MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2016 SPORTS

Manning, Newton to

duel as America stops AFC CHAMPION • NFCNFC CHAMPION CHAMPION • •SEATTLE CAROLINA SEAHAWKS PANTHERS for 50 DENVER CAROLINAC ARO LINA SANTA CLARA: A perfectly scripted quarterback duel between and Cam Newton will take center stage as America comes to a standstill for the Broncos, Panthers 50th edition of the Super Bowl. More than 100 million households across the United BRONCOSBRRONCOS PANTHERSPPAANTHERANTHERSERRS States and millions more worldwide will tune in to see if OFFENSE OFFENSE Manning can inspire the Denver Broncos to an upset TotalTTootal yards (avg.) clash on the big stage TToTotalotalo yards (avg.) victory over Newton and the . Regular season: 355.5 Regular season: 366.9 The climax of the season is 248.1 107.4 an Peyton Manning write a storybook ending to his Hall of Fame-quality careecareer?r? Manning 224.3 142.6 the biggest event on America’s sporting calendar, a Passing Rushing Passing Rushing money-spinning commercial juggernaut which sees C isn’t saying outright this is the end of his Hall of Fame-caliber career despite all the indications Postseason: 284.0 it will soon be overover.. Manning knows it was the Broncos’ defense that has mmadeade the didifferencediffffference to Postseason: 385.5 millions gather for day-long viewing parties in bars and 180.0 104.0 237.5 148.0 homes. this point and DenverDenver’s’s All-Pro linebacker,linebacker, VonVoVonon Miller,MMiller, again keys the unit. All season, the best First downs rrecordecord iinn tthehe NFLL has belonged to the Panthers. And while much of the focus is on Manning, Cam First downs The 39-year-old Manning-poised to become the old- 24 est starting quarterback in Super Bowl history when the Regular season: 314 Newton deserves at least equal billing. The NFLNFL’s’s most dynamic offensiveofffffensiveensive wweapon this season, Regular season: 357 85 201 28 136 197 teams run out at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara-will be a threw for 35 touchdowns and ran for 10, setting an NFL record with that combination. Carolina Rushing Passing Penalty Rushing Passing Penalty sentimental favorite for many. is in its second Super Bowl, Denver in its record-tying eighth. But the Panthers are the favorites. The five-time NFL Most Valuable Player has battled Postseason: 31 Postseason: 40 21 2 2 through to Sunday’s showpiece after arguably the most Levi’sLevi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. • Sun. • 6:30 p.m. EST (CBS) challenging season of his 18-year career which included 8 15 23 DEFENSE a mid-term slump that saw him benched as Broncos DEFENSE YardsYards allowed (avg.) starter. Sparking the ground gameBaby you were born to run YYaYardsards allowed (avg.) Regular season: 283.1 A godsend for the BroncosBroncos, Anderson came from Stewart became the true No. 1 runner this season when Regular season: 322.9 199.6 83.6 POIGNANT FAREWELL? nowhere to seize the starting job in 2014. Short DeAngelo Williams departed. Rushed for 989 yards and 234.5 88.4 Passing Rushing six TDs during season, and had 59-yard sprint on Panthers’ Manning’s fourth Super Bowl appearance is also but stocky and powerful, also has a nice burst. Passing Rushing Postseason: 366.0 Knows how to find the end zone. first play of postseason. Strong runner with a burst to break shrouded by the poignant knowledge that it may well bibig plplays. lay Postseason: 345.0 301.5 64.5 C.J.C his final game. Regular season (RUSHING) Regular season (RUSHING) 276.0 69.0 AndersonAnde Manning has consistently stated that he has not yet ATT YDSAVG LONG TD JonathanJonat CAR YDSAVG LONG TD SCORING (PPG) SCORING (PPG) decided on his future in the build-up to the game, Regular season StewStewart 152 720 4.7 48 5 242 989 4.1 44 6 Regular season which kicks off at 3:30pm local time (2330 GMT). 