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It may not have been the prettiest win, but it was effective, as the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers, 24-10, in Super Bowl 50 in front of 71,088 people at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
It was the second Super Bowl win for Peyton Manning, who, at 39, entered the game as the oldest starting quarterback in Super Bowl history, according to CNN. While Manning was serviceable Sunday night, it was Denver’s defense that muddied up the game, causing Superman Cam Newton to look more like Clark Kent. Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller was a problem for the Panthers from the start, causing two strip-sack fumbles, one of which led to the Broncos’ first touchdown. Miller was named the Super Bowl MVP.
After the win, the question on everyone’s mind was if this was Manning’s final game.
“You know, I’ll take some time to reflect,” Manning said. “I have a couple of priorities first. I want to go kiss my wife and my kids; I want to go hug my family. I’m going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight. I promise you that. I’m going to take care of those things first and say a little prayer to thank the man upstairs for this great opportunity. I’m just very grateful.”
Manning, who won Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts, is the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.
After the game, the normally loquacious Newton had very little to say:
“What’s your message to Panthers fans?” reporters asked.
“We’ll be back,” said Newton.
“Ron [Rivera] said Denver two years ago had a tough time and they bounced back. Do you take that to heart?” Newton was asked.
“No,” he said.
“Can you put a finger on why Carolina didn’t play the way it normally plays?” was another question.
“Got outplayed,” Newton said.
Obviously still reeling from the loss, Newton was asked to put his disappointment into words, and all Newton would say was, “We lost.” He ended up leaving the postgame press conference abruptly.
Read more at CNN.