San Francisco(CNN) Super Bowl 50 and the hoopla surrounding it is upon us. Yes, many will look forward to the commercials, the halftime show and the watch parties. But there's a big thing that Super Bowl 50 viewers shouldn't overlook: THE GAME!
This matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers has some incredibly compelling story lines. Below are five reasons why this Super Bowl could be the best one ever.
A storybook ending for Peyton Manning?
This is must-see TV: Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning could be playing the final game of his storied career. He even alluded to it after beating the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday. NFL Films picked up the audio of Manning telling Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, "This might be my last rodeo."
But we'll have to wait to see if Manning is riding off into the sunset.
"Yeah, I haven't made up my mind, but I don't see myself knowing that until after the season," Manning said. "Whatever cliché you want to use, but I kind of stay in the moment and focus on the task at hand and just deal with this week. That's what I've done all season."
According to NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Manning has told close friends he expects Sunday's game to be his last. However, Manning's family members previously have said the contrary publicly.
"He's not said anything to me about it," brother and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning said January 27. "I think I kind of think like everybody else where you see this as possibly being the last game. I don't know if he knows himself or if he's thought about it. ... It'd be a good way to go out. I don't know if it is, but because of that possibility, I hope that he can win this game and if he decides to hang it up, go out on top."
Manning's dad, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, echoed Eli's thoughts.
"It's been a good rodeo, been 18 good years," Archie Manning said after the AFC Championship Game. "I don't know what's going to happen. I promise you he hasn't talked about it. Has not even brought it up."
Manning turns 40 in March, and there has been wide speculation that this season could be his last. A product of age and previous neck surgeries, Manning's numbers this season are a far cry from his Hall-of-Fame-worthy career stats. In fact, Manning had the worst season of any quarterback heading into the Super Bowl, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Manning threw nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 10 games during the regular season. His health and arm strength have been concerns. He missed six games this season with a partially torn plantar fascia in his left heel.
But Manning showed in the AFC Championship Game that he has something left, throwing two touchdown passes. Before that game, he had only thrown for one score at Sports Authority Field at Mile High all season.
The time off may have helped Manning, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said earlier this week.
"As we approach the time before he took the break off with his foot, and I watched him play, he wasn't playing healthy," Kubiak said. "I think getting back totally healthy (and) feeling really good physically and mentally has really helped him over the course of this past month."
Passing the torch?
In many ways, this feels like one era is ending and another is underway.
This is the largest age gap in Super Bowl history between the starting quarterbacks. Manning is 39 and is the oldest quarterback to start in the Super Bowl. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, in his first Super Bowl, is 26.
Their playing styles are very different, also a sign that they're from different generations. Manning is a classic drop-back pocket passer. Newton, meanwhile, is nicknamed "Superman" for a reason, and he's become a superstar this season. In the NFC Championship Game, Newton showed his ability as a dual threat, going 19 of 28 passing for 335 yards. He was responsible for four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing).
"He is one of those guys who is an awesome quarterback and he plays really well," Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "He sits back there in the pocket, orchestrates his offense and he keeps the chains moving with his legs and also making big plays. We have things in place to slow him down, but sometimes, you can't slow the train down -- you have to let it keep rolling. Just with Cam, you have to figure out a way to stop him, because he is very active."
Newton led the regular season with 45 total touchdowns (35 passing, 10 rushing) and became the first player in NFL history with at least 30 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing scores in a single season.
No one has more combined rush and passing yards than Newton in a player's first five seasons. He's the only player in NFL history to have five seasons with 3,000 or more passing yards and 500 or more rushing yards at any point in a career.
The greatest Super Bowl records
Most touchdown passes in a game: Quarterback Steve Young threw six touchdowns passes — a Super Bowl record — as his San Francisco 49ers blew out San Diego 49-26 in January 1995.
Most passing yards in a Super Bowl: Tom Brady threw for 505 yards in 2018 — and his New England Patriots still lost to Philadelphia 41-33. Brady broke the record he set just one year earlier when he led the Patriots to a 34-28 overtime victory over Atlanta.
Most receiving yards in a Super Bowl: San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice was named Super Bowl MVP in 1989 after he caught 11 balls for a record 215 yards against Cincinnati. The Hall of Famer also holds Super Bowl records for most points and most touchdowns in a career. He scored eight touchdowns over four Super Bowls.
