***SUPER BOWL 50 IN THE SWAMP - THE SHERIFF'S LAST STAND***
****SUPER BOWL 50 - DENVER BRONCOS VS CAROLINA PANTHERS****
Super Bowl 50 is here ladies and gents and I don't know about you, but the SwampMan is JACKED UP! It has been a long two weeks of anticipation for the big show and it has finally arrived. The Sheriff AKA Peyton Manning is looking to go out on top and finish off a stellar Hall of Fame caliber career the right way with his second Super Bowl victory in four total appearences. The man has won 199 games since he started in the NFL, that is an absurd number and maybe it is my OCD kicking in but it seems only right that he finishes with a solid 200 (a nice round number). The only thing that stands in the way of a victory for the Ponys are a pack of young wild dawgs hungry and chomping at the bit! The Carolina Panthers have had an unbelievable year that I think it is safe to say nobody saw coming, nearly going undefeated and completely dominating in the playoffs so far. The Cats jumped out to HUGE leads in the first quarter against the Sehawks and Cardinals, two teams mind you, that we all thought very highly of until watching them get embarassingly dismantled against this lights out Carolina defense. Speaking of that defense, it is led by Captain America himself MLB Luke Kuechly who in my opinion is the best in the game, and it isn't even close. The comination of him and veteran Thomas Davis has proven to be arguably the best LB duo in the league. Scraping from sideline to sideline and tackling in the open field, I feel there is nobody better than these two. However Thomas Davis does have a broken forearm from the game against Arizona two weeks ago, and he is playing today.....ANIMAL. Will it limit his production? I have to think it will, at least a little bit. Especially when trying to tackle a big WR like Demaryius Thomas, who needs to have the game of his life tonight. Demaryius is a what I like to call a YAC Monster, meaning a WR who is extremely good at the "yards after catch" aspect of the game. This is a HUGE key to Denver's passing game tonight as I do believe Peyton Manning will turn back the clocks of Father Time once more tonight, and leave EVERYTHING he has left on the field in an effort for one last victory. That being said, I think he will be able to find his guys in open spots and have success completing short yardage passes, and this is where a WR like Demaryius can go ahead and giddy-up field! Look for Peyton's TEs to be big tonight as well, as they pretty much always are for him. Last week we saw veteran Owen Daniels step up big and be Peyton's go-to guy against the Patriots. Don't be suprised if the ghost of Vernon Davis shows up tonight as well and plays a HUGE part in what I think would be a very nice sneak attack! Yes, the Panther's Josh Norman is arguably the top CB in the game this year, there is no denying that as the guy has had a tremendous season. However I feel like he can be beaten deep at times because he is so aggressive, and Emanuel Sanders is the kind of WR who can beat you deep. The question here is can Peyton throw it down field? I think he can, but accuracy is a different story. However I think they will wait for the right moment to take a shot, and Peyton will let one fly downfield, and something tells me the guy gets it done! Something similar to Eli's magic in the Super Bowls. Peyton's experience and mind for the game I think will allow him to manage the game and be successful through the air. He knows what he can and can't do and I don't see him making many mistakes (knock on wood). After suffering a beatdown the last time he was in this position, I'm sure he is beyond happy to have another chance at it and can redeem himself and the Broncos. Call it a gutfeel or a hunch, but the Swamp has seen a vision in the Muck!
Okay now back to the breakdown, Carolina's offense is led by the league MVP Cam Newton who absolutely deserved the award since elevating his game to another level this year. Newton has developed into one hell of a pocket passer and despite losing his top WR target in the preseason and being left with not much to work with, he has had the best season of his young career. It is no secret that his favorite target is TE Greg Olsen, who is a BEAST. Other than Olsen, it has been a collection of guys in Ginn, Brown, and the rookie Funchess fielding passes from Cam, and these guys have really stepped up throughout this year and proven to be a solid WR core. However the Denver defense in my mind is the best out there when healthy. They have the talent needed in the secondary to play man coverage, and the guys upfront to get a pass rush on their own. The combination of Von Miller and Demarcus Ware off the edge, in my opinion is the best bookend duo in the league. I also love how Wolfe and the big boys create havoc up the middle. I honestly think that the Broncos will be able to stuff the run with their athletic LBs filling the gaps. I also believe they will limit Cam through the air with solid one on one coverage. This will put all the pressure on Cam to create and make something happen with either his legs where he will run into a wall, or forcing bad passes where he shouldn't. I can see Miller and Ware in Newton's face all game long, frustrating Cam which could have a domino effect. I remember the Cam Newton before this stellar season, and how he could throw a fit and be visibly frustrated with the towel over his head and puss on his face. Something like this can really backfire as well because when the leader is upset and off his game, it puts more pressure on his guys to perform and please him, which can result in a higher risk of BIG mistakes. The Panthers have been all about fun so far and having a ball while playing their games for the most part, especially lately, and that's the way it should be. However tonight when they face a big time defense who is throwing the kitchen sink at them and punching them in the mouth...and the pressure is on at a time where they might not necessarily have a BIG lead like they are used to having which allows them to play relaxed....I think a BIG TIME offensive meltdown is very possible if this scenario indeed arises. I can see if being a close game late in the second half....and Cam running into this buzzsaw of a defense who will surely be ready with two weeks to prepare....completely SHUTTING DOWN the Panther offense, and Carolina not knowing what hit them to close this game out. I also like how during these two weeks the media has probably been as distracting as can be for Cam, criticizing and dissecting every little thing out of his mouth. The young team surely has been loving the Hollywood aspect of the Super Bowl, while the older veteran Broncos have been much more quiet, silently preparing to do the impossible. Let's be honest here, Peyton knows this is his last game, and his guys know as well. When that is the case, it provides a little extra sumtin' sumtin' and the Pony's will channel that energy and win one for the Gipper so to speak. Call me crazy, I know everything you just read sounds off the wall, but the Swamp has spoken! BRONCOS WIN OUTRIGHT, AND PEYTON MANNING RIDES OFF INTO THE SUNSET ON THAT WHITE BRONCO BABY! LET'S GO!!!!!!!
PICK: BRONCOS+5.5
Enjoy the game everyone! It has been a GREAT season in the Swamp. Thanks for hanging with me and I hope to see you back again next year. Follow me on Twitter @swampy_swami !
