AFC CHAMPION • DENVER BRONCOS NFC CHAMPION • SEATTLE ...news.kuwaittimes.net/pdf/2016/feb/08/p17.pdf · clash on the big stage COACHES’ CORNER COACHES’ CORNER an Peyton Manning

S PORTSMONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2016

Regular season: 355.5 Regular season: 366.9

Regular season: 357Regular season: 314

Regular season: 283.1

Regular season

Sparking the ground game Baby you were born to run

Broncos, Panthersclash on the big stage

COACHES’ CORNER COACHES’ CORNER

an Peyton Manning write a storybook ending to his Hall of Fame-quality career? Manning isn’t saying outright this is the end of his Hall of Fame-caliber career despite all the indications

it will soon be over. Manning knows it was the Broncos’ defense that has made the difference to this point and Denver’s All-Pro linebacker, Von Miller, again keys the unit. All season, the best record in the NFL has belonged to the Panthers. And while much of the focus is on Manning, Cam Newton deserves at least equal billing. The NFL’s most dynamic offensive weapon this season, threw for 35 touchdowns and ran for 10, setting an NFL record with that combination. Carolina is in its second Super Bowl, Denver in its record-tying eighth. But the Panthers are the favorites.

PROJECTEDSTARTERS

PLAYERS WITHSUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE

16

WHEN PANTHERS HAVE THE BALL

242 989 4.1 44 6

(RUSHING)

60.939.1

First downs

Postseason

Postseason: 284.0

Postseason: 366.0

OFFENSETotal yards (avg.)

Passing Rushing

DEFENSEYards allowed (avg.)

Passing Rushing

Rushing Passing Penalty

SCORING (PPG)

Points forPoints allowed


Postseason: 31

28

2

199.6 83.6

301.5

22.218.5

21.517.0

64.5

180.0 104.0

85 201

821

248.1 107.4

Offensive weaponPass yds: 3,837 (reg.) • 496 (post.)Touchdowns: 35 (reg.) • 3 (post.)

WEEK

Win LossYARDSTDS

BYE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

WCDIV

CONF

175

124

183331

293

265

161

248297

217246

335

340

269

195315

197

142

APSOURCES: National Football League; STATS LLC

Touchdown passesby distance

71

3

1-1920-2930-39

40+

1-1920-2930-39

40+

REGULARAND POSTSEASON

0 MANNING

NEWTON

26

4

44

YARDS

First downs

Postseason

Regular season

Regular season: 322.9

Postseason: 385.5

Postseason: 345.0

OFFENSETotal yards (avg.)

Passing Rushing

DEFENSEYards allowed (avg.)

Passing Rushing


SCORING (PPG)



Postseason: 40

19.2

19.5

15 232

234.5

276.0

31.2

40.0

224.3

237.5

136

142.6

148.0

19724

88.4

69.0

51.248.8

PLAY SELECTION (PCT.)Regular season Postseason

PASS RUSH PASS RUSH

Constructing a contender

Team makeupCurrent 53-man roster

Blueprint for successTeam makeupCurrent 53-man roster

Drafted Free agents

Trades 519 29

Gary Kubiak

Spent eight seasons coaching the Texans after being John Elway’s backup for much of his playing career. Elway summoned him to replace John Fox after last January’s postseason debacle against Indianapolis.

Career record(Reg. season)

7368L

W

NFL Coach of the Year in 2013 and is a front-runner for the award this season. A solid defensive assistant and coordinator for years, he finally got his own team in 2011 and has gone 49-34-1, with three straight NFC South crowns.

Ron Rivera

A godsend for the Broncos, Anderson came from nowhere to seize the starting job in 2014. Short but stocky and powerful, also has a nice burst. Knows how to find the end zone.

Stewart became the true No. 1 runner this season when DeAngelo Williams departed. Rushed for 989 yards and six TDs during season, and had 59-yard sprint on Panthers’ first play of postseason. Strong runner with a burst to break big plays.