22.2 Points for Pt Pt “I haven’t made my mind up and I don’t see myself 31.2 Points for 18.5 Points allowed making a decision until after the season,” said Manning, 19.2 Points allowed who passed Brett Favre this season to become the all- Postseason Postseason 21.5 Points for time leader in passing yards at 71,940. Points for 40.0 Points for 17.0 Points allowed The key to Manning’s hopes of adding a second Points allowed 19.5 Points allowed SPECIAL PROJECTED Super Bowl ring to the one he earned with the PLAYPLAAYY SELECTION (PCT.)(PCT.) TEAMS PLAPLAYLAAYY SELECTION (PCT.)(PCT.) in 2007 may well rest with Denver’s Regular season Postseason STARTERS Regular season Postseason formidable defense. But whether Denver’s defense can PASSPASS RUSH PASSPASS RUSH nus J. l PASSPASS RUSH PPA PASSASS RUSH put the brakes on Newton and the free-scoring 59.6 40.4 52.3 47.7 Panthers remains to be seen. 48.8 51.2 39.1 60.9 The Panthers demolished the in the NFC title game, winning 49-15 against a side who OFFENSE had been expected to threaten them. At the heart of the Panthers dominance this season- els n E they carry a 17-1 record into the Super Bowl-has been COACHES’ CORNER Newton, whose scoring statistics have almost seen him COACHES’ CORNER redefine the role of quarterback. Career record Careerareer record recor The 26-year-old’s twin threat of passing and running (Reg. season) (Reg.eg. seasonseason)) W 73 ability-which includes a staggering 10 rushing touch- W 47 downs in the regular season-has asked questions that L 68 L 32 few opposition defenses have been able to answer. 88 • WR M. Schofield L.Va Vasquez M. Paaradis E. Mathis R. Harriss 10 • WR T 1 Ron Rivera STAR-STUDDED CROWD Spent eight seasons coaching the A star-studded capacity crowd of 73,000 will cram TTeTexansexans after being ’sElway’Elwa s DEFENSE NFL Coach of the YYeYearear inin 2013 into the $1.2 billion (1.1 billion euro) home of the San backup for much of his playing and is a front-runner for the careercareer.. Elway summoned him to award this season. A solid Francisco 49ers to watch the Manning-Newton duel. replace John Fox after last defensive assistant and Pop diva Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem January’January’ss postseason debacle RDE coordinator for years, he finally while British rockers Coldplay will headline the halftime against Indianapolis. got his own team in 20120111 and entertainment show which will also feature perform- has gone 49-34-1, with three straight NFC South crowns. ances from Beyonce and Bruno Mars. PLAYERSPLAAYYERS WITH Only a limited number of tickets with a face value of SUPER BOWL 58 • WLB 27 • LCB L Kueechly S Thompson between $500 and $1,800 went on general sale, with PLAYERSPLAAYYERS WITH most ending up on the resale market. EXPERIENCE SUPER BOWL The Stubhub website said the average price of a tick- et on the secondary market was $4,900. 16 WHEN BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL EXPERIENCE A vast security blanket will be draped over the event, The Broncos have not given Manning great protection all season, but it has 5 which has seen an estimated one million visitors been good enough in two postseason wins. Carolina will blitz to try to make descend on San Francisco for the game and festivities FIELD GOGOALSAL Manning uncomfortable. One way to defeat that, of course, is getting RBs C.J. Anderson and involved early. When Manning throws, the Brando FIELDD GOGOALSALS linked to the extravaganza. theory has been he can’t get the ball deep with enough juice on it. Accurate or YYAARDS McMan Federal officials revealed this week they had consult- not, he’s still tough on the shorter passes and play-action. WRs Emmanuel Graham 1-19 ed officials in France “constantly” to help plan against a Sanders and , TEs , Gano Paris-style terror attack, while emphasizing there was 20-29 and , plus Anderson supply plenty of targets. no evidence of a credible threat. 