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He wasn't the star — game MVP Miller seemingly was everywhere on every Carolina play — but Manning really hasn't been the headliner in this injury-shortened season.
Manning and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton were harassed all game Sunday, and the Broncos made enough big plays for the 24-10 victory. Manning's 200th and perhaps his last before retirement.
Emulating his Broncos boss, John Elway, the 39-year-old Manning can ride off with the Lombardi Trophy after leading Denver to its third NFL title, first since 1999 — when Elway was the quarterback.
"I'll take some time to reflect," Manning said when asked if Super Bowl 50 is the end. "I got a couple priorities first. I'm going to go kiss my wife and my kids.
Denver Broncos' head coach Gary Kubiak, right, reacts after getting soaked with a sports drink by Von Miller (58) after their win against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
Peyton Manning gave himself a chance to have a super ending to his career, and Von Miller and the Denver defense made the plays to secure the title for the Broncos.
Matt Slocum/AP PHOTO
▶ BARRY WILNER Associated Press
Newton was sacked six times - receiver Ted Ginn Jr., went down once on an aborted trick play - and if Miller wasn't torturing him, DeMarcus Ware was. Ware had two of the seven sacks, the most ever by one team in the Super Bowl.
Carolina's potent offense that led the league with 500 points was held to its fewest points of the year, and Denver set an ignominious mark with 194 yards gained, the fewest for a Super Bowl winner.
So what: The Broncos
(15-4) are champions and Manning is the first quarterback to win Super Bowls with two franchises, Indianapolis in 2007 was the other.
"It's every one of these guys who go me to this," Miller said.
Manning finished 13 for 23 for 141 yards against a strong Carolina (17-2) defense that just couldn't match Miller and company.
Denver's suffocating defense kept Newton jittery all day. Despite wearing gold shoes before the golden Super Bowl, Newton couldn't finish off a dynamic season in which he was the league's MVP. Miller twice stripped him, once for a touchdown, the second time setting up a clinching TD. Denver's top-ranked defense, the one that ran roughhod over Tom Brady in the AFC championship, simply wouldn't let Newton get comfortable.
"This game was much like this season has been, testing our toughness, our resiliency, our unselfishness," he said. "It's only fitting that it turned out that way."
... I'm going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight. Take care of those things first."
"I feel very, very grateful. ... Obviously, it's very special to cap it off with a Super Bowl championship."
It was a far cry from two years ago, when the Broncos were routed by Seattle 43-8.
Denver's defense stole Carolina's act. The Panthers led the league with 39 takeaways and were a plus20 in turnovers. On the Super Bowl stage, though, Assistant Coach of the Year Wade Phillips got his first ring because his unit was impenetrable.
Carolina has made a habit of sprinting out of the gate in the playoffs. This time, it was Denver that got
the quick start.
Manning opened the game with an 18-yard completion to Owen Daniels, later hit Andre Caldwell for 22, and C.J. Anderson had a 13-yard run. When the Panthers held, Brandon McManus kicked a 34-yard field goal.
The Panthers went nowhere on their first series, then their defense forced a three-and-out. It was the first of seven such aborted drives for both sides in the first half.
Miller dabbed in the end zone in front of legions of orange-clad Broncos fans after Denver's first defensive touchdown in a Super Bowl.
Carolina's Ron Rivera, the Coach of the Year, lost a challenge on a pass to Jerricho Cotchery, and it was a key decision because two plays later, Miller burst through and didn't even go for the sack. He reached directly for the ball, stripping it from Newton. It rolled to the goal line, where Malik Jackson pounced on it for a 10-0 lead.
Miller spied on Newton at times, and Newton noticed. But Newton escaped him for runs of 11 and 12
yards - Miller's hard tackle out of bounds bothered several Panthers - and a 19-yard pass to Greg Olsen on a misdirection play kept alive Carolina's first scoring drive.
Jonathan Stewart, back from hurting his right foot earlier, dived in from the 1 to make it 10-7.
But sloppiness — and strong defense — marked the rest of the game.
The first half ended 13-7 after McManus made a 33-yarder that followed the longest punt return in Super Bowl history. It was a strange runback, too.
