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Daily News staffers predict the Super Bowl

Our main pro football guys like the Panthers to win the last game:

Our main pro football guys like the Panthers to win the last game:

Les Bowen

Carolina has been the best team in the NFL all season, and has shown the ability to play at Denver's level defensively while being much more productive on offense. I think Cam Newton will have to lose this game in order for the Broncos to win it. I'll admit that a week ago, I had the Panthers by a couple touchdowns; I still think New England was the best AFC team and would be playing in this game had Bill Belichick taken field goals instead of going for it on fourth down twice in the title game. But a lot of people I respect seem to be on the don't-sell-Denver-short bandwagon, so I'm bowing to peer pressure by predicting the Broncos will cover.

Not sure I really, truly believe they will:

Panthers 24, Broncos 20.

Paul Domowitch

I'm not going to try to overanalyze this game. In football, the team that commits fewer turnovers usually wins, particularly in the Super Bowl.

Just twice in the last 20 years has a team committed more turnovers than its opponent and still hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. The collective turnover differential of the winning team in the last 20 Super Bowls: plus-37.

If you look at Sunday's two combatants, the Panthers clearly have the edge over the Broncos in the giveaway-takeaway department. Carolina was first in the league in both takeaways (39) and turnover differential (plus-20).

The Broncos' 31 giveaways were the third most in the league. They finished tied for 19th in turnover differential (minus-4).

The Panthers already forced nine turnovers in their two playoff wins over Seattle and Arizona.

Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game, but he's had little to do with the Broncos making it to the Super Bowl. They're here because of their No. 1-ranked defense.

The 39-year-old Manning missed six games with a foot injury and didn't play worth a damn in the other 10. His 67.9 passer rating was the worst of his career. His 59.8 completion percentage and 6.79 yards-per-attempt average were his lowest since his rookie year. He had a minus-8 touchdowns-to-interception differential. Other than the fact that he hasn't thrown an interceptions, his playoff passing numbers are very un-Peyton-like.

The Panthers have a terrific defense, but have been occasionally susceptible to the deep ball. Trouble is Manning and the Broncos haven't been very good throwing the ball down the field this season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Peyton had a 27.5 completion percentage on throws that traveled 20 or more yards in the air. That was the third worst mark in the league. In the 10 games he started, the Broncos averaged just 2.4 pass completions of 20 yards or more. In the previous three seasons with Manning, they averaged 4.2. That's a big, big difference.

So, the Panthers probably are going to be able to squeeze the field on Peyton and leave his receivers with less open space to work intermediate routes. That means tighter throwing windows for a guy who has lost a yard off his fastball.

That said, the Broncos need to be able to run the ball Sunday to take the pressure off of Manning. They've done a decent job of it lately. Averaged 4.8 yards per carry in their last seven regular-season games, and C.J. Anderson averaged 4.6 yards per carry in the Broncos' two playoff wins.

But the Panthers have given up more than 78 rushing yards just once in their last 11 games, including their playoff wins over Seattle and Arizona.

The Panthers come out of the blocks like Usain Bolt. They finished second in first-quarter points and first in first-half points this season. They've outscored their first two postseason opponents 55-7 in the first half.

Three years ago in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Broncos lost the game in the first half when they came out half-asleep and Seattle jumped out to a 22-0 lead.

They need to come out ready to play Sunday night. Their defense needs to put a muzzle on Cam Newton and the Carolina offense in the first half and Manning needs to strike early and protect the ball.

Could happen, but I don't think it will. Another big day for kids with seats in the end zone.

Panthers 27, Broncos 13