JonathanStewart

C.J.Anderson

N F C C H A M P I O N • S E AT T L E S E A H AW K SN F C C H A M P I O N • C A R O L I N A PA N T H E R SA F C C H A M P I O N • D E N V E R B R O N C O S

Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. • Sun. • 6:30 p.m. EST (CBS)

Career record (Reg. season)

4732

1LT

W

SPECIALTEAMS

SPECIALTEAMS

Newton has been the NFL’s most dynamic offensive weapon this season, ultra-dangerous when on the run. Denver will try to slow him down with their NFL top-ranked defense. DeMarcus Ware, Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall will try to get

in Newton’s face and mind, whether in the pass rush or popping up in unexpected spots. Carolina will counter by

getting RB Jonathan Stewart involved early.

Passing yds: 2,249 (reg.) • 398 (postseason)Touchdowns: 9 (reg.) • 2 (postseason)

Win Loss

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

WCDIV

CONF

WEEK

175

266290

28135

340

324256

213

69

176222

BYE

YARDSTDS

Battle tested

Cam NewtonPeyton ManningHasn’t played at elite level

during this injury-

ravaged season.

Never should be

under-estimated.

Strong in the pocket, elusive and power-ful outside of it. Near the goal line, he can be unstoppable.

DEFENSE

Noscore

Field goals

OFFENSE

9

Touchdowns

23 21

25 10

RED ZONE

PLAY SELECTION (PCT.)Regular season PostseasonPASS RUSH PASS RUSH59.6 52.340.4 47.7

D E N V E R

BRONCOS

C A R O L I N A

PANTHERS

PROJECTEDSTARTERS

PROJECTEDSTARTERS

Drafted

Waiver 3

Free agents

21 28Traded 1

152 720 4.7 48 5

(RUSHING)

WHEN BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL The Broncos have not given Manning great protection all season, but it has been good enough in two postseason wins. Carolina will blitz to try to make Manning uncomfortable. One way to defeat that, of course, is getting RBs

C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman involved early. When Manning throws, the theory has been he can’t get the ball deep with enough juice on it. Accurate or

not, he’s still tough on the shorter passes and play-action. WRs Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas, TEs Owen Daniels, Virgil Green

and Vernon Davis, plus Anderson supply plenty of targets.

FIELD GOALS

MadeMissed

PLAYERS WITHSUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE

5

FIELD GOALS

MadeMissed

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

DEFENSE

No score4

Field goals

OFFENSE

Touchdowns

49 17

24 1011

RED ZONE

4

RONCOS

D E N V E R

BR

clash on the big stageBroncos,

clash on the big stagePanthersBroncos,

clash on the big stagePanthers

clash on the big stagePanthers

ANTHER

A R O L I N A

RSPPA

C

314Regular season:

: 355.5Regular season107.4

104.0

201

248.1

180.0

85

RushingPassing

(avg.)otal yardsTToOFFENSE

284.0Postseason:

First downs

28

RONCOSBRONCOS

clash on the big stageC

Newton deserves at least equal billing. hasrecord in the NFLL

this point and Denver. Manning knows it was the Broncos’it will soon be over

isn’t saying outright this is the end of his Hall of Fame-caliber career despite all the indications an Peyton Manning write a storybook ending to his Hall of Fame-quality caree

28

clash on the big stage

The NFLNewton deserves at least equal billing. has belonged to the Panthers.

on M, VVoAll-Pro linebackers ’this point and Denver. Manning knows it was the Broncos’



fensive ws most dynamic offf’The NFLAnd while much of the focus is on Manning, Cam

All season, the best , again keys the unit. on Miller defense that has made the dif. Manning knows it was the Broncos’


ff


Regular season: 357

Regular season

fensive weapon this season, And while much of the focus is on Manning, Cam

All season, the best ference to made the dif

isn’t saying outright this is the end of his Hall of Fame-caliber career despite all the indications ? Manning ran Peyton Manning write a storybook ending to his Hall of Fame-quality caree 224.3

