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

Super Bowl XLIX Prediction: Seahawks vs. Patriots

For the second year in a row, the top seeds from each conference will play on football's biggest stage. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will play in their sixth Super Bowl since 2001, whereas third year quarterback Russell Wilson looks to become the first NFL franchise to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Patriots did so in '03 and '04.

AZ baby!! Back in action!
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) January 26, 2015

The Seahawks pulled off a miraculous comeback against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game, and despite Wilson's horrible performance at the start of the game, he is more than capable of extending a play with his sensational scrambling ability, as seen with the successful 2 point conversion ate in the 4th quarter. To make matters worse, the Patriots defense will have to deal with stopping Marshawn Lynch, a running back who is willing to sacrifice his body in order to gain a few extra yards.

2012 @seahawks class at SB 49! & they gave us a F Grade.. Back to Back Super Bowls! #MakeThemNotice #HowBoutNow pic.twitter.com/7LxQxxGCSe
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) January 31, 2015

The Patriots have a physical back of their own by the name of LeGarrette Blount, as seen with his incredible performance against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship. Yet the patriots offense has earned a reputation throughout the years for their consistent passing game pioneered by future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. Brady appears to be one of the most driven players in football, and the fact that he has lost in his past two Super Bowl appearances certainly adds to the significance of Sunday's Game. Seattle's "Legion of Boom," a secondary consisting of players like Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas, will give Brady problems throughout the game, especially if they are capable of minimizing Rob Gronkowski's effect on the game.

By far one of our favorite selfies from team photo day... pic.twitter.com/cPS1jG0t9f
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 31, 2015

Brady tends to struggle when facing pressure in the pocket, as seen with the two Super Bowls against the New York Giants. Seattle is quite possibly the most well-rounded team in NFL history considering everything that they bring to the table, and with a win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX, this "Legion of Boom" will be considered one of the greatest defensive units ever assembled.
Seahawks over Patriots: 24-20

NFL Midseason Predictions: Super Bowl Update

While the final seeding for the playoffs is hazy, it becomes easier to predict the teams who will earn a spot in the postseason by the halfway point of the season. At this point in time, the Seahawks, 49ers, and Saints are all on track to miss the postseason, whereas the Bills, Cardinals, and Cowboys are all projected to finish the regular season with a spot in the playoffs. While this is certain to change, the NFL is not surprising in that there will always be surprises. At the beginning of the season, we predicted the New England Patriots to beat Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers by a final score of 24-23. While we still believe that the Patriots will make an appearance in the Super Bowl (if, and only if, Rob Gronkowski is healthy throughout the playoffs), we are changing the NFC Champion after watching football for the past 8 weeks from San Fran to the Green Bay Packers. Now, let's go into further detail regarding this quarterback battle for the ages, as well as predicting the new champions of football.

Patriots Offense
Tom Brady experienced a statistically historic October. With Rob Gronkowski returning from injury at the start of the season, the Patriots offense has gradually improved over the course of the year. Julian Edelman remains Tom Brady’s favorite target, but Bill Belicheck is slowly increasing Gronk’s workload in the offense, which is directly proportional to the Patriots improving record overtime. Recently acquired targets Brandon LaFell and Tim Wright have both had their bright spots in 2014, and it will be interesting to see how the fare later in the season. While running back Steven Ridley may be out for the rest of the season, Jonas Gray and Shane Vereen have stepped up nicely to fill the void.

Packers Offense
While the Packers are not currently atop the NFC North standings right now, Green Bay is always a threat to win the division as long as Aaron Rodgers is leading this offense. Wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are both experiencing incredible seasons thus far, where Cobb is averaging one touchdown per game. Running back Eddie Lacy is experiencing a down year as of this point in time, but seeing how outstanding his season was in 2013, we at least understand that the potential to do well is present.

Patriots Defense

The New England Patriots secondary might just be the best we've seen from head coach Bill Belichick since he took over for the Patriots nearly 15 years ago. Darrelle Revis is beginning to look like his former self, and fellow cornerback Brandon Browner has already recorded 6 tackles and an interception. While Jerard Mayo's injury will be significant in the long run, the Patriots certainly managed to shut down the Denver Broncos offense last week. The win over Denver was even without their best pass rusher Chandler Jones, but luckily, he will be ready to go come playoff time.

