ddtibbs
1721
I wasn’t able to see, but I’d like to know what Denver was doing to shut down Olsen. With the inside short passes gone, Denver’s stunting rush was all over Newton, while he was looking for the deep stuff to Philly Brown and Ginn. Then when Brown was knocked out, there wasn’t anyone left to throw to.
That’s super bowl levels of prep for you. In a normal game week situation there just isn’t as much time to prep and plan to do something completely different on defense when meeting a team that does things differently on offense. For the super bowl there is both the time and inclination to do that. Ironically this always used to be Manning’s downfall in postseason play, as teams would throw so many new looks at him that his normal advantage from preparedness/high-football-IQ disappeared. Good to see the same phenomenon sent him out on top when it tripped up Carolina.
From what I could see, they put Talib on him a lot of the time which was pretty bold. They basically dared the Panthers to beat them with Ted Ginn and Jericho Cotchery.
Manning’s official stat line from the game : 13/23 for 141 yards, an INT, 2 fumbles and ZERO TDs. QB rating of 56.6. Longest completed pass was 25 yards.
If Carolina hadn’t imploded, we’d all be taking about what a terrible game Peyton had and how it’s a clear sign that it’s time to hang up the cleats for good. It makes me wonder what Osweiler’s stats would have looked like had he started. Could it have been a 42-10 blowout? All due respect to Denver’s fantastic defense, as they literally won this game for the Broncos. Even the points the offense did manage to put on the board were almost all a direct result of very good field position granted them by their defense. Von Miller definitely saved the MVP ceremony from being very stilted and awkward.
I have to believe he’s not seriously thinking about returning now that he’s literally at the apex of a brilliant career. Hopefully he was just putting off any official announcement until he can better control the situation and the dialog. It would make far more sense to let everyone enjoy this victory, then a few weeks from now make the announcement. Peyton has never been the kind of guy who makes things all about himself, so he’s probably just trying to avoid that right now.
The score was Carolina’s offense 10, Denver’s offense 6. Defense and a punt return got the other 18 points.
It does look like Manning is done unless he can revive his arm. I’d be very surprised if he comes back for another year but apparently he really loves the game, so who knows? QBs are different. You can have an aging RB or WR who plays part-time, but QBs either play the entire game or ride the bench. Manning doesn’t want to come back to ride the pine.
RickH
1726
The story none of the sports writers want to write is that Manning’s play was not a net plus for his team. That was 100% the Denver defense’s win. Still, I was getting pissed at all the interviewers trying to get Manning to retire on THEIR mic. Quit trying to be the story and let the man do things on his terms.
Kudos to the Denver defense, I can’t recall such an absolute domination in recent years. I thought they relied way too heavily on the defense in the 4th against the Patriots 2 weeks ago and almost let them get all the way back. I saw it happening again in the 4th quarter of this game, with what appeared to be intentional three-and-outs to chew whatever clock they could from about 10:00 to go onward. But damn if those guys didn’t win the game pretty much by themselves.
And it was pretty damn funny to see Cam “you can’t handle my awesomeness” Newton getting knocked on his ass and throwing a honest-to-God tantrum in his own end zone. Someone who hands it out so enthusiastically better learn to get some back without pitching a fit. I want a gif of that.
Yeah, I strongly suspect that was Manning’s last game. I hope it is, because he’d seem more like a hanger-on if he returned, and I’d be worried for his health.
As for the game, both QB’s looked pretty awful. Of course, in football that can be as much a result of the O-line failing, the defense playing out of their minds, the playcalling being horrendous, or any number of factors. Still, I have no clue why Newton didn’t dive on that football right away. Heck, I was taught to dive on the football from peewee league on up - it should be instinctive.
People are hypothesizing that Cam didn’t see the ball to dive on it, but I wonder if he saw his teammate lower to the ground with his momentum to the ball, and decided that diving on it would only make things worse. Occasionally you see teammates knock the ball out of each other’s hands on a fumble recovery attempt.
On the other hand, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen what I’ve just described.
Plus if he comes back his HGH use and him hiring thugs to intimidate witnesses might actually get followed up on and become a story as opposed to if he retires the press will let him just sail off into the sunset and continue to mostly ignore it.
CraigM
1730
Trying to find a gif of the one you’re talking about. So far only video.
EDIT video
Possible, and it might explain the backing away at first. Still quite odd.
While I don’t want to convict the guy in the court of public opinion … yeah, that too.
JonRowe
1732
Ok
Nope
Not really
More
Yes
Tman
1733
I don’t think that’s the one. The one where he does a lame throw away & the defense guy tackles him to the ground and Cam looks to the official for a roughing call and didn’t get it & threw a fit.
Tman
1734
It wasn’t that Cam was bad, it was the Panther’s O-line. They couldn’t hold back anything. Routinely you saw 2-3 Denver guys getting through. They should name their O-Line “Sieve”
CraigM
1735
that’s in the video I linked. I couldn’t find a gif in the 5 minutes of searching I did.
CraigM
1736
Oooh, I can do one too.
Miss the playoffs by 1 win, draft 16th
Hahaha, no.
Pretty Boy Brady? Nah, they’ll hope he gets a chance to ride off into the sunset, so no penalties.
Yes, top 10 picks are always exciting. The Bears get 2! (last years never played, plus this years).
WRT to the fumble, after I watched the play in question a few times it seemed to me that he jumped back because he thought Ware was going to knock the ball away.
That’s how it looked to me too.
Tman
1739
Sorry, I though the video was the same as the gif you embedded. Yes, that is the one I was thinking of!
