Super Bowl 50 Prediction: Broncos vs. Panthers

For the third year in a row, the top seed in either conference will be competing for the Super Bowl title. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning looks to win his second ring in what will likely be the final game of his career, while the newly crowned MVP Cam Newton will attempt to become the first player in history to have won the Heisman, the National Championship, the NFL MVP Award, and a Super Bowl. The 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl will hopefully make for a great game between these two teams, especially considering the plethora of talent on either roster.

The Denver Broncos may have quarterback Peyton Manning as their starting quarterback, but it has been Denver's defense that has led them to the Super Bowl this season. The Broncos secondary consists of Pro Bowlers and All-Pros such as Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., and T.J. Ward, all of whom should do well in covering the Panthers mediocre wide receiver corp. All-Pro's Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware serve as the stars of Denver's pass rush, a group that gave Tom Brady problems for the entireity of the AFC Championship game. With a combination of a lethal pass rush and a shutdown secondary, the Broncos will pressure Cam Newton into making quick decisions that could potentially lead to turnovers.

Offesnively, the Broncos have Peyton Manning at quarterback, who has basically become a game manager at this point in his career. Manning's passes certainly lack the same velocity as they tend to wobble quite often, so Denver's running game consisting of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman will need to carry this offense in order to have any chance of setting up a half-decent passing game.

Despite losing Kelvin Benjamin to a season ending injury this past summer, the Panthers offense has had absolutely no problem putting points on the board, especially against top tier defenses. Cam Newton has been an absolute superstar this season, and his dual threat capabilities make it nearly impossible to take this athletic freak of nature completely out of the game. Carolina finished first in the league in rushing yards, but there is always the risk that Newton will throw the deep ball to some of his favorite targets like Greg Olsen or Ted Ginn Jr.

The Panthers defense has often been overshadowed in 2015 by quarterback Cam Newton and his MVP campaign, but Carolin'a defense is just as good, if not better than that of the Broncos. The Panthers had more defensive players elected to the All-Pro team (3) including the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly. Carolina's defense also ranked second behind only the Broncos when it came to Football Outsiders' defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), making this showdown one of the best defensive matchups in Super Bowl history.

.@ThomasDavisSDTM expected to start for @Panthers in #SB50  (via @wyche89): https://t.co/cmx3MZubrj pic.twitter.com/PggrgJFE02

— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2016

Peyton Manning has struggled in the postseason historically, especially when the temperature dips below 40 degrees; however, the temperature is expected to be around 60 degrees at opening kickoff, a positive sign for Broncos fans. In addition, many of the Broncos players simply have more experience in the league, an important factor to take into account when it comes to Super Bowl matchups. Thus, all things considered, I believe the Broncos will narrowly beat the Panthers as Peyton Manning wins his second ring in the final game of his career.
Prediction: Broncos over Panthers 23-20 

In Broncos team meeting Saturday night, Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware got choked up. "Both were very emotional... https://t.co/vDVa1sD90e

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2016

1 hour warning, folks. #SB50

— AP NFL (@AP_NFL) February 7, 2016

Cam Newton hasn't stopped jumping around and dancing since he got on the field. Dabbing between warmup snaps. Fired up.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 7, 2016

Cam Newton's gold cleats say 'MVP' and have his stats on them. 🔥😍 https://t.co/CoSj8fIQIE pic.twitter.com/7m760z0hnc

— theScore (@theScore) February 7, 2016

Midseason NFL Playoff Seeding Predictions

AFC Playoff Seeding

1. New England Patriots (15-1): Injuries to players like Dion Lewis, Julian Edelman, and Nate Solder have been unable to derail this offensive locomotive, but as they continuously stack up, it will be interesting to see if the perfect record remains.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4): The Bengals have always been known to start well in September and October, but with consecutive losses over the past two weeks, the number one overall seed in the AFC seems unlikely.

3. Denver Broncos (11-5): The quarterback situation is difficult to figure out, but I simply don't see the Broncos making it past the first round of the playoffs despite a great defense.

4. Indianapolis Colts (8-8): The AFC South is the softest division in football, and once Andrew Luck is able to return from injury, the Colts will be a solid bet to win the division.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): A healthy Big Ben will make this team dangerous by the end of the season, even though star running back Le'Veon Bell is injured.

6. Buffalo Bills (10-6): The Bills have an easy schedule to end the year, and talent on either side of the ball will make them a solid playoff contender.

NFC Playoff Seeding

1. Carolina Panthers (14-2): The undefeated Panthers are certainly clicking on both sides of the ball, where Luke Kuechly is making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year. Cam Newton is earning MVP buzz, even with Kelvin Benjamin out for the year.

2. Green Bay Packers (12-4): The Packers have cooled off  substantially since their 6-0 start to the season, where the injury to receiver Jordy Nelson is finally starting to catch up with this dynamic offense. Running back Eddie Lacy will need to return to last season's form in order to take some pressure off of the reigning MVP.

