By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, February 7, 2016

AP photo: Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl 50

After one quarter, the underdog Denver Broncos had a 10-point lead over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. By halftime, the Panthers’ trademark swagger was gone. At game’s end, the Broncos prevailed 24-10.

This was Denver’s third NFL championship and its first since 1999, when current Broncos executive John Elway was the quarterback.

The victory gave Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning his 200th career win for quarterback starts, and it was his second win in the big game. Manning is also the first quarterback to win Super Bowl titles with two different teams (Indianapolis in 2007).

The game’s MVP, however, belonged to linebacker Von Miller, who tormented Panthers quarterback Cam Newton all night. Miller finished with six tackles and 2 ½ sacks, two hurries and two forced fumbles.

The Panthers (17-2), Newton in particular, ran into a revised version of the old Orange Crush defense. Newton was sacked six times – four in the first half.

Denver (15-4) set a record with 194 yards gained, the fewest ever for a Super Bowl winner. But the Broncos defense throttled Carolina from the opening kickoff.

Manning was 13 of 23 for 141 yards. And returner Jordan Norwood took a Super Bowl-record 61-yard punt return that set up a Brandon McManus 33-yard field goal that closed out the first half scoring.

The defense provided Denver’s first touchdown when, two plays after Carolina lost a replay review, Miller stripped Newton of the ball, which was recovered by Malik Jackson on the goal line.

Denver took a 13-7 lead into halftime and the Panthers closed to gap to 16-10. But the Broncos defense took over. After Miller stripped Newton a second time to put the ball at the Panther 4,

C.J. Anderson scored a 2-yard touchdown run, followed by a 2-point conversion to make it a two-possession deficit for Carolina.

Beyonce joined Coldplay and Bruno Mars to provide the halftime entertainment. No wardrobe malfunctions were seen or reporter.