Most rushing yards in a Super Bowl: Washington quarterback Doug Williams won the Super Bowl MVP award in 1988, but rookie running back Timmy Smith set a Super Bowl record that year with 204 rushing yards against Denver.
Most interceptions in a Super Bowl: Oakland linebacker Rod Martin (No. 53) had three interceptions as the Raiders defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981.
Most Super Bowl wins for one player: Brady won seven Super Bowls — six with New England and one with Tampa Bay. He played in 10 Super Bowls over his 22 seasons.
Most Super Bowl wins for a head coach: Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls as head coach of the Patriots. Belichick also won two Super Bowls as an assistant coach with the New York Giants.
Longest scoring play in a Super Bowl: Baltimore's Jacoby Jones returned a kickoff 108 yards as the Ravens defeated San Francisco 34-31 in 2013.
Longest pass in a Super Bowl: Carolina wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad caught an 85-yard touchdown pass from Jake Delhomme during Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.
Longest run in a Super Bowl: "Fast" Willie Parker broke a 75-yard run for a Pittsburgh touchdown in 2006.
Longest interception return in a Super Bowl: Pittsburgh's James Harrison picked off Arizona's Kurt Warner on the last play of the first half and rumbled 100 yards for a touchdown in 2009.
Longest fumble return in a Super Bowl: Almost everything came up roses for the Dallas Cowboys in 1993, as they crushed Buffalo 52-17 in the Rose Bowl. But defensive lineman Leon Lett had an embarrassing moment late in the game when he was returning a fumble for what looked to be a sure touchdown. Lett returned the ball 64 yards, but he started showboating early and was stripped by Buffalo's Don Beebe.
Fastest score in a Super Bowl: On the first play from scrimmage in 2014, Denver center Manny Ramirez snapped the ball past quarterback Peyton Manning. Denver's Knowshon Moreno recovered the ball in the end zone for a Seattle safety. Only 12 seconds had elapsed.
First score in Super Bowl history: In the first quarter of what we know now as Super Bowl I, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Max McGee scored a touchdown on a 37-yard pass from Bart Starr. McGee made the catch with one hand, reaching behind him before speeding past the defender.
Largest margin of victory in a Super Bowl: San Francisco demolished Denver 55-10 in 1990, winning by a record 45 points. It was the 49ers' fourth Super Bowl title in nine years.
Smallest margin of victory in a Super Bowl: Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal as time expired, and the New York Giants beat the Bills 20-19 in 1991.
Simply put, the Broncos haven't faced a quarterback like Newton this season.
"He's one of a kind," Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib said. "You can't find another guy like him on tape. He could take off at any moment and score a touchdown with his legs. He can throw the ball 70 yards, score a touchdown with his arm. So, you know, one of a kind man. One of a kind."
There's another sign that times have changed. African-American quarterbacks will have started in four consecutive Super Bowls once Newton takes the field (Colin Kaepernick in Super Bowl XLVII and Russell Wilson the last two years). The first African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl was Doug Williams in Super Bowl XXII on January 31, 1988.
Cam Newton could do something incredibly rare
Super Bowl MVPs
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, front left, celebrates with Mecole Hardman Jr. after they connected for the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11. Mahomes, with 333 passing yards, 66 rushing yards and two touchdown passes, was named Super Bowl MVP after the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, 25-22.
Super Bowl I (1967): Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr was named the Most Valuable Player of the first Super Bowl, which in January 1967 was just called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. Starr threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers defeated Kansas City 35-10 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Super Bowl II (1968): Starr repeated the feat one year later as the Packers won back-to-back titles. Starr had 202 yards passing and one touchdown as Green Bay blew out Oakland 33-14.
Super Bowl III (1969): The New York Jets came into Super Bowl III as 18-point underdogs, but quarterback Joe Namath famously guaranteed that his team would upset the Baltimore Colts. After Namath led the way to a 16-7 victory, he was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
Super Bowl IV (1970): The Kansas City Chiefs lost the first Super Bowl, but they made it count the second time around. Quarterback Len Dawson had 142 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in New Orleans. It was the second straight year that the AFL champions had defeated the NFL champions, and by the next season the two leagues had merged.
Super Bowl V (1971): Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley intercepted two passes against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V. Howley was named the game's MVP, but the Colts won the notoriously sloppy game with a Jim O'Brien field goal as time expired. To date, Howley remains the only player from a losing team to be named Super Bowl MVP.