237.5

Passing

oTToOFFENSE

Postseason:

First downs

Regular season: 357

: 366.9Regular season

ER

142.6

148.0

197

224.3

237.5

136

RushingPassing

(avg.)otal yardsOFFENSE

385.5Postseason:

First downs24

ANTHERANTHERSPPAPPA

283.1Regular season:

201

21

83.6

85

199.6

PenaltyPassingRushing

RushingPassing

(avg.)ards allowedYDEFENSE

Postseason: 366.0

28

Postseason: 31

82

Sparking the ground game

is in its second Super Bowl, Denver in its record-tying eighth. But the Panthers are the favorites.threw for 35 touchdowns and ran for 10, setting an NFLPenalty

28

Knows how to find the end zone.but stocky and powerful, also has a nice burst. nowhere to seize the starting job in 2014. Short

godsend for the BroncosAA

s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. • Sun. • Levi’

Sparking the ground game

is in its second Super Bowl, Denver in its record-tying eighth. But the Panthers are the favorites.threw for 35 touchdowns and ran for 10, setting an NFL

Knows how to find the end zone.but stocky and powerful, also has a nice burst. nowhere to seize the starting job in 2014. Short

Anderson came from godsend for the Broncos,

s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. • Sun. •

Baby you were born to run

is in its second Super Bowl, Denver in its record-tying eighth. But the Panthers are the favorites. record with that combination. Carolina threw for 35 touchdowns and ran for 10, setting an NFL

bi lfirst play of postseason. Strong runner with a burst to break

TDs during season, and had 59-yard sprint on Panthers’six DeAngelo Williams departed. Rushed for 989 yards and Stewart became the true No. 1 runner this season when

p.m. EST6:30s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. • Sun. •

Baby you were born to run

is in its second Super Bowl, Denver in its record-tying eighth. But the Panthers are the favorites. record with that combination. Carolina

234.5

Rushing

Passing

YYaDEFENSE

Postseason: 345.0

Regular season

Postseason: 40

15

first play of postseason. Strong runner with a burst to breakTDs during season, and had 59-yard sprint on Panthers’

DeAngelo Williams departed. Rushed for 989 yards and Stewart became the true No. 1 runner this season when

(CBS)

197

88.4

136

234.5

PenaltyPassingRushing

RushingPassing

(avg.)ards allowedDEFENSE

Postseason: 345.0

322.9:Regular season

Postseason: 4022315

Regular season

64.5301.5

22.2

21.5Points allowed

Points for

Points allowedPoints for

(PPG)SCORING

Postseason

17.0

18.5

.)(PCTSELECTIONYYPLAAY

64.5

5

(RUSHING)

48 720 4.7 152

Regular seasonYDS TDLONGGAVTAT

P t

AndeC(RUSHING)

TD

StewJonat

big play

6

(RUSHING)

44 4.1 989 242

Regular seasonYDS TDLONGGAVCAR

276.0

31.2

40.0

SCORING

Postseason: 345.0

Regular season

Postseason

PLA

P t

69.0276.0

31.2

40.0Points allowed

Points for

Points allowedPoints for

(PPG)SCORING

Postseason: 345.0

Regular season

Postseason

19.5

19.2

.)(PCT SELECTIONYLAAY

CORNERCOACHES’

(Reg. season)Career record

RUSHASSPRUSHASSPPostseasonRegular season

47.740.4 52.359.6

RUSHPostseason

47.7

n

J.nus

COACHES’

lP

Regular season

48.8

E

Career record

els

CORNERCOACHES’

39.1 60.9RUSHASSPPARUSHASSP

PostseasonRegular season.)(PCT

48.8 51.2

areer recor

WL 68

73(Reg. season)

against Indianapolis.s postseason debacle January’

replace John Fox after last . Elway summoned him to career

backup for much of his playing exans after being John ElwaTTe

Spent eight seasons coaching the

Gary Kubiak

88 • WR

s postseason debacle

. Elway summoned him to backup for much of his playing

s exans after being John Elway’Spent eight seasons coaching the

M

. Schofield asquezL. VVa M. Pa

R. Harris

RDE

E. Mathisaradis

10 • WR

Ron Rivera

got his own team in 201coordinator for years, hedefensive assistant award this season. and is a front-runner for the NFL