Packers Defense
The Green Bay Packers run defense currently ranks dead last in the entire National Football League. There are currently several big names on this defensive roster, such as Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, and AJ Hawk, who are all very talented defensive players, but clearly, they add little to the run defense.  Meanwhile, the secondary is incredibly youthful, where four out of the five members of the secondary are 25 years old or younger. Yet clearly, it has paid off, seeing how they rank eighth in passing yards allowed, as well as fourth in passing touchdowns allowed.

Quarterback Tom Brady is on a mission to win his fourth Super Bowl after losing in both 2007 and 2011. The New England Patriots showed they are capable of limiting great quarterbacks, as seen with the game against Denver, so count on Bill Belichick on creating a game plan meant to suppress Aaron Rodgers as much as possible. Meanwhile, Tom Brady will be able to pick away at this young Green Bay secondary, as New England manages to win their fourth Super Bowl in 14 years.
Patriots over Packers 30-27 

Complete 2015 NFL Playoff Predictions

Wild Card Round

(3) Colts over (6) Jets: Andrew Luck, unlike New York's quarterback duo of Geno Smith and Michael Vick, has proven himself as a winner in the postseason with his comeback victory over the Chiefs. The Jets team as a whole is too young to beat Indy and this incredible passing game.

(4) Ravens over (5) Bengals: Just two years ago, Joe Flacco caught fire in the postseason to lead his team over the 49ers in the Super Bowl. Baltimore's passing game may have trouble early against a relatively stingy Bengals defense, but Cincy's horrendous record in the postseason under Marvin Lewis will continue into 2015.

(6) Packers over (3) Bears: Aaron Rodgers, a Super Bowl winning quarterback, has repeatedly proven himself when it comes to clutch situations, as seen when he defeated Chicago in Week 17 of the 2013 regular season. Ironically, we have them playing Chicago once again with the same result.

(5) 49ers over (4) Eagles: The 49ers have made it to three straight NFC Championship Games, and are quite possibly the most talented wild card team of the past 5 years. Philadelphia doesn't stand a chance, even with home field advantage.

Divisional Round

(3) Colts over (2) Broncos: The third year for quarterbacks is almost always a breakout year in the NFL. With Reggie Wayne coming back from injury, and Hakeem Knicks arriving from New York, Luck has the offensive weapons  needed to knock off the Denver Broncos in January.

(1) Patriots over (4) Ravens: The Patriots and Ravens by now are used to playing each other in the postseason, but the Patriots are clearly far more talented than the Ravens, especially with their two new cornerbacks in Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis. Tom Brady is bound for yet another AFC Championship Game.

(1) Seahawks over (6) Packers: In a neutral location, I believe the Green Bay Packers would be capable of beating Seattle during the postseason; however, seeing how the game is in Seattle, it will be extremely difficult for Aaron Rodgers to overpower the Legion of Boom on the road. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense will be able to put up plenty of points against a mediocre Packers defense.

(5) 49ers over (2) Saints: Colin Kaepernick is surrounded by plenty of weapons on offense, including Anquan Boldin, Frank Gore, and Vernon Davis. Jim Harbaugh will find a way to quell the damage done by Drew Brees and New Orleans' passing game, and the 49ers will be playing in their fourth straight NFC Championship Game.

Championship Round

(1) Patriots over (3) Colts: The New England Patriots remain undefeated against Andrew Luck during his time in Indy, yet with Luck bound to improve during the regular season, these games are going to get a whole lot more competitive. With Revis and Browner both on the Patriots' roster, Luck will have more difficulty finding his three most talented targets--Knicks, Hilton, Wayne--but as we've seen, this quarterback can find a way. Tom Brady is becoming more experienced with his young wide receivers, and hopefully, Rob Gronkowski will be healthy for playoffs. The Logan Menkins trade left some people scratching their heads, but the aging offensive lineman was traded for a draft pick and a little-known tight end Tim Wright. Wright had 54 catches as an undrafted rookie, so this could be one of Brady's favorite targets later in the year. In the end, we have Tom Brady advancing to the sixth Super Bowl of his career.

