SANTA CLARA, CA – The Broncos’ storyline coming in was whether Peyton Manning, the old sheriff, could ride off into the sunset with a Super Bowl victory.
Photo Credit: Robert Hanshiro, USA Today Sports
In the end, it only happened because he was riding a thoroughbred of a defensive unit.
Manning deserves his credit. But the “Manning Love Fest” will have to wait for another article, because the Broncos defense put on an absolute clinic against what had been an absolutely dynamic and explosive offense.
Denver’s defense was suffocating from the start, blanketing Carolina’s undermanned receiving corps, stuffing the run game with aplomb, and relentlessly rushing regular season MVP Cam Newton to the point where he was visibly flustered and battered. Linebacker Von Miller was named Super Bowl MVP, by dint of his 2.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles that irrevocably changed the course of the game. Miller’s play was emblematic of that of the entire Broncos’ defense, which punched Carolina in the mouth on a consistent basis, pushing the line of scrimmage back and harrying the Panther’s offense into rushed and indecisive plays.
image via Richard Mackson, USA Today Sports
It was a poor showing that included those two game-altering fumbles, which caused a frustrated and dejected Cam Newton to leave his press conference early after uttering terse, one-word responses to the many questions he faced. The downright petulant quarterback left many questions unanswered; in particular, he failed to address perhaps the most head-scratching play of the game, his second fumble (forced by Von Miller). As the ball was knocked from his grasp, Newton located the ball but appeared to pull up and back away from it, about as perplexing a reaction to a fumble in the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl as you can get. Decide for yourselves.
image via Fox Sports/ Mario Jose Sanchez
Newton, who has taken criticism all year for his flamboyant celebrations and dancing, will surely face even more after the abrupt departure from the press conference. While his on-field football maturity may have taken a large step forward this season, it would appear that his capacity to swallow the bitter pill of defeat — with the wounds still fresh–is somewhat lacking. Arguably the hardest aspect of professional sports is facing the media after a devastating loss in which that player played poorly. It is, nevertheless, part of the job, part of the sacrifice for making millions of dollars for playing a game. Newton, who this year said he wanted to take a step forward as the face of the NFL, must come to terms with all facets of that responsibility, including facing the music when things don’t go as planned.
Even when it’s not time to dance.
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