W

TL

(Reg. season)

s

Ron Rivera

1 and got his own team in 201 finally coordinator for years, he

and defensive assistant solidAAaward this season.

and is a front-runner for the ear in 2013 YYeCoach of theNFL

132

47

eg. season)

EXPERIENCESUPER BOWL

YERS WITHPLAAY

16

FIELD GOALBrando

58 • WLB

27 • LCB L Kue

S Thompsonechly

straight NFC South crowns.has gone 49-34-1, with three got his own team in 201

straight NFC South crowns.has gone 49-34-1, with three

EXPERIENCESUPER BOWL

YERS WITHPLAAY

5

D GOALS

50+

40-49

30-39

20-291-19

ARDSYYA

MissedMade

McMan

50+40-49

30-39

20-29

MissedMade

GanoGraham

Current 53-man rosteream makeupTTe


2821

Free agentsDrafted

seasonRegular


M

Blueprint for success

Current 53-man rostereaTTe

Drafted

Blueprint for success

Current 53-man rosteream makeup

2919

Free agents Drafted

seasonRegular

line, includes postseason:line, includes postseason:Production inside the 20-yardProduction inside the 20-yard

2123

ouchdownsTToOFFENSE

goalsField

scoreNo

DEFENSE

RED ZONE

3aiver W1raded T

4

dd

10 WR

9

DEFE

19 WR

oTToOFFENSE

RED ZONE

line, includes postseason:Production inside the 20-yard

1749

29195radesT

ouchdownsOFFENSE

goalsField

4No score

RED ZONE

line, includes postseason:Production inside the 20-yard

91025

(reg.) • 9ouchdowns:TTo(reg2,249Passing yds:

WinTDS ARDSYYA

175

WEEK

1

Los

Battle tested

DEFENSE

D.

54 • ILB

59 • ILB

LL

Srd

DEFENSE

101124

(post.)3 (reg.) • 5 (post.)496 (reg.) •

weapon

WinTDS ARDSYYA

Loss

1 175

DEFENSE

BYE

213

256324

340

35281

290266

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Peyton

ravaged

7ARDSYYA

MANNING0

AND POSTSEASONREGULA

30-3920-291-19

1

by distanceouchdoTTo

injury-during this

at elite level Hasn’t played

ManningPeyton

line, he can be MANNING

AND POSTSEASONRREGULA

by distanceouchdown passes

Near the goal ful outside of it. elusive and power-Strong in the pocket,Cam Newton

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

BYE

197

315195

269

246217

297248

331183

124

SOURCES: National Football League; STATS LLC

222176

69

CONFDIVWC

17 16 15 14 13

SOURCES: National Football League; STATS LLC

estimated.44

440+30-3920-291-19

40+ 3

under-should be

Never season.ravaged

unstoppable.

26

ONNEWT

line, he can be

CONFDIVWC

17 16 15 14 13

AP

142340

335161

265

293

331

Denver Broncos vs. Carolina PanthersFeb. 7 • 6:30 p.m. EST • CBS

S U P E R B O W L 5 0

SOURCE: National Football League AP

OFFENSE

PLAY SELECTION (PCT.)

DEFENSE

SCORING (PPG)

First downs

Postseason

Postseason: 284.0

Postseason: 366.0

Total yards (avg.)

Passing Rushing

Yards allowed (avg.)

Passing Rushing




Postseason: 31

28

2

199.6 83.6

301.5

22.218.5

21.517.0

64.5

180.0 104.0

85 201

821

248.1 107.4

Regular season Postseason

First downs

Postseason

Postseason: 385.5

Postseason: 345.0

Total yards (avg.)

Passing Rushing

Yards allowed (avg.)