30-39 20-29 “Our intelligence and analysis directorate, me, the 40-49 30-39 deputy secretary and numerous others have consulted PROJECTED 50+ SPECIAL 40-49 the French, and we continue to do so,” Homeland STARTERS TEAMS Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Wednesday. 50+ “We try to anticipate things that could happen from Made multiple different directions. We’re always informed by Missed Made Missed recent events and what we see and the world situation,” Regular Johnson added. — AFP season Regular OFFENSE season PROJECTED STARTERSM Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers Constructing a contender TeamTTeeam makeup Blueprint for success Feb. 7 • 6:30 p.m. EST • CBS Current 53-man roster TeamTTeeaeam makeup Current 53-man roster OFFENSE Drafted Free agents Total yards (avg.) Total yards (avg.) Drafted Free agents Regular season: 355.5 Regular season: 366.9 21 28 10 WR 19 WR 19 29 248.1 107.4 224.3 142.6 TradedTraded 1 WaiverWaiver 3 TradesTrades 5 Passing Rushing Passing Rushing RED ZONE Postseason: 284.0 Postseason: 385.5 RED ZONE 180.0 104.0 237.5 148.0 Production inside the 20-yard line, includes postseason: Production inside the 20-yard First downs First downs line, includes postseason: OFFENSE Regular season: 314 28 Regular season: 357 24 Field No 9 OFFENSE TouchdownsTToouchdowns goals score Field No score 85 201 136 197 TToTouchdownsoouchdowns goals 4 Rushing Passing Penalty Rushing Passing Penalty DEFENSEDEFE 23 21 4 49 17 Postseason: 31 Postseason: 40 21 2 2 DEFENSE 54 • ILB 59 • ILB DEFENSE 8 15 23 25 10 9 D. rd 24 11 10 WHEN PANTHERS HAVE THE BALLLL S DEFENSE Battle tested Newton has been the NFL’s most dynamic offensive weapon Offensive weapoweaponn Yards allowed (avg.) Yards allowed (avg.) this season, ultra-dangerous when on the run. Denver will try to Passing yds: 2,249 (reg.)(reg • 398 (postseason) Pass yds: 3,837 (reg.) • 496 (post.) Regular season: 283.1 Regular season: 322.9 slow him down with their NFL top-ranked defense. DeMarcus Touchdowns:TToouchdowns: 9 (reg.) • 2 (postseason) Ware, and Brandon Marshall will try to get Touchdowns: 355 (reg.) • 3 (post.) 199.6 83.6 234.5 88.4 in Newton’s face and mind, whether in the pass rush or Win LossLos Win Loss Passing Rushing Passing Rushing popping up in unexpected spots. Carolina will counter by WEEK TDS YARDSYYAARDS getting RB Jonathan Stewart involved early. WEEK TDS YARDSYYAARDS Postseason: 366.0 Postseason: 345.0 1 175 1 175 301.5 64.5 276.0 69.0 2 256 2 195 SCORING (PPG) 3 324 TouchdownTToouchdownouchdo passes 3 315 Regular season Regular season 4 213 by distance 4 124 5 266 5BYE 22.2 31.2 REGULAREGULARR Points for Points for 6 290 AND POSTSEASON 6 269 18.5 Points allowed 19.2 Points allowed 7BYE 7 197 340 Peyton Manning Cam Newton 248 Postseason Postseason 8 YARDSYYAARDS 8 9 281 Hasn’t played Strong in the pocket, 9 297 21.5 Points for 40.0 Points for 10 35 at elite level 1-19 7 elusive and power- 10 217 17.0 Points allowed 19.5 Points allowed 11 during this 20-29 1 ful outside of it. 11 246 Near the goal 12 injury- 30-39 0 MANNING 12 183 PLAY SELECTION (PCT.) ravaged line, he can be 13 13 331 season. 40+ 3 unstoppable. Regular season Postseason Regular season Postseason 265 14 Never 14 PASS RUSH PASS RUSH PASS RUSH PASS RUSH 15 15 340 should be 1-19 26 16 16 142 59.65240.44.3 7.7 48.8 51.2 39.1 60.9 69 under- 17 estimated. 20-29 4 17 293 30-39 4 NEWTNEWTONON WC 40+ 4 WC DIV 222 DIV 161 CONF 176 CONF 335

SOURCE: National Football League AP SOURCES: National Football League; STATS LLC AP