This Sunday, the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers are set to take on the AFC Champion Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. It's the young superstar, Cam Newton, taking on the veteran, the sheriff, Peyton Manning. The game will be played at Levi's Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, in Santa Clara, CA.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30pm ET and the game will be broadcasted on CBS. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will be on the call. Here, the NFL writers of VAVEL USA have unveiled their picks for the winning team, score, and MVP selection for Super Bowl 50.
Chris Barrett: Panthers 44, Broncos 27
Peyton will play like a champ for two and a half quarters, while Carolina struggles to keep up. He'll then be injured scrambling out of the pocket to escape a weak side blitz, and Carolina will take advantage by really stepping up the offense and shutting out Brock Osweiler.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Jeremy Bowen: Panther 30, Broncos 21
As great as it would be to see Peyton Manning to finish his NFL career out on top, it just isn't going to happen. The Panthers are too much of a well-rounded team and despite going up against the best defense in the NFL in the Broncos, Newton and the Panthers will find ways to get it done.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Connor Dietrich: Broncos 17, Panthers 13
Denver will win the game because their defense is better than the Panthers. Sure, the Panthers offense is much better than Denver, but the Broncos defense will do just enough to get it done.
MVP Prediction: Von Miller
Josh Eastern: Broncos 24, Panthers 20
We saw it a couple of years ago with these Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks and the better defense stepped up and won, in the Seahawks. A mix of that and Manning wanting to add one more ring before he calls it quits will push the Broncos to victory.
MVP Prediction: Peyton Manning
Peyton Garrison: Panthers 24, Broncos 20
Cam Newton puts on a show, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another. Peyton Manning keeps it close, trying to end his career with a Super Bowl victory but throws two interceptions including one on the final drive of the game.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Jordan Hansgen: Panthers 24, Broncos 20
Carolina wins because their defense will be able to shut down Denver in a low scoring game and they will be able to pass for at least two scores.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Harry Harris: Broncos 27, Panthers 24
The Broncos have a stellar defense, one that can finally get a lot of pressure on Cam, force him into poor throws and have a secondary that could keep Greg Olsen from having a big game.
MVP Prediction: Von Miller
Andrew Mcdonnell: Panthers 31, Broncos 17
Carolina Panthers win. Cam Newton really is something else, I think he will show the league what he is made of and get that first Super Bowl ring under his belt.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Josh McSwain: Panthers 24, Broncos 13
The Panthers get it done in a defensive struggle. They'll limit Peyton Manning and keep the Denver running game in check with Cam Newton scoring the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Isiah Meowery: Panthers 27, Broncos 10
Denver's defense seems to be the only strong part of their game, whereas Carolina has had one of the best offenses the NFL has ever seen and a strong defense to match. Expect Cam Newton to take control of this game.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Jameus Mooney: Panthers 52, Broncos 24
There's no way Carolina's losing this, even though Peyton deserves to go out the way John Elway did. The Carolina Panthers have only lost once this year and it won't be close.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Ben Rosener: Broncos 24, Panthers 12
Carolina’s offense can struggle if Cam Newton has an off day. The Broncos’ defense will find a way to keep him in check.
MVP Prediction: Aqib Talib
Norman Tall: Broncos 24, Panthers 20
Denver's defense will come up big in the biggest game of the season. Peyton Manning will win what could very well be his final game in the NFL.
MVP Prediction: Von Miller
Aidan Thomas: Panthers 24, Broncos 20
Unlike previous Denver opponents, Carolina has a balanced offense, as well as a healthy roster. Denver will keep it close, hoping to get manning one last ring, but Cam Newton, plus a Luke Kuechly led defense will be enough to conquer the Broncos.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Caleb Wahlgren: Panthers 24, Broncos 20
Panthers will win because their offense is just better than the Broncos, and their defenses compare very easily to each other. Cam Newton will get a rushing touchdown to go with two passing touchdowns to declare him as the MVP both of the regular season and Super Bowl 50.
MVP Prediction: Cam Newton
Colin Williams: Broncos 24, Panthers 23
The Denver defense will cause Cam Newton and the Panthers high powered offense enough trouble to help Peyton Manning and company score just enough points to win this game.
MVP Prediction: Von Miller
Overwhelming Theme
The overwhelming theme here is that the Panthers will win and Cam Newton will win MVP. All of the writers who picked the Panthers to win, also picked Newton to win MVP. Of the 16 writers here, 10 of them picked the Panthers to win.
Most fans assume this will be Peyton Manning's last game in the NFL and most agree, it would be fantastic to see him finish out an outstanding career with another Super Bowl victory.
Cam Newton and the Panthers were the NFL's best team in the NFL during the regular season and have breezed through the playoffs straight to the Super Bowl. But to match that, the Broncos have the NFL's best defense this season. It should be one for the ages, tune in on Sunday for what should be an epic game.