I just took the time( that I don't have) and read that Pulitzer-prize material article. Well-thought out and concise on it's points.
My quick take: The Broncos endured those 4th down Brady missiles the 2nd half of the AFC game, and that also served as a "wake-up" call. DC Wade Phillips, who is a far better D coach than Head Coach, is one, if not THE Best D coordinator in the NFL. He will figure out how to keep Cam from getting those scampers on the 3rd-and-longs that they will be forced into.
The CAR receivers don't keep Martians on Mars waiting for the USA to attack; I saw Ted Ginn Jr. drop so many passes the last TWO seasons I can't believe that he is still in the League.
But the one wild-card( no pun intended) no one has touched upon is why I am sticking with my Broncos pick: The CAR back 4 is their only weakness, very exploitable. I can see DEN WR D. Thomas burning the CAR back 4 often. Yes, CAR D has held the TE's all season long, but what other QB in the game can sneak in the occasional TE Screen, a la Dan Fouts days...
I saw Manning roll to his right against the Patriots and complete most, if not all of those passes. I am looking for more of the same today.
If Manning can muster up one last performance the Broncos will win.
If Manning gets hurt, they always have 6' 8" Osweiler. I don't know who the Panther's back-up QB is. Why am I even mentioning that? Because it could boil down to the bench on both teams.
The healthier team is actually the Broncos right now.
Special teams I have to give the edge to the Broncos.
I just think that the Broncos can come back from a deficit easier than the Panthers. If the Broncs can jump out to a 21-0 lead early, game over. CAR is not built to come back from big deficits; the Broncos can and have done so.
Both teams have great HC's, but again I quote the late, great O.A.( Bum) Phillips( Wade's father): " I never seen a coach score a touchdown".
I also recall that Atlanta game, week 15( CAR's 15th game), they lost to a team that was not very good. Even then the Falcons tried to give the game back to CAR with the worst clock management I ever seen, and CAR did get the last chance with 35 seconds left. A FG ties the game. Cam fumbled the ball the very first play.
Cam may think he is Superman, but he might be overconfident( see Brady 2007 vs. NY Giants). Manning knows he is a sitting duck, he knows what the situation is, he knows football better than any other player/coach/fan in the stadium today. Manning is going to surprise 50 million fans today. Bank it.
Jaxterspix