Super Bowl VI (1972): Dallas atoned for its loss the next season, shutting down the Miami Dolphins 24-3. MVP quarterback Roger Staubach had two touchdown passes.
Super Bowl VII (1973): Miami safety Jake Scott intercepts a fourth-quarter pass in the end zone during the Dolphins' 14-7 win over Washington in Super Bowl VII. Scott had two interceptions in the game as the Dolphins finished their season with a perfect 17-0 record. They are still the only NFL team ever to finish a season undefeated.
Super Bowl VIII (1974): Powerful running back Larry Csonka carries two Minnesota defenders near the end zone as Miami won its second Super Bowl in a row. Csonka became the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP, rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Super Bowl IX (1975): Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris fights off Minnesota defender Paul Krause during Pittsburgh's 16-6 victory in Super Bowl IX. Harris ran for 158 yards and a touchdown on his way to winning MVP.
Super Bowl X (1976): This diving catch from Pittsburgh wide receiver Lynn Swann is one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history. Swann had a touchdown and 161 yards receiving as the Steelers defeated Dallas 21-17 to win their second straight Super Bowl. Swann was the first wide receiver to win MVP.
Super Bowl XI (1977): Oakland Raiders wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff caught four passes for 79 yards to win MVP honors in Super Bowl XI. The Raiders won 32-14 over Minnesota, knocking the Vikings to 0-4 in Super Bowls.
Super Bowl XII (1978): A dominating performance by Dallas' "Doomsday Defense" led to the first and only time that two players would share the Super Bowl MVP award. Defensive linemen Randy White, left, and Harvey Martin helped the Cowboys force eight turnovers and defeat Denver 27-10.
Super Bowl XIII (1979): The Steelers and the Cowboys met for a Super Bowl rematch in 1979, and this game ended the same way as the one three years earlier — with a Pittsburgh victory. This time, however, it was Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw who won MVP, throwing for 318 yards and four touchdowns as Pittsburgh edged Dallas 35-31.
Super Bowl XIV (1980): Bradshaw led the way again in Super Bowl XIV, throwing for 309 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-19. It was the Steelers' fourth title in six years.
Super Bowl XV (1981): Oakland quarterback Jim Plunkett makes a pass during the Raiders' 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981. Plunkett had 261 yards passing and three touchdowns on his way to winning MVP.
Super Bowl XVI (1982): San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana evades a tackle en route to winning MVP honors in Super Bowl XVI. Montana threw for one touchdown in the game and ran for another as the 49ers won 26-21.
Super Bowl XVII (1983): Washington running back John Riggins bursts through a hole during the Redskins' 27-17 victory over Miami in Super Bowl XVII. Riggins was named MVP after rushing for 166 yards and a touchdown.
Super Bowl XVIII (1984): Washington was on the losing end one year later as MVP running back Marcus Allen exploded for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Allen's Raiders, who had recently moved from Oakland to Los Angeles, blew out the Redskins 38-9.
Super Bowl XIX (1985): Three years after winning his first Super Bowl MVP award, Joe Montana was at it again as he led the 49ers to a 38-16 victory over Miami. This time, "Joe Cool" threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns.
Super Bowl XX (1986): Chicago Bears defensive end Richard Dent (No. 95) sacks New England quarterback Steve Grogan during Super Bowl XX. Dent had two sacks and two forced fumbles as a devastating defense helped Chicago crush the Patriots 46-10.
Super Bowl XXI (1987): New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms had a performance for the ages in Super Bowl XXI, completing 22 of 25 passes as the Giants beat Denver 39-20. It remains a Super Bowl record for completion percentage. Simms also had 268 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Super Bowl XXII (1988): The Washington Redskins trailed 10-0 after a quarter of play at Super Bowl XXII, but quarterback Doug Williams threw four touchdowns in the second quarter and the rout was on. The Redskins rolled to a 42-10 victory, and Williams was named MVP after finishing with 340 passing yards.
Super Bowl XXIII (1989): San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice runs toward the goal line while playing Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII. Rice finished with 11 receptions for a Super Bowl-record 215 yards.
Super Bowl XXIV (1990): San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana raises his arms in celebration after a 49ers touchdown in Super Bowl XXIV. Montana had 297 yards passing and five touchdowns as the 49ers defeated Denver 55-10. It was the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history. Montana collected his third MVP award, and the 49ers capped a glorious run with four titles in nine years.
