Super Bowl 50: Five reasons the Denver Broncos can win

4. The Denver pass rush

There was one way to beat Tom Brady and his mighty offensive machine, and that was exploiting the A gap and covering the corners on the pass rush. While Newton was only sacked 33 times in 2015, he didn’t face a fierce pass rush like the Broncos have. It’s not just the well-known names like Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, but the underrated skill set rushers like Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson. This assorted mix of rushers will cut off some off the space Newton has to run with.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips likes to mix and match his blitz packages and throw different shades at the opposing offensive line and quarterback. Can Newton and company handle this type of pressure? Will they collapse? They overran the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals early, but may run into trouble with a defensive line and front seven that really limits the running room of Newton and running back Jonathan Stewart.

Denver’s biggest strength is their pass rush and not just sacks. It’s the overall ability to create pressure, force bad throws and cause erosion in another team’s game plan.

Next: 3. Secondary is fierce