Super Bowl 2016: – SPIEGEL ONLINE The Denver Broncos defense dominates

By the stadium in Santa Clara trickled after the Super Bowl golden confetti. It was a nice, shimmering note alluding to the 50th anniversary of the final match of the National Football League. The final itself provided however little shine.

The deserved 24: 10 success of the Denver Broncos against the Carolina Panthers will not be used as an offensive fireworks in the history books, but as a rather unspectacular match which had come into their own at best defensive fetishists. (There is the finale in minutes protocol)

At the height of the season a league that patronized the offensive for years, their biggest stars are quarterbacks with powerful limbs, the two finalists offered a defensive battle. The outstanding player this Super Bowls were defenders – Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware or Malik Jackson, for example, in Denver and on the part of the Panthers Luke Kuechly and Kony Ealy. The latter tore three times Peyton Manning to the ground and was thus the first professional since 1982, the reach three so-called bag in the final.

And so it was no wonder that in the crowded mixed zone, this time hardly offensive Actions were spoken, but the defense the big talking point was – even for attacker as Denver CJ Anderson. “We have the best defense in the world,” beamed the running back.

three fumbles, six bag

Denver has with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers successively defeated three teams in these playoffs, their offensives belongs to the best that the NFL has to offer. The Broncos have the well-known quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Cam Newton allowed in all three games together only three successful touchdown passes.

Carolina offensive was the whole season dominant over. Led by Newton, it produced on average per game 31.3 points. Against Denver you could not even get in the Super Bowl a third of them. “We knew that it is hard to stop its offensive. But each of us had exactly the goal and we have met the challenge,” said Denver defense goods.

The base laid the Broncos so that they would not let Newton as usual time and place for his passports and runs. Denver’s defense forced three fumbles not only, intercepted a pass by Newton and the Panthers tore-Playmaker six times to the ground, but they also took care of the first touchdown of the game. In the ninth minute succeeded by Miller with a 3: 0 lead the Broncos a sack of Newton, so he lost the ball. In the fray Malik Jackson was the one who picked up the egg and four yards wore for a touchdown in the end zone.

“It’s not about me”

the second touchdown of the Broncos by Anderson four to play final sprang decisive action of defense. Again it was Miller, the Newton sat under pressure, hit the ball out of the right throwing hand – players TJ Ward attacked resolutely and secured the football four yards in front of the end zone. The offensive did the rest.

It is rather unusual that in a Super Bowl Defender Most Valuable Player (MVP) is selected. In the case of the Broncos, however, it was downright logical. The defense has led the club to the final, and the defense has also won the final. And it said much of that MVP Von Miller did not talk about himself, but about the entire defense. Its award show just so Miller what games kind of defense Denver. “It is not about me. If I could, I would give this award every side of my people.” Also Carolinas defense was strong, the Panthers held long in the game – and allowed Denver’s offensive total of only 194 yards space gain. Never before has a team with such an attack power champion had become.

The dominant defensive even put the man in the background who otherwise fills all headlines. Peyton Manning was the fourth attempt for the second time champion. He was asked if the final was his last game Several times. Finally, it would have been a perfect ending his 18-year NFL career, since it stands in spite of an agreement the Broncos in the new season 40-year-old hardly more help than then and already ready with Brock Osweiler a successor.

He would now only once wife and kids kissing, celebrating, drinking lots of beer – and then, in a few days, reflecting, as Manning. With this statement he left his future open. One could also say, he did exactly what Denver excelled that day that way. He went on the defensive – and made no mistake here.