Super Bowl XXV (1991): Super Bowl XXV will likely always be remembered for Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood missing a field goal as time expired. But New York Giants running back Ottis Anderson won MVP in what was the closest Super Bowl ever. Anderson had 102 yards and a touchdown as the Giants prevailed 20-19.
Super Bowl XXVI (1992): The Washington Redskins won three Super Bowls in 10 years, and each came with a different starting quarterback. This time it was Mark Rypien, who was named MVP after throwing for 292 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins defeated Buffalo 37-24.
Super Bowl XXVII (1993): Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman had 273 yards and four touchdowns as the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl since 1978. Dallas trounced Buffalo 52-17, handing the Bills their third straight Super Bowl loss.
Super Bowl XXVIII (1994): Dallas running back Emmitt Smith scores against Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVIII. Smith rushed for 132 yards and three touchdowns as Dallas won 30-13 in a Super Bowl rematch from one year earlier.
Super Bowl XXIX (1995): After serving as Joe Montana's backup for several years, San Francisco quarterback Steve Young got his moment to shine in 1995. Young threw for a Super Bowl-record six touchdowns as the 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49-26.
Super Bowl XXX (1996): Dallas Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown is pushed out of bounds after one of his two interceptions in Super Bowl XXX. Brown's MVP efforts helped the Cowboys beat Pittsburgh 27-17 for their third championship in four years.
Super Bowl XXXI (1997): Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard jumps into a crowd of Green Bay Packers fans after the Packers defeated New England 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI. Howard had 244 all-purpose yards, including a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Super Bowl XXXII (1998): Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis does his signature "Mile High Salute" after scoring a touchdown against Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII. Davis rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns on his way to winning MVP.
Super Bowl XXXIII (1999): Denver quarterback John Elway smiles after scoring a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIII. Elway was named MVP of the game, throwing for 336 yards as the Broncos won back-to-back titles with a 34-19 victory over Atlanta. It was Elway's last game before he retired.
Super Bowl XXXIV (2000): MVP quarterback Kurt Warner celebrates after leading the St. Louis Rams to a 23-16 victory over Tennessee in Super Bowl XXXIV. Warner threw for a Super Bowl-record 414 yards, leading an offense that had been nicknamed "The Greatest Show on Turf."
Super Bowl XXXV (2001): One year after a high-powered offense won the Super Bowl, it was a suffocating defense that won in 2001. MVP linebacker Ray Lewis set the tone for a Baltimore Ravens team that shut down the New York Giants en route to a 34-7 victory.
Super Bowl XXXVI (2002): A star was born in Super Bowl XXXVI as second-year quarterback Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to an upset victory over the heavily favored St. Louis Rams. Brady threw for 145 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots won 20-17 on a last-second field goal by Adam Vinatieri.
Super Bowl XXXVII (2003): Tampa Bay safety Dexter Jackson had two interceptions for a vaunted Buccaneers defense that led the way to a 48-21 victory over Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004): New England quarterback Tom Brady, left, celebrates with teammates after winning a second Super Bowl in three years. Brady was MVP again, throwing for 354 yards and three touchdowns as the Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29.
Super Bowl XXXIX (2005): The Patriots became champions for the third time in four years as they defeated Philadelphia 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX. This time it was wide receiver Deion Branch who won MVP. He had 11 receptions for 133 yards.
Super Bowl XL (2006): Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward struts into the end zone during the Steelers' 21-10 victory over Seattle. Ward had 123 yards on five catches as the Steelers won their first Super Bowl since 1980.
Super Bowl XLI (2007): Quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 247 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI, leading the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 victory over Chicago.
Super Bowl XLII (2008): Manning's brother Eli won MVP the next season, as his New York Giants upset the New England Patriots and ended their hopes of an undefeated season. Manning threw for two touchdowns as the Giants won 17-14.
Super Bowl XLIII (2009): Pittsburgh wide receiver Santonio Holmes grabs the game-winning touchdown as the Steelers rallied late in the fourth quarter to beat Arizona 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII. Holmes finished with nine catches for 131 yards.
Super Bowl XLIV (2010): New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees raises his son Baylen after the Saints beat Indianapolis 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV. Brees completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
Super Bowl XLV (2011): Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had 304 passing yards and three touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers defeated Pittsburgh 31-25.