Brad Nortman's kick from his 12 was barely deflected, and the ball fluttered to Jordan Norwood. One Panther bumped Norwood, but he didn't call for a fair catch, then took off to his right. Escorted by a bevy of blockers, he appeared headed for a touchdown until DE Mario Addison chased him down at the Carolina 14, a 61-vard jaunt.
Denver also forced the first fumble of the season by All-Pro fullback Mike Tolbert.
But the Broncos also had a giveaway when Manning was picked by DE Kony Ealy
on a zone blitz deep in Panthers territory. And the lead was only six at halftime.
The margin stayed there when Graham Gano hit the right upright on a 44-yard field goal attempt to open the second half. Then his counterpart, McManus, made his 10th in as many postseason tries for a 16-7 margin. The kicker was rescuing Denver's inept short-yardage offense, just as he did in a playoff win over Pittsburgh when he made five field goals.
Gano made up for his miss with a 39-yarder to make it a one-score game with 10:21 remaining. The 50th Super Bowl came down to the last quarter — and as it had all day, Denver's defense dominated.
The finishing touch came when Miller again stripped Newton and T.J. Ward recovered at the Carolina 4. Anderson scored from the 2 following a third-down holding call on All-Pro CB Josh Norman. A 2-point conversion was simply window dressing.
Kansas soccer signs five players for 2016 class
National Signing Day is best known as the day when all of the top football recruits choose their future school. However, it's also a big day for other sports programs.
@SkyRolSports
SKYLAR ROLSTAD
@SkyRolSports
This year's National Signing Day was on Wednesday. Kansas soccer coach Mark Francis announced that his team had signed five players for next season's freshman class.
With the Jayhawks losing Ashley Williams at forward, the team will add Mandi Duggan at the position in 2016. The Aurora native won the Colorado state championship with Grandview High School.
Kansas added Mandi Duggan (Aurora, Colo.),
Jordan Malone (Woodland Hills, Calif.), Katie McClure (Wichita), Addisyn Merrick (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and
At the beginning of last season, Francis was pleased with his freshman class and emphasized his ability to recruit players in the Kansas City and Wichita area.
Malone, a central midfielder, chose Kansas over Oregon State, Cal Poly and Denver."
Kansas continued to focus on local recruits with Addisyn Merrick from Lee's
Elise Reina (Springdale Ark.).
Summit, Mo., and Katie McClure from Wichita. Merrick is a defender and McClure is a midfielder.
The Jayhawks add some endurance with a former cross country runner in Elise Reina. Reina won three state titles in cross country at Har-Ber High School in Springdale, Ark., and earned all-state honors in high school. Reina will play in Kansas' midfield next season.
"With this class we were really looking to increase our level of athleticism and I think we've accomplished that," Francis said in the team's press release. "Athleticism was one of our big goals, but at the same time we didn't want to jeopardize our style of play, and we have a group here that is in that same mindset of how we want to play. But these players are really going to raise our level athletically and help us compete at a higher level, especially in the Big 12."
The recruiting class is led by midfielder Jordan Malone, whose club team was ranked in the top 10
percent nationally, according to the KU Athletics press release.
Kansas will begin exhibition play this spring against the men's soccer club team on March 5.
Edited by Shane Jackson
Head Coach Mark Francis takes down notes before a game.
**File Photo/KANSAN**
KU vs. Texas Tech game changed to Sept. 29
File Photo/KANSAN Junior linebacker Courtney Arrick tackles a Texas Tech player. Last week it was announced the date of the 2016 Texas Tech Kansas game will be changed.
File Photo/KANSAN the date of the 2016
▶ BRIAN MINI
@daftpunkpop
Kansas football's Oct. 1 game against Texas Tech will now be played on Sept. 29, according to the University, making for a rare Thursday game. This will be the Javhawks' first Thursday night game since 2010.
The Big 12, with the help of ESPN and Fox, requested the game be moved from the normal Saturday date to Thursday. The game will now be two weeks after the Jayhawks' week-three game against the University of Memphis.
The Sept. 29 game will be Kansas' Big 12 opener and will be played in Lubbock, Texas. Kansas opens its 2016 season looking for a win against Rhode Island on Sept. 3 in Lawrence.
- Edited by Deanna Ambrose
Whether you love it or hate it, celebrate Valentine's at the Kansan table this Thursday on Wescoe!
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