Who will win Super Bowl 50?

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristoffer Kaubisch & Airman 1st Class Christian Sullivan
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Feb.  7, 2016 will be a big day for one of two quarterbacks. For Peyton Manning, it could be his ride into the sunset after what could be what he called his last rodeo; for Cam Newton it could be his first ring in a career that is only just getting started.

The two have a lot in common. They both came from SEC schools; Cam went to Auburn where he won the 2010 BCS championship, and Peyton went to Tennessee, where he still holds many school and conference records. Maybe the most talked about similarity they share is their draft number. For the first time in history two number one picks face off in the Super Bowl.

Our very own public affairs "experts" have taken time from their busy schedule to share their predictions.

Senior Airman Kristoffer Kaubisch:

The Denver Broncos will win Super Bowl 50 because they have Peyton "Freaking" Manning. Even if the defense struggles, or the running game for the Broncos falls short, in the end, they still have Peyton Manning. Manning is a great leader, and he makes everyone around him better.

While the Panthers' defense is focused on containing the Broncos' run game, it won't work. Emmanuel Sanders or Demaryius Thomas will be deep down the field.  They have a combined 12 touchdowns during the season, and each had over 1,000 receiving yards. The Broncos are scary good with their deep threat receivers as well as their running backs: CJ Anderson and Ronnie Hillman are both dangerous if they get through a hole.

Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware are both leaders. These two veterans will have a central role in the Super Bowl, whether they're making big plays on the field, or helping their teammates off the field.

The linebackers in Denver are solid; Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware will get the job done. They'll put constant pressure on Cam Newton. The Broncos led the league with 52 sacks. This defense has playmakers at every level. There are pass-rushers and run-defenders all over the front, and the secondary can lock down an entire receiving corps.

The Broncos had one of the best defenses in the NFL throughout the season, and will use their defensive strengths to shut down the Panthers' mediocre wide receivers. The Broncos defense allowed only seven touchdowns to opposing wide receivers over the 16 regular season games, only seven. Defense wins championships.

My final prediction is a too-close-for-comfort, shootout style win with the Broncos taking it all. 31-27.

Airman 1st Class Christian Sullivan:

Heisman winner.

Soon-to-be NFL MVP.

A winner at all levels of football since high school.

The number one overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. All these things describe Cameron Newton, the Carolina Panther's franchise quarterback. Yet only one thing will matter to him at 11 P.M.  Feb. 7, 2016, and that is whether or not he's an NFL Super Bowl champion. Which he will be.

There are just too many factors in play for the Broncos for me to believe there won't be Carolina blue flooding the stores with Super Bowl attire come Monday morning.

The Broncos may flaunt the number one defense in the league, but there is an X-factor that will test them, and that's Cam Newton. The most mobile quarterback that the Bronco's defense has faced all season is Minnesota Vikings' Teddy Bridgewater, who can be dangerous at times, but does not have the skill set, or the stature that Cam has. Bridgewater had a solid game against Denver's smothering defense where he racked up 269 yards and a touchdown through the air, and adding 23 on the ground with zero turnovers. Those stats sound pretty good on paper, until you add in the pressure. Bridgewater was sacked 7 times that game. While it's hard to bring down a 6 foot, 5 inch, 250 pound man, when you add Carolina only allowed 33 sacks in the regular season versus Minnesota's 45, you have to think the outlook is bright for Cam in the backfield, even if it is against Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.

The saying is "defense wins championships," and people have said this about the upcoming Super Bowl like the Panthers don't have the fourth-best run defense, along with the sixth-best overall defense in the league. If that isn't enough to convince you, we can dig a little deeper. 

Carolina also leads the league in interceptions with 24. 24! Now look at who they're facing, Peyton Manning. In his prime and even today, most call him one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but we are all human, and we all have our flaws.

Manning's challenge will be his age. At 39, Manning will be the oldest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl, and his age has shown this year. He threw 17 interceptions in the regular season after missing several games due to injury, and losing a starting job after throwing four interceptions in a 29-13 loss to Kansas City. Expect the young, physical Carolina defense to take advantage of that.

When looking at the Panthers on offense, often overlooked is the guy who pounds it out between the tackles almost 20 times a game, Jonathan Stewart. Stewart racked up 989 yards rushing to go with six touchdowns, and averaging 4.1 yards a carry. When looking at the defensive side, more often than not people think of the young hard-hitting linebacker, Luke Kuechly, or the lock-down corner, Josh Norman, but they sleep on the Ohio State alum, Kurt Coleman, who leads not only the team, but is tied for third in the league with 7 interceptions. The Broncos will get all they can handle and more from both sides.

My final prediction is Carolina in a less than contested win for Super Bowl 50. 45-13, Panthers.