Super Bowl XLVI (2012): Eli Manning did it to the Patriots again, as the New York Giants beat New England in a Super Bowl rematch from 2008. Manning had 296 yards passing this time as the Giants won 21-17.
Super Bowl XLVII (2013): Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco fights off San Francisco linebacker Ahmad Brooks during Super Bowl XLVII, which the Ravens won 34-31. Flacco had 287 yards and three touchdowns in a game that was interrupted for 34 minutes because of a power outage.
Super Bowl XLVIII (2014): Seattle Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith runs an interception back for a touchdown during Seattle's 43-8 drubbing of Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII. Smith and Seattle's "Legion of Boom" defense stifled Peyton Manning and Denver's No. 1-rated offense.
Super Bowl XLIX (2015): New England's Tom Brady pumps his fist after throwing one of his four touchdown passes in the Patriots' 28-24 victory over Seattle. Brady joined Joe Montana as the only players to win three Super Bowl MVPs.
Super Bowl 50 (2016): Denver linebacker Von Miller knocks the ball out of Cam Newton's hand during the Broncos' 24-10 victory over Carolina. Miller had two forced fumbles in the game. Both were deep in Carolina territory, and one was recovered by a teammate for a touchdown.
Super Bowl LI (2017): Tom Brady threw for a Super Bowl-record 466 yards as New England completed the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. The Patriots trailed Atlanta 28-3 in the third quarter but rallied to win in overtime. It was Brady's fourth MVP award.
Super Bowl LII (2018): Nick Foles wasn't the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback for most of the season. But after Carson Wentz went down for the year with a knee injury, Foles stepped up and led the team to the title. He finished the playoff run by throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-33 victory over New England. He also caught a touchdown pass on a trick play.
Super Bowl LIII (2019): New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was one of the few offensive bright spots in what was the lowest-scoring Super Bowl of all time. He caught 10 passes for 141 yards as the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 for their sixth Lombardi Trophy.
Super Bowl LIV (2020): Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes became the youngest Super Bowl MVP in history after the Chiefs defeated San Francisco 31-20. The 24-year-old threw for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to overcome a 10-point deficit.
Super Bowl LV (2021): Tom Brady threw for three touchdowns as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9. Brady was named the game's Most Valuable Player for the fifth time — an NFL record.
Super Bowl LVI (2022): Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught two touchdowns, including the game-winning score, as the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.
Super Bowl LVII (2023): Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for three touchdowns as the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.
With a win on Sunday, Newton would join some rare company.
Should Newton and the Panthers come out on top of Super Bowl 50, Newton could end up with the "grand slam" of college football and NFL hardware: the Heisman Trophy, a national championship, an NFL Most Valuable Player Award (he's all but a lock to win; the announcement will be Saturday) and a Super Bowl ring.
Newton won the Heisman as well as the national championship in his one season at Auburn in 2010.
The only other player to accomplish all those feats? Marcus Allen, who played for the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Raiders. Allen won the national championship in 1978 when he was a freshman and won the Heisman in 1981. He was the NFL MVP in 1985. Allen was part of the Raiders' team that won Super Bowl XVIII in the 1983 season, winning MVP honors in that game as well.
But perhaps Newton's feats would be even more impressive, with his college accolades coming in the same season and his NFL honors also happening in the same year.
All the Super Bowl rings
The Kansas City Chiefs received this ring for winning Super Bowl LVII in 2023. Rings have been made for every NFL champion since the first Super Bowl in 1967.
Super Bowl I: Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl III: New York Jets
Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts
Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XI: Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XIV: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XV: Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XVII: Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders
Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears
Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants
Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants
Super Bowl XXVI: Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXVIII: Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXIX: San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXXI: Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XXXII: Denver Broncos
Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver Broncos
Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams
Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots
Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England Patriots
Super Bowl XXXIX: New England Patriots
Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants
Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints
Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants
Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl XLVIII: Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots
Super Bowl 50: Denver Broncos
Super Bowl LI: New England Patriots
Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl LIII: New England Patriots
Super Bowl LIV: Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LV: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl LVI: Los Angeles Rams
Actually, there's more: Before he arrived at Auburn, while in junior college Newton and his team won the 2009 NJCAA National Football Championship.
Should Newton accomplish all this Sunday, perhaps the feat should be called, as CBS Sports dubbed it, a Cam Slam.
