Cam Newton vs. Peyton Manning

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While the Tennessee Volunteers’ football season is over, Vol fans still have one more game to watch. This Sunday, the entire nation will turn its attention to Super Bowl 50, where former Tennessee star Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos will face off against Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers.

Newton, a Heisman-winning product of Auburn University (by way of Florida and Blinn College), leads a ferocious Panthers offense with a skill set that few in today’s game seem to possess. He is the epitome of what America now believes an NFL quarterback should look like, a dual-threat star that knows when to use his arm or his legs. He is the perfect fit for Carolina’s run-and-gun scheme but his counterpart, Manning, possesses a style of his own that just might get the job done one last time.

Manning, a product of the University of Tennessee, has been in the league for 18 years and won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. Over his illustrious career, Manning has set a number of records, including most career passing yards and touchdown passes.

Manning is well protected by his offensive line and is able to throw the ball with time to spare. He has thrown for 71,940 yards and for a total of 539 touchdowns during his career in the NFL. He is able to connect with his receivers and is effective in making completions. While Newton may be better in the run game, Manning is arguably better at throwing the ball than Newton, which may be what this game comes down