5 things Peyton Manning must do to win Super Bowl 50
By John Buhler
4. Don’t Force Anything on Broken Plays
One thing that easily separates a veteran quarterback from a novice is the realization that not every play can be a successful one. Some of the game’s young and exciting quarterbacks seek to extend plays with their feet to try to and salvage a broken play.
Manning has played too many big games to fall for that juvenile way of quarterbacking. He will happily throw the football out of bounds or toss the pigskin at the feet of a nearby receiver if the opposing defense foils the Broncos’ plans on a particular play.
Essentially Manning doesn’t have the luxury to force anything that isn’t there in Super Bowl 50. If all of his receivers are adequately covered, Manning shouldn’t feel obligated to make a play on third and long, opting instead to toss the ball out of bounds and live to fight another offensive series.
Denver has great players on special teams and on defense that have his back should the Broncos be unable to move the chains against the Panthers in some offensive series. To beat Carolina, Manning will have to win a game of attrition and make the most of advantageous field position situations.
He has to let the game come to him, slow things down, and not try to be the hero on every pressure-packed situation. A game can’t be won on every third and long obvious passing situation, but a game be lost on a poor decision by the quarterback in those scenarios.
Manning is the greatest quarterbacking mind in NFL history. He’ll know when the most crucial situations arise in this game. Manning will have to concede a few battles in order to win the war against a strong Panthers defense in Super Bowl 50.
Next: 3. Be Mindful of Luke Kuechly at Middle Linebacker