Super Bowl 50 is filled with numerous intriguing storylines, but some of them fly under the radar. Aside from the obvious questions about Peyton Manning and offense vs. defense, let’s look at the less conspicuous storylines.
Super Bowl Jerseys
For an accurate predictor of Super Bowl champions, look no further than the threads of the players on the field. In the last 13 Super Bowls, 12 have been won by the team wearing white, with only the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV as the exception. The home and away teams switch every year, so this year the AFC representative, the Denver Broncos, chose their jerseys first. Instead of going with the orange jersey worn in Super Bowl XLVIII and the past two postseason games, the Broncos opted for their white away jersey, with superstition as a possible reason. Carolina chose its snazzy black jerseys with gray pants, a look that the team has worn in only two playoff games in their history. Jersey color won’t put a team over the top, but could does it reveal the future Super Bowl champion?
The John Fox Bowl
Both the Panthers and Broncos had John Fox as their previous head coach. Fox led the Panthers from 2002-2010 and coached them to their first and only appearance in a Super Bowl, a loss to the New England Patriots. After being fired by Carolina, Fox moved to Denver, where he took over a roster that added 5-time MVP Peyton Manning. Fox and the Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII but were blown out by the Seahawks. Denver’s ownership completed a full makeover of the coaching staff last offseason, forcing Fox out and replacing him with a former Bronco quarterback and assistant, Gary Kubiak. Kubiak and Carolina’s Ron Rivera, Fox’s successors, are two of the best in the league and face off in their first Super Bowls as head coaches. Meanwhile, John Fox will watch at home after his new team, the Chicago Bears, missed out on the playoffs.
Best of the 2011 Draft Class Face Off
Following a disastrous 2-14 season, Carolina selected quarterback Cam Newton from Auburn with the first overall pick in the 2011 draft. With the next pick, Denver took linebacker Von Miller from Texas A&M. Those top two picks meet five years later on the biggest stage in football. Both are the best players on their respective teams and will meet every time the Panthers have possession. Miller is one of the best rushers in football and will be instrumental in stopping the dominant Newton and the Carolina offense.
Riker's Block 