The NFC Champion Carolina Panthers enter this game coming off a 35 point victory in the NFC championship game. Led by quarterback Cam Newton, an MVP of the league candidate, who is only 13 years younger than his counterpart, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. According to NFL.com statistics, Carolina was the highest scoring team in the league this past season, despite losing their number one wideout, Kelvin Benjamin, to a season-ending injury before the season even began. What makes this story even more unlikely, is their record the previous season was sub .500 at 7-8-1. This can be credited to “SuperCam’s” ability to not only throw the rock, but extend plays with this legs. As long as they have Cam with the ball in his hands, all of Carolina figures they have a chance to win this game.

The Denver Broncos are coming of a nailbiting AFC Championship game with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, in which Denver came out victorious with a 20-18. On their side is 5 time NFL MVP Peyton Manning, who is appearing in his fourth Super Bowl, with a 1-2 record overall. What has led the Broncos to this point has been the power of their defense. Ranked in the top 5 in yards per game and points per game, Denver’s stout defense gave Brady fits in the Championship game and will hope to do the same to Newton on Sunday. The Broncos, like the Panthers, had a dramatic offseason. They fired their coach John Fox, who led them to the AFC Championship game the year prior and the Super Bowl the year before that, and hired former Houston Texans Coach Gary Kubiak. Kubiak has instilled toughness in this team that they believe gives them a chance in this game.

Coach: Ron Rivera

Regular season record: 15-1

Coach: Gary Kubiak

Regular season record: 12-4

Venue: Santa Clara, Calif. brand new stadium

Every year, my friend and I order Chinese food and watch the game together, it’s been a tradition for the past 4 years or so. I’m not sure why we get Chinese food, other than the fact that I like Chinese food. It has no connection to the Super Bowl. -junior Jeremy Contardi

I enjoy the commercials more. Not just the funny ones, but the ones that are emotional, too. Whenever they have dogs, the dogs always get me. -senior Kamryn Matthews

The most memorable super bowl in my lifetime would be Super Bowl XX when the ’85 Chicago Bears thrashed the New England Patriots. I was never, and still am not, a fan of either of these teams, but the defense was so punishing and they had that huge lineman that they called “The Fridge”. That game just always sticks in my mind. -teacher Jason Watkins