The Mistry Spot: Panthers youth exposed by experienced Broncos

SPORTS OPINION

Photo by Kavin Mistry

SANTA CLARA - Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton scans the defense, hikes the ball, looks for an open receiver, turns his head and gets drilled by Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller.  Newton drops the ball and the Broncos walk in for the touchdown.

Newton was the recipient of the NFL Most Valuable Player Award on Saturday night.  On Sunday, at Levi’s Stadium, the Broncos defense turned the MVP into a confused and flustered mess, resulting in a 24-10 defensive beatdown.

“We got outplayed,” Newton said in a postgame interview. “They just played better than us. I don’t know what you want me to say. I’m sorry.”

Lost for words, Newton sat at the presser with his black hood up, head down and said little to nothing about his performance on the field.  He then proceeded to leave the press conference in the middle of a reporter’s question without any warning, visibly disappointed and frustrated.

One can only think, if Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was on the losing end of the Super Bowl, chances are he would sit down and explain what happened and how they were unable to execute. Manning has also suffered tough losses this season, but he always sat down and gave an explanation for how they did not execute their game plan.

Before Sunday’s Super Bowl 50 showdown against the Broncos, Newton was criticized heavily about his excessive celebrations and unorthodox ways of going about the game of football.

When playing a game, Newton is known for expressing emotion through various dance moves and the “dab.”

Those critics received fuel for their case on Sunday when Newton chose to stay quiet, frustrated and reserved during the postgame interview, showing that he can “dab” all over the competition but can’t take a hit.

Time and time again, Newton has proven that he is one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, but reactions like this off the field only supports the people calling him “immature.”

Not overlooked, Newton has had an incredible season leading the Panthers offense to a 30 point per game output and an incredible 80 total points scored in their first two playoff games. Both of which came against two elite defenses in the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.

“It’s not the best team that wins,” said Panthers defensive tackle Dwan Edwards postgame. “It’s the team that plays the best, that’s what coach has been telling us all year.”

In football, because of its popularity, the spotlight will always be on you.  This past Sunday, the Panthers learned that a team can have all the talent in the world but, at the end of the day, it comes down to execution.   

People can call this game a storybook ending to a historic career for Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, or a script that was waiting to be written, but that is not why they won.

The Broncos won because they wanted it more, they knew that they had to play lights out defense to beat the best offense in the league and they did.

On Sunday, Denver’s defense played on a different level than the Seahawks or Cardinals, led by outside linebacker Von Miller who finished the game as the Super Bowl MVP.

“Our defense has carried us all year,” Manning said postgame. “They were the best tonight and I am just glad that I was on the same team as our defense.”

As the anchors of defense, Miller and DeMarcus Ware combined for four and a half sacks, eight tackles and two forced fumbles. That experience of being in the big game, with the lights and spotlight on them, helped the Broncos expose the young Panthers offense.

Newton looked befuddled the entire game. After going through his first progressions and having no open receivers, he was forced to run around and avoid taking a sack on what seemed like every play.

“I would not want to go against our defense,”said Broncos executive VP and general manager John Elway postgame. “They just kept getting stronger and stronger throughout the playoffs. Played unbelievable, got the turnovers and put pressure on Cam.”

Once more, the Denver Broncos proved to the world that defense truly does win championships.


Check out the published article in the Spartan Daily on February 9, 2016