NFL: Signing off in style

It had to be Peyton Manning’s night, didn’t it?

Whether the veteran quarterback decides to stick around for another season or not (he would be 40 at the commencement of the 2017 season), it is fitting that Manning picked up another Superbowl ring to go with his 2006 success with the Indianapolis Colts. In a career where he has amassed 14 Pro Bowl appearances and five MVP awards, it would have been a sporting injustice to see Manning retire with only one ring on his finger.

That said, he has his defence to thank for the Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Led by deserved MVP linebacker Von Miller, whose two forced fumbles on Cam Newton directly led to touchdowns from Malik Jackson and C.J. Anderson, the Denver defence shut down the Panthers potent offense time and time again, and hurried Newton into errors and hasty passes that we haven’t seen from the quarterback this season.

In fairness to Newton he was given very little assistance by his receivers, especially wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery who dropped two crucial passes that could have made a difference. It was a difficult night for Newton, and it will be one he won’t want to dwell on for too long. He is still young as a quarterback and with this experience under his belt he will be better for it, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.

For a while it looked like the Broncos may become the first ever team to win the Superbowl without scoring an offensive touchdown. Until the fourth quarter, Jackson’s recovered fumble was the only touchdown Denver had been able to register, and it was down to their stern defence that their lead was still intact when Miller forced the second turnover from Newton.

From there it was down to C.J. Anderson to rush over from four yards to secure Denver’s third Superbowl triumph, and Manning’s second. Do not underestimate what an incredible achievement the Broncos pulled off here – not only did they condemn Carolina to just their second defeat of the entire season but they also limited a Panthers offense, which up until Sunday night had been averaging 30.6 points a game, to just 10 points.

It may not have been overly exciting, but it was efficient.

The Panthers will regroup, Newton’s short post-match press conference suggesting that perhaps it will be a little longer before the 26-year old recovers than the rest of his team-mates, but already early forecasts for next season suggest that the Panthers will be right in the mix once more. With Newton at the helm and Luke Kuechly and Greg Olsen in tow then they have every chance of being Superbowl visitors in Houston this time next season.

The Broncos may not have Manning at the helm next season, even if he does decide to prolong his remarkable NFL career for another year, but they have a defense that has been drilled to near perfection by Wade Phillips and if they can ally a lethal offense to it then they will once again be a tough team to overcome when the big games roll around.

But for now they will simply enjoy the moment.