(5) 49ers over (1) Seahawks: These two teams are coming out of the same division, yet clearly, they are the NFC's most talented teams. A rivalry has been born recently between San Francisco and Seattle, seeing how they have two of the league's most stifling defenses and battle within the same division. Luckily, the San Francisco 49ers are expecting to get linebacker NaVorro Bowman by Week 7, so he will be in midseason form just before the postseason. Seattle's offseason losses will have a bigger impact on this team than people seem to think, where receiver Golden Tate has left for Detroit, while Red Bryant and Chris Clemons have left for Jacksonville. Jim Harbaugh will be on the hot seat if San Francisco is unable to make the Super Bowl yet again, but luckily for 49ers fans, we see San Francisco topping their division rivals for a spot in the "Big Game."

Prediction for the Super Bowl will arrive within the next few days

2015 NFC Playoff Predictions

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3): The defending Super Bowl Champions may still have A LOT of talent on their roster, but several relatively important players were lost this past offseason, such as Golden Tate, Brandon Browner, and Red Bryant. Yet with stars like Marshawn Lynch, Russell Wilson, and Percy Harvin on offense, as well as the entire "Legion of Boom" on defense (Sherman, Chancellor, Thomas), Seattle is surely in store for another deep playoff run.

2. New Orleans Saints (12-4): In his first full season back with the Saints since the bounty scandal, Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints went 11-5, thus finishing second in their division. Quarterback Drew Brees was one touchdown away from having three straight seasons with at least 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. The loss of running back Darren Sproles could potentially hurt both the rushing and passing game, but I'm sure this offense will find a way to survive. The defense has managed to gain cornerback Champ Bailey and safety Jairus Byrd in an attempt to prove the pass defense, so expect the Saints to be contenders once again.

3. Chicago Bears (11-5): Seeing how the Bears were unable to make the playoffs last year, it is pretty risky for us to have them finishing third in the NFC next season; however, this team is very well-rounded. Jay Cutler struggled to stay healthy last season, but assuming he can play at least 14 games, he has the chance to be an MVP finalist thanks to receivers Alshon Jeffrey, Brandon Marshall, and Santonio Holmes. Also, Matt Forte and the running game will be able to take some pressure off of their quarterback. The defense may have lost Juluis Peppers, but defensive ends Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston join Jay Ratliff on the defensive line. Chicago is a surely a sleeper team in 2014, possibly enough to make a run at the NFC Championship Game.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7): While Philadelphia made a quick exit from the playoffs last season, the major storyline for Philly fans was the emergence of quarterback Nick Foles as one of the game's most efficient passers. Foles passed for 27 touchdowns with 2 interceptions, while running back LeSean McCoy also had a career year. The Eagles lost DeSean Jackson after he left for Washington, so it will be interesting to see how Foles is able to adapt to the loss. The main problem for the Eagles is clearly the pass defenses, which ranked last in the league in 2013. While the Eagles did manage to sign safety Malcolm Jenkins, this pass defense is bound to struggle into 2014.

5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4): For the third straight year in a row, San Francisco made an appearance in the NFC Championship Game, but Richard Sherman's tipped ball that turned into an interception late in the game resulted in a loss for the Niners. San Francisco still has a top 10 offense, with quarterback Colin Kaepernick, running backs Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde, and wide receivers Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis, and Stevie Johnson. The defense has almost everyone returning, apart from Aldon Smith, who is awaiting a suspension. San Francisco may end up as the fifth seed, but they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

6. Green Bay Packers (11-5): The Green Bay Packers' receiving corp has gradually worsened over the past 5 years, where Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are the only two stars remaining; however, the Packers now have an excellent running game thanks to rookie running back Eddie Lacy. Defenses have struggled to shut down both Green Bay's passing game, pioneered by Aaron Rodgers, and their running game, which is how Lacy has managed to achieve such success. Green Bay's defense is slightly above mediocre, but things got even worse for Green Bay's defense by losing nose tackle B.J. Raji for the entire season. 

2015 AFC Playoff Predictions

1. New England Patriots (12-4): Now that the Patriots have added cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, New England's pass defense has quickly become one of the most intimidating in all of football. While Chandler Jones and the New England pass rush ranked 5th in sacks, they ranked 22nd overall according to Football Outsiders in pass pressure, which will need to improve in 2014. Quarterback Tom Brady suffered from a dip in productivity last season while adjusting to his new group of receivers, but with injury-prone tight end Rob Gronkowski ready for Week 1, and the recent addition of Brandon LaFell from Carolina, Tom Brady is bound to do much better in 2014 now that he has more experience with this young receiving corp.

