LeGere: Three key Super Bowl matchups
Two years ago, the Denver Broncos were trounced 43-8 by the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, but they're back in the big game after building the NFL's best defense.
Their opponents Sunday in Super Bowl 50 are the Panthers, the league's highest-scoring team, but Carolina also has an exceptional defense.
The game also features individual matchups of some of the biggest stars in the league, one of whom is probably playing the last game of his Hall of Fame career.
Matchups to watch
Broncos QB Peyton Manning vs. Panthers MLB Luke Kuechly: Manning's arm strength isn't nearly what it used to be, but there's no better tactician in the NFL. Kuechly can match wits with anyone in the game and is the brains and brawn of a Panthers defense that led the NFL with 39 takeaways in the regular season. He led Carolina with 118 tackles and had 4 interceptions, then added a pick-6 in each of the playoff victories.
Edge: Panthers.
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Broncos ROLB Von Miller vs. Panthers OLT Michael Oher: Miller, who has 60 sacks in five seasons, had 11 in the regular season. He added 2 ½ sacks and an interception in the AFC title game, when he was on Patriots QB Tom Brady like flies on a rib roast. Oher was so bad during an injury-plagued 2014 season in Tennessee that the Titans cut him one year into a four-year contract, but he's been resurected in Carolina. Panthers QB Cam Newton reached out to Oher, and he's started every game for the Panthers this season. "They left me for dead," Oher told Newton at the end of the NFC title game. "(But) I knew I was going to be all right after I got that call from you."
Edge: Broncos.
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Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas vs. Panthers CB Josh Norman: Two years ago, Thomas caught a Super Bowl-record 13 passes for 118 yards in Denver's 43-8 loss to Seattle. In the previous four seasons he's AVERAGED 101 receptions, 1,446 yards and 10 touchdowns. But the 6-foot-3, 229-pound Thomas has just 6 catches for 52 yards in two games this postseason. The 6-foot, 195-pound Norman is a first-time Pro Bowler who was a fifth-round draft pick out of Coastal Carolina in 2012. He had 4 interceptions in the regular season, all in the first four games, and he returned 2 for touchdowns.
Edge: Even.
By the numbers
The Panthers were No. 1 in scoring; the Broncos were 19th. … Broncos QB Peyton Manning's 67.9 passer rating (9 TD passes; 17 interceptions) in the regular season was the lowest of his career and nearly 30 points lower than his career mark of 96.5. … Panthers QB Cam Newton has a passer rating of over 104.0 in nine of his last 11 games, during which he's thrown 27 TD passes and just 3 interceptions. … Manning has started 26 playoff games and has a 13-13 record in the postseason. … Broncos defense was No. 1 in total yards, passing yards, average gain per pass and average gain per run allowed and in sack percentage in the regular season. … Panthers defense was No. 6 in points and total yards allowed, No. 4 in rushing yards allowed, No. 2 in average gain per pass allowed and No. 1 in interception percentage.
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Super Bowl 50
Denver Broncos (14-4) vs. Carolina Panthers (17-1)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
TV: CBS
Line: Panthers by 5 ½
Over-under: 45
LeGere's pick
Panthers 20, Broncos 13.
Last week straight up: 1-1
Last week vs. the spread: 1-1
Playoffs straight up: 7-3
Playoffs vs. spread: 3-6-1