3. Arizona Cardinals (11-5): Carson Palmer is sneaking his way into the MVP discussion thanks to his impressive statistics (3,066 yards, 27 TD's, 9 INT's) and 8-2 overall record. The Cardinals must hope that Palmer remains healthy in order to prevent last year's collapse from happening again.

4. New York Giants (10-6): With the Redskins, Cowboys, and Eagles all playing poorly, the Giants are pretty close to locking down an NFC East title. As long as the Giants are in the playoffs, you can never count out Eli Manning and the Giants.

5. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): A rough start to the season and an injured "Beast Mode" has left the Seahawks out of the discussion for a first round bye in the postseason. With the abundance of talent on this roster, expect the Seahawks to turn it around late in the season.

6. Minnesota Vikings (9-7): With Adrian Peterson leading the league in rushing yards (1,006 yards), less pressure is placed on Teddy Bridgewater to make plays, as seen last season. Their schedule is not easy, per se, but they should be able to make the playoffs.

NFL Award Predictions 2013

Most Valuable Player: QB Peyton Manning: Does this come as a surprise to anyone? Peyton Manning shattered all types of records in 2013 in his second year in Denver, including the single season records for touchdowns (55) and passing yards (5,477). Manning's multiple weapons on offense helped him reach the third Super Bowl of his career. Manning has little competition this season for Most Valuable Player, even though running backs Jamaal Charles and LeSean McCoy both had great seasons.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Peyton Manning: With the record breaking statistics that Manning put up in 2013, he is not only a shoe-in for MVP, but also Offensive Player of the Year. Most seasons, Jamaal Charles (1,287 yards, 5.0 yards per carry, 19 total touchdowns) would be a legitimate contender for Offensive Player of the Year, but Manning is not your average player, and 2013 was not your average season.

Defensive Player of the Year: LB Luke Kuechly: Not only did the Carolin aPanthers make the playoffs in 2013, but their star defensive player in Luke Kuechly quickly became the best defensive player in all of football. Kuechly led the league in sacks last season, and even though he did not achieve this feat two years in a row, his 156 tackles and 4 interceptions will likely win him Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: RB Eddie Lacy: With Aaron Rodgers on the sideline for the majority of the 2013 season, rookie running back Eddie Lacy was forced to step up and fill the void left by Rodgers, a former MVP Award recipient. Lacy rushed for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns, which will likely win him Offensive Rookie of the Year over wide receiver Keenan Allen (1,046 yards, 8 touchdowns).

Defensive Rookie of the Year: DT Sheldon Richardson: The New York Jets may have missed out on the playoffs in 2013, but their defensive line has become one of the best in all of football. The D-line, also nicknamed "Sons of Anarchy", was anchored by Sheldon Richardson, who recorded 77 tackles with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Coach of the Year: Andy Reid: After going 2-14 in 2012, the worst record of any team in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs hired former Eagles head coach Andy Reid. The Kansas City Chiefs did a complete 180, as they reached the playoffs, and even gave Peyton Manning and the Broncos a run for their money when it came to the division title. Kansas City's 9-0 start this season practically guaranteed Reid the Coach of the Year Award.

NFL Award Predictions: Defensive Rookie of the Year

     In our second installment of "NFL Award Predictions", we will discuss those competing for the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year Award. In a draft class known for its high flying offensive weapons, many rookie defenders did not gain the recognition they deserved. Luke Kuechly of the Panthers, Janoris Jenkins of the Rams, and Casey Hayward of the Packers all made a legitimate impact on the league; consequently, these three players have legitimate shots at taking home Rookie of the Year.

LB Luke Kuechly: Immediately, Boston College alum Luke Kuechly showed his dominance as a defender while playing for a mediocre Panthers defense. Kuechly led the National Football League in tackles with 164. Tackles are the only statistic that proves the true athleticism of any defender, whether it be their ability to stop the run, or the ability to make quick decisions on where the ball might be headed. Carolina's defense saw several improvements thanks to Keuchly, such as a decrease in points allowed, rushing yards allowed, and passing yards allowed, all relative to Carolina's 2011 season. Luke Kuechly became one of the most decorated linebacker's in college football history, and Defensive Rookie of the Year would add to an already impressive football resume.

CB Janoris Jenkins: Unfortunately for most teams around the NFL, their reluctancy to select Janoris Jenkins in the draft due to character issues cost them one of the most talented cornerbacks from the draft class. Jenkins picked off four passes in 2012, and he successfully returned three for touchdowns. His 73 tackles ranked 11th among rookies, a sensational number for any defender. Though he did not thrive within the "passes defended" category, Jenkins is one of the most athletic cornerbacks in the game, rookie or veteran.

CB Casey Hayward: Out of all the cornerbacks to be selected in Last April's draft, the rookie with the most impressive statistics relating to coverage is awarded to Casey Hayward. Green Bay made the right decision by adding another cornerback to the roster for when veteran Charles Woodson retires. Hayward stepped up to the plate, and boy, did he deliver. 6 interceptions, with a rookie leading 21 passes defended. Statistically speaking, Hayward wins over Janoris Jenkins, but by looking at their overall impact, Jenkins gets the edge over this Green Bay corner back.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Prediction: Luke Kuechly