The biggest stage of them all has been set. After one terrific, hard-fought game that came down to the last drive and one absolute blowout, respectively, the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers will meet in Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco on Feb. 7.

The Panthers are led by soon-to-be league MVP Cam Newton, who scored over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game. The Panthers’ defense forced four interceptions by Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, who will most likely end in second in voting to Newton for MVP.

On the other side, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is not the same player he used to be. Now at the age of 39, he can struggle at times, but Denver is led by the league’s highest rated defense — a defense that was able to stop Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Manning may not be as good as he was in his glory days, but he still does enough to get the job done. He played a mistake-free game against the Patriots, which he needed to do if the Broncos had any chance of winning.

The Panthers took on, in my opinion, the second-best team in the league and made it seem like a playground match. Denver’s defense may be the best, but the Panthers have one just as complete. Peyton will once again have to play a near-flawless game if the Broncos have any chance of pulling this out.

Cam Newton has had one of the most historic breakout seasons for a quarterback. Not only did he pass for more than 3,500 yards and 35 touchdowns during the season, he ran for more than 500 yards and made 10 touchdowns, which is more than some starting running backs. He did all this with an offense that lacked any star power.

Other than Newton, the best player on that offense is running back Jonathan Stewart, who, in all fairness, had the best season of his career. But Cam carried that offense the entire way. Without him, they would not have made it nearly as far.

News has come out recently that Peyton apparently told Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after this year’s championship game that this might be his last year in the league, which makes this Super Bowl even more meaningful. It could be the last time we ever see arguably the best quarterback in the history of the game suit up for an NFL game. What better stage for his last hoorah than Super Bowl 50?

But it will be no easy victory. As much as it pains me, I have to go with Carolina as my pick to win. I really want Peyton to win one more championship, but the younger team should pull it out.

Carolina has the feel of the 2013 Seahawks, who completely dominated the league and then Manning’s Broncos in the Super Bowl. Denver needs to learn from that past defeat and apply it to this game.

This has the makings of a thrilling Super Bowl, one that might go up there with some of the best of all time. Manning vs. Newton. Carolina vs. Denver. Who will win? 

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