Passing Rushing




Postseason: 40

19.2

19.5

15 232

234.5

276.0

31.2

40.0

224.3

237.5

136

142.6

148.0

19724

88.4

69.0

Regular season Postseason

60.939.151.248.8PASS RUSH PASS RUSHPASS RUSH PASS RUSH

59.6 52.340.4 47.7


Regular season: 314


Regular season Regular season

Regular season: 357

SANTA CLARA: A perfectly scripted quarterback duelbetween Peyton Manning and Cam Newton will takecenter stage as America comes to a standstill for the50th edition of the Super Bowl.

More than 100 million households across the UnitedStates and millions more worldwide will tune in to see ifManning can inspire the Denver Broncos to an upsetvictory over Newton and the Carolina Panthers.

The climax of the National Football League season isthe biggest event on America’s sporting calendar, amoney-spinning commercial juggernaut which seesmillions gather for day-long viewing parties in bars andhomes.

The 39-year-old Manning-poised to become the old-est starting quarterback in Super Bowl history when theteams run out at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara-will be asentimental favorite for many.

The five-time NFL Most Valuable Player has battledthrough to Sunday’s showpiece after arguably the mostchallenging season of his 18-year career which includeda mid-term slump that saw him benched as Broncosstarter.

POIGNANT FAREWELL? Manning’s fourth Super Bowl appearance is also

shrouded by the poignant knowledge that it may wellhis final game.

Manning has consistently stated that he has not yetdecided on his future in the build-up to the game,which kicks off at 3:30pm local time (2330 GMT).

“I haven’t made my mind up and I don’t see myselfmaking a decision until after the season,” said Manning,who passed Brett Favre this season to become the all-time leader in passing yards at 71,940.

The key to Manning’s hopes of adding a secondSuper Bowl ring to the one he earned with theIndianapolis Colts in 2007 may well rest with Denver’sformidable defense. But whether Denver’s defense canput the brakes on Newton and the free-scoringPanthers remains to be seen.

The Panthers demolished the Arizona Cardinals inthe NFC title game, winning 49-15 against a side whohad been expected to threaten them.

At the heart of the Panthers dominance this season-they carry a 17-1 record into the Super Bowl-has beenNewton, whose scoring statistics have almost seen himredefine the role of quarterback.

The 26-year-old’s twin threat of passing and runningability-which includes a staggering 10 rushing touch-downs in the regular season-has asked questions thatfew opposition defenses have been able to answer.

STAR-STUDDED CROWD A star-studded capacity crowd of 73,000 will cram

into the $1.2 billion (1.1 billion euro) home of the SanFrancisco 49ers to watch the Manning-Newton duel.

Pop diva Lady Gaga will sing the national anthemwhile British rockers Coldplay will headline the halftimeentertainment show which will also feature perform-ances from Beyonce and Bruno Mars.

Only a limited number of tickets with a face value ofbetween $500 and $1,800 went on general sale, withmost ending up on the resale market.

The Stubhub website said the average price of a tick-et on the secondary market was $4,900.

A vast security blanket will be draped over the event,which has seen an estimated one million visitorsdescend on San Francisco for the game and festivitieslinked to the extravaganza.

Federal officials revealed this week they had consult-ed officials in France “constantly” to help plan against aParis-style terror attack, while emphasizing there wasno evidence of a credible threat.

“Our intelligence and analysis directorate, me, thedeputy secretary and numerous others have consultedthe French, and we continue to do so,” HomelandSecurity Secretary Jeh Johnson said Wednesday.

“We try to anticipate things that could happen frommultiple different directions. We’re always informed byrecent events and what we see and the world situation,”Johnson added. — AFP

Manning, Newton to duel as America stops

for Super Bowl 50

Documents

AFC CHAMPION • DENVER BRONCOS NFC CHAMPION • SEATTLE ...news.kuwaittimes.net/pdf/2016/feb/08/p17.pdf · clash on the big stage COACHES’ CORNER COACHES’ CORNER an Peyton Manning