Still time for this to turn into a good game. Three of the best championships I can remember (Game 6 of 2011 World Series, 1999 Super Bowl, 2001 Super Bowl) were either bad or mediocre games until the last bits.
The two straight fumbles was a nice touch.
Very poor showing by the Panthers thus far. Denver is playing about as mediocre an offense as you can in a Super Bowl. They’ve had one pass play of more than 20 yards, and it was for 25. Their defense is great, and is why they are winning. Well, that and the Panthers imploding themselves with ridiculous fumbles and penalties. That 15-yarder just now for smacking the ball out of the hands of the receiver before he could hand it to the official, that’s the sort of thing where a coach should tell a player “You’re an idiot, and you’re done tonight. Hit the showers, and don’t let me see you in the locker room after the game”.
The crazy part is that if Denver wins, they’ll hand Manning the MVP despite the fact that he’s basically done nothing this game, and owes Osweiler for even getting them into the playoffs to begin with.
The hot takes guys must be desperate for material at this point.
It’s not as impressive a performance by the Denver defense as against Tom Brady and the Patriots two weeks ago, but it’s close. I’m just blown away by how good they are. The two teams I follow all season (Seattle and KC) have good defenses, but nothing like this. The Denver defense is just a joy to watch.
Denver now owns a dubious Super Bowl record. 12 consecutive 3 and outs. The two teams combined are at 4-25 on third downs right now…
marquac
1688
Please let that be a fumble!
Make that 4-26…
That fumble seals it. Carolina is done.
Von Miller saves this from being an awkward MVP ceremony.
marquac
1691
Von Miller pretty much has to be the MVP now, right?
I think Demarcus Ware has a good shot at MVP too. But Von Miller was so incredible two weeks ago that I want him to get it tonight.
…and a punt with 2 minutes left in the game and a 14 point deficit. Might be the worst-played Super Bowl in a while.
Broncos win!
marquac
1694
I know it was 4th and 24, but with only 2 timeouts, isn’t that pretty much conceding the game?
You gotta play the odds here: fumble return for a touchdown.
This has been a dab-free game, Cam.
Papa John gets a kiss from the man of the hour.
marquac
1698
Did Cam get found out or did he just come up against an unstoppable force? And by found out I mean did Denver just figure out how to keep him contained enough to prevent his amazing physical ability from being a difference maker.
He got found out like hall-of-farmer Tom Brady did two weeks ago: found out by the Denver front line, and then subsequently demolished.
I think a big part of it is the suspect receiving corps of the Panthers. They took Greg Olsen away from Carolina early and Panthers OC Mike Shula just looked baffled. They were handing the ball off up the middle on first downs over and over and over again, as if that was actually working. But the receivers…yeah. They couldn’t get open without 4 seconds of time, and they weren’t getting that.
