SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It wasn’t a mile high, but it sure looked like a Denver home game Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium, with a sea of orange in the stands dominated by thrilled and loud Broncos fans after their team beat the Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50.
“It definitely felt like a home game,’’ Broncos safety T.J. Ward said. “Our fans were deep, deep no doubt. Having them travel the way they did and show up and show that support, it was like being at Mile High. It was definitely a home feeling without the altitude, so that was cool.’’
Panthers coach Ron Rivera is known as Riverboat Ron for his gambling ways, but he lost a replay challenge in the first quarter. Rivera disputed a pass to Jerricho Cotchery that was ruled incomplete.
Cotchery double-clutched on a pass over the middle, then was hit by safety Darian Stewart, then fell to the grass and rolled over trying to hold onto the ball.
Rivera won a replay challenge in the second quarter disputing what was ruled an incomplete pass by Peyton Manning when he tried an underhand shovel pass. Rivera won the challenge and the play was overturned to Manning being down by contact. The Panthers gained 7 yards with the reversal.
This was the greatest age discrepancy with the starting quarterbacks in Super Bowl history. Cam Newton is 26, Manning is 39. … Broncos CB Aqib Talib was called for three penalties in the first half, two for unsportsmanlike conduct. In the first quarter, he was called for a 15-yard taunting penalty for jawing with Panthers WR Corey Brown, giving the Panthers a first down after Newton on third down was sacked for an 8-yard loss.
Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart was forced out in the first quarter with a left foot injury but was able to return late in the quarter. … Brown leaped to haul in a 42-yard pass in the third quarter but came down with an injured calf. … Panthers DE Kony Ealy had a brilliant performance with three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.
How much was this game dominated by defense? The teams were a combined 4-of-29 on third down. … Von Miller became the 10th defensive player in 50 years to be named Super Bowl MVP. … Manning, at 39, is the oldest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. John Elway (38) was previously the oldest. Manning is the first quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl for two different teams. He won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts. … Manning becomes the first quarterback with 200 career wins (186 regular season, 14 postseason). Brett Favre has 199.
Jordan Norwood’s 61-yard punt return in the second quarter for the Broncos is the longest in Super Bowl history. Norwood seemed to confuse the Panthers, making them think he was going to call for a fair catch.
“It was a short punt and a lot of times guys will just run past it, and they didn’t so I just decided to roll with it,’’ Norwood said. … The team wearing white jerseys has won 11 of the last 12 Super Bowls. … The Broncos set an NFL record with 11 wins by seven or fewer points, counting the postseason.
Odell Beckham Jr. is everywhere, but he wasn’t in the Bay Area this week and he did not attend Super Bowl 50.
“I didn’t ever really plan on going to the Super Bowl until I’m playing in one,’’ Beckham said on a phone call to promote his Buick commercial that aired during the game.
The Giants are 12-20 in Beckham’s two years with the Giants, finishing both seasons far away from the Super Bowl.
“I hope so, next year,’’ he said. “That’s obviously the goal every single year to play in the Super Bowl, been the dream of every NFL player since they were a kid. We’re all working for it, and that’s obviously where we all want to be.’’
As for life without Tom Coughlin and with his former offensive coordinator, Ben McAdoo, Beckham was surprisingly noncommittal.
“I can’t really predict the future,’’ Beckham said. “I know he’s a great coach, he’s a great guy. Actually just getting to talk to him and gear up for next year, we’re all excited. Everybody’s looking forward to it.’’
As for what changes are needed, Beckham said: “You have to win games, first and foremost. You have to win the close ones, you have to win the blowout ones. Winning is pretty much everything, so finding ways to win. You win as many games as you can, and that probably puts you in the big show.’’
Warriors star guard Stephen Curry, a huge Panthers fan — he grew up in Charlotte, N.C., and attended nearby Davidson College — served as the honorary “Keep Pounding” drummer for the Panthers.
Hitting the drum for the Panthers honors their former linebacker and coach, Sam Mills, the New Jersey native who died of cancer and inspired the team’s “Keep Pounding’’ mantra.
Brandon McManus hit field goals of 34, 33 and 30 yards and finished this postseason 10 for 10. That’s the most field goals without a miss in a single postseason in NFL history. McManus played in four 2014 preseason games for the Giants, but Josh Brown beat him out for a roster spot and the Giants traded him to the Broncos.