly into the sunset.
My Prediction: Carolina -8
Join us on Sunday Night in Garvey's Inn to watch the action unfold live
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