Scouting the Super Bowl

Here is a look at the Panthers-Broncos Super Bowl matchup:

With Cam Newton at quarterback, the Panthers led the NFL with 31.3 points per game this season and averaged 40 points in their two postseason games. The defense helps, but it's Newton's brilliance that is most responsible for the Panthers' scoring. He threw for 35 touchdowns and rushed for 10 scores during the regular season. His dual-threat ability is the most dangerous in the NFL.

Newton's running is complemented by running back Jonathan Stewart, who had 989 rushing yards this season and is averaging five yards per carry during the playoffs. His targets through the air don't get much credit, but they've been productive all season. The best one is Greg Olsen, who is consistently one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Olsen's 77 catches for 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns gave him a career season at age 30. Ted Ginn Jr. is a speed threat who had 10 touchdowns and averaged 16.8 yards per catch. Cardinal O'Hara alum Corey "Philly' Brown, veteran Jerricho Cotchery, and rookie Devin Funchess are also contributors.

The Broncos had the NFL's top defense this year, keeping opponents to 283.1 total yards. They were also No. 1 against the pass and No. 3 against the run. The key to their pass defense is a rush that led the NFL with 52 sacks. In their AFC Championship Game win over the Patriots, the Broncos had four sacks and 11 hits on Tom Brady. The outside linebacker combination of Von Miller (11 sacks) and DeMarcus Ware (7 1/2 sacks) will put pressure on the Panthers' tackle combination of Michael Oher and Mike Remmers. The pressure also comes from the interior. Both Derrick Wolfe and Malik Jackson eclipsed five sacks during the season. Inside linebacker Brandon Marshall has had more than 100 tackles during the last two years.

They also have one of the best secondaries in the NFL. Cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris are both Pro Bowlers, while safeties T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart patrol the middle of the field. Nickel cornerback Bradley Roby recorded the game-sealing interception on a two-point conversion against the Patriots.

In what could be Peyton Manning's final game of his storied career, he must play like the Manning of old for the Broncos to move the ball on the Panthers' defense. Manning had nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 10 regular season games, although he has yet to throw an interception in the postseason. He has an 81.7 quarterback rating in the postseason compared to a 67.9 rating during the regular season.

The wide receiver combination of Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders gives Manning one of the best duos in the NFL, and he also relies on tight end Owen Daniels. But the Broncos are most effective when they're running the ball. C.J. Anderson averaged 4.7 yards per carry during the regular season, and Ronnie Hillman led the team with 862 rushing yards. Anderson totaled 72 rushing yards in both postseason games. They run behind a line that includes left guard Evan Mathis, who was cut by the Eagles in June.

They could have a tough time against the Panthers defense. With former Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott overseeing the unit, the Panthers had the NFL's sixth-ranked defense and allowed only 19.3 points per game. Their marquee player is linebacker Luke Kuechly, who had 118 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and four interceptions during the regular season. One of those interceptions came against the Eagles. The Panthers' defense includes top players at all levels, with Kawann Short (11 sacks) emerging into of the NFL's best defensive linemen and Josh Norman proving to be a top cornerback.

The defense is especially effective at forcing turnovers. They were plus-20 on the season and had 39 takeaways on the season, six more than any other team. That has continued during the postseason with nine forced turnovers in two games. Among the leaders in takeaways is safety Kurt Coleman, a former Eagle who has solidified himself as a key piece on Carolina's defense. Coleman had seven regular-season interceptions in two in the playoffs.

Pay attention to how productive Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis is on Sunday. Davis is expected to start even though he broke his forearm two weeks ago.

That's the over-under for Super Bowl 50. Both teams kept their opponents to less than 20 points per game during the regular season. Denver averaged 22.2 points per game, and the Panthers averaged 31.3 points per game. With two top defenses, it could be a low-scoring game. However, recent Super Bowl history suggests that there will be points scored. The over was hit in the last three Super Bowls and four of the last five. The Panthers have been lighting up the scoreboard during the postseason, but they have not seen a defense like the one Denver presents.