"His confidence is through the roof right now," Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert said. "He's playing extremely well."
No. 1 vs. No. 1
This is a fan's dream. The Broncos are the top seed from the AFC; the Panthers were No. 1 in the NFC. Carolina has the best offense; Denver has the best defense. This is as No. 1 vs. No. 1 as you can get for a Super Bowl matchup.
Additionally, there will be some history on Sunday. This is the first Super Bowl pitting quarterbacks who were No. 1 overall NFL draft picks against each other. Manning was drafted No. 1 overall in 1998, when Newton was 8 years old. After his Heisman and national championship campaign at Auburn, Newton was the top pick of the 2011 NFL draft.
An aging Manning hasn't carried the Broncos this season. The defense unquestionably has. This probably is the best defense Manning has ever had, and this will be Carolina's stiffest challenge yet.
Denver led the NFL in total defense, pass defense and sacks. The good news: With a unit like this, the Broncos don't need to score a ton of points on offense. More good news: The Broncos defense gave up more than 30 points just once this season, against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 15.
"I just think right now we're a one-of-a-kind defense," Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said. "We have a defense that has elite players on each level. You have great D-linemen, great linebackers and a great secondary. I don't know if they've faced a team that has elite players at each level."
But no quarterback Denver has faced this season resembles Newton. The Panthers led the NFL with 31.3 points per game during the regular season and averaged a staggering 40 points per game in their two postseason games. That starts with Newton, who is responsible for 79.3% of the Panthers' offensive scores this season.
"I think Cam's very important to who we are." Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said. "I think the big thing, more so than anything else, is these young men really rally around one another and Cam understands. He knows and his teammates know. ... It is a team game and we get the fact that Cam is a star."
The Broncos can't afford to be in a shootout with the Panthers; Denver averaged 22.2 points per game in the regular season. The Broncos also win nail-biters, going 11-3 in games decided by seven points or less.
With that type of success, they're confident that Manning won't have to carry them on his back.
"I think Peyton just needs to be Peyton," tight end Owen Daniels said. "I don't think he needs to do anything extravagant or crazy. We've got an outstanding defense. We've got a run game that has been outstanding the second half of the season.
"We've got to play well all around Peyton. That's a big thing for us. If we play well all around him, we're going to be just fine because we know he's going to do his job. He's going to put us in the right place in every situation. He's going to manage stuff at the line of scrimmage. He doesn't need to go out and be a superhero. We'll help him out. It's going to be a team effort like it has been all season for us. You haven't seen us light up the scoreboard offensively. It's been all team wins, all grind-it-out type of wins. I feel like it will be another one of those type of games. We're ready for it."
We've come a long way from Super Bowl I
On January 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The game was known as the "First AFL-NFL World Championship" and retroactively became known as Super Bowl I. It was broadcast on CBS (which had the television rights to NFL games) and NBC (which held AFL rights). Can you imagine that happening today?
No one could have predicted how huge the Super Bowl would become. Today, Super Bowl 50 truly is a global affair. This year's game will be televised live in more than 170 countries and territories and will be broadcast in nearly 25 languages. In the United States, more than 100 million viewers tuned in for last year's game.
It's also evident in the way Super Bowl I was treated after the game was over. This sounds crazy today, but neither CBS nor NBC saved a tape of the broadcast. It took months to complete, but NFL Films recently was able to locate all 145 plays from the game and restore the footage. In January, Super Bowl I re-aired for the first time on the NFL Network.
Now, the big game isn't just limited to TV sets. Super Bowl 50 will be streamed live across desktop, tablet, smartphones and connected TV platforms such as Xbox.
The progression of the Super Bowl moving to the big time is reflected in its entertainment as well. Super Bowl 50's halftime show headliners are Coldplay and Beyonce. Super Bowl I's halftime entertainment: the University of Arizona and University of Michigan marching bands.
A ticket to Super Bowl I ranged from $6-$12, according to Sports Illustrated, and even then, there were empty seats. For Super Bowl 50, tickets are selling for an average price of around $5,000 and the price is on track to be the highest for a sporting event in U.S. history.
"This year's Super Bowl is on pace to not only be the most expensive Super Bowl, but the most expensive event, topping things like the Mayweather-Pacquiao boxing match and The Masters," Chris Leyden, analyst with SeatGeek, told CNNMoney on January 25.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated only one African-American quarterback has started a Super Bowl game.