2. Denver Broncos (13-3): On paper, the Denver Broncos are the best team in all of football, seeing how they have the best quarterback, a plethora of talented wide receivers, and many big names on defense. While they may have lost receiver Eric Decker and running back Knowshon Moreno during the offseason, the Broncos still have Demaryius Thomas, Juluis Thomas, and Wes Welker to help their star quarterback. Denver also signed Pro-Bowlers Demarcus Ware, TJ Ward, and Aqib Talib to improve an already above-average defense. Expect Denver to be the number one seed in the playoffs for the third straight season.

3. Indianapolis Colts (12-4): Quarterback Andrew Luck may not have thrown for more more touchdowns or passing yards compared to his rookie season, but he certainly became more efficient. Luck's interception total dropped in half from 18 to 9, directly leading to a 10 point increase in his passer rating. Historically speaking, a quarterback's third season is the breakout year, and with the recent addition of Hakeem Knicks, as well as the return of Reggie Wayne, Indy's receiving corp is sure to be strong in 2014.

4. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): The Ravens managed to miss the playoffs by one game after winning the Super Bowl in 2012. Things got even worse for running back Ray Rice this past offseason. While Rice suffered from a severe decrease in productivity last season compared to 2013, he was then caught physically abusing his girlfriend on camera, resulting in a two game suspension. Quarterback Joe Flacco threw for the most interceptions of his career, as well as throw the lowest passer rating since he joined the NFL; however, with with Denis Pitta returning from injury, and receiver Steve Smith joining this already talented receiving corp, Baltimore's passing game is sure to improve from last year.  

5. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Andy Dalton recently signed a 6-year extension with the Bengals, which means despite his lack of success in the postseason, the Bengals are willing to stick with Dalton into the future. Receiver A.J. Green may be the star of this offense, but running back Giovani Bernard emerged as a breakout star in 2013. With the return of tackle Geno Atkins on defense, as will as the addition of cornerback Darqueze Dennard via the draft, the Bengals are still talented enough to earn a spot in the playoffs, but a run to the Super Bowl is very unlikely.

6. New York Jets (9-7): The New York Jets making the playoffs is certainly a gutsy prediction, seeing how the Jets are 14-18 in the past two seasons. While we would like to see Michael Vick as the starter, Geno Smith still led this team to an 8-8 season last year, and he is bound to do even better alongside Chris Johnson and Eric Decker. The defense has plenty of young talent, particularly their defensive line nicknamed the "Sons of Anarchy." Sheldon Richardson managed to win Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2013, and the defense as a whole certainly has a shot at propelling this team into the postseason.

2014 Complete NFL Playoff Predictions

Wild Card Round
AFC: (3) Cincinnati Bengals over (6) San Diego Chargers
AFC: (4) Indianapolis Colts over (5) Kansas City Chiefs
NFC: (3) Philadelphia Eagles over (6) New Orleans Saints
NFC: (5) San Francisco 49ers over (4) Green Bay Packers

Divisional Round
AFC: (3) Cincinnati Bengals over (2) New England Patriots (OT)
AFC: (1) Denver Broncos over (4) Indianapolis Colts
NFC: (2) Carolina Panthers over (3) Philadelphia Eagles
NFC: (1) Seattle Seahawks (5) San Francisco 49ers

Championship Round
AFC: (3) Cincinnati Bengals over (1) Denver Broncos
NFC: (1) Seattle Seahawks over (2) Carolina Panthers

Super Bowl
We predict the Cincinnati Bengals to be playing the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII, where the game is to be played in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Even though both teams have been around for more than 35 years, neither franchise has lifted the Lombardi Trophy. Cincinnati, who is more accustomed to the colder weather, will jump out to an early lead, and will be ahead of the Seahawks 13-10 at the half. But once the second half rolls around, Seattle will take control of the game, and will go on to win Super Bowl XVIII.
Seahawks over Bengals 27-21
Super Bowl MVP: QB Russell Wilson 290 passing yards, 2 passing TDs

2014 Super Bowl Prediction (Update)

Shockingly, there are just five more weeks of football before the playoffs start; it seems like just yesterday we were covering the major story lines from training camp. Obviously, there have been many surprises in 2013, including the decline of the Texans franchise, Kansas City's incredible year, as well as Peyton Manning's MVP caliber season. With the NFL Playoffs quickly approaching us, we have decided to update our Super Bowl prediction. Originally, we predicted the Broncos to beat the 49ers by a score of 30-27. That prediction has changed. Continue reading to see our new predictions!

AFC Championship Game: Patriots over Broncos: these two teams are in a league of there own in the AFC. Sure, the Chiefs and Colts are both very talented, but their lack of experience hurts by the time they reach the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game should not come as a surprise. Peyton Manning and the passing game lead the league in passing yards per game, passing touchdowns, passer rating, and points per game. Even running back Knowshon Moreno is performing well, as he ranks second in the league in rushing touchdowns with 9. But the New England Patriots, a team that has managed an 8-3 record despite their many injuries and weak receiving corp, have transformed into one of the Super Bowl favorites. Thanks to the return of receivers Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola, as well as cornerback Aquib Talib, the Patriots were able to beat manning and the Broncos for the second straight year. Tom Brady is not having a great year statistically, but his spectacular performance against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football solidified his greatness as a quarterback. Peyton Manning has struggled throughout his career when playing in colder weather, so even if the Broncos are at home in this AFC Championship Game, the advantage goes to Brady and the Patriots.

NFC Championship Game: Seahawks over Saints: The Seattle Seahawks remain perfect at home, but their game this weekend in Seattle against the New Orleans Saints will be a true test. We predict that the game this weekend will be the same two teams in the NFC Championship game later in the season. Following their home game against the Saints, the Seahawks will have a relatively easy schedule (apart from an away game in San Francisco), whereas the Saints will have to play the Panthers twice, and then travel to St. Louis for a game against the Rams. Assuming that Seattle finishes as the number one seed in the playoffs, there is little doubt in my mind that the Seahawks will make the Super Bowl thanks to their home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Seahawks offense is ranked third overall in rushing yards per game (149.7) and second in points per game (27.8). But it is the defense that has carried this team through the regular season. Seattle's defense at home is practically impenetrable, yet the Saints offense will be difficult to detain, even if the game is being played in CenturyLink Field. In the end, the Seahawks will win in a close game over the Saints to earn a trip to the Super Bowl.

11 weeks from today... A champion will rise. #SB48

— Super Bowl XLVIII (@SuperBowl) November 17, 2013

Super Bowl XLVIII: Patriots over Seahawks: This upcoming Super Bowl is not your average Super Bowl. Instead of being played inn a warm environment like Florida or Arizona, Super Bowl XLVIII will be played in the Meadowlands of East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Seattle Seahawks, unfortunately, will not be in the safety of their own stadium, and who knows how they will do with the cold February weather in New Jersey. Tom Brady, on the other hand, tends to struggle in the warm weather, but as we saw against Denver on Sunday Night Football, he thrives in a colder climate. To make things more interesting, the Farmer's Almanac predicts a large snowstorm during the Super Bowl, clearly favoring the New England Patriots. Seattle's franchise has yet to win a Super Bowl, and with just one Super Bowl appearance in 2006, the Patriots are more experienced, considering they have reached the Super Bowl five times in the past 12 years. We predict the Patriots to beat the Seahawks in a dominant fashion.

2014 Playoff Predictions: Super Bowl

Broncos over 49ers: The Denver Broncos offense, especially the passing game, is the best in the National Football League. Peyton Manning can choose between receivers Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and Eric Decker, so no matter who San Francisco decides to double team, Manning will be able to find the open man. The running back tandem of Knowshon Moreno and rookie Montee Ball should be able to improve the running game, which once led the league in rushing back when Tim Tebow was still quarterback. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is a talented quarterback who will create problems for the Denver Broncos defense. If the Broncos defense decides to focus on defending the pass, John Harbaugh will immediately switch to running the ball with his trio of running backs. The defensive edge is awarded to San Francisco, but the Broncos defense is above-average, especially when outside linebacker Von Miller is in the starting lineup. Even with their excellent defense, San Francisco will be overwhelmed by Peyton Manning and his receivers. We predict the Broncos to win 30-27, where quarterback Peyton Manning wins his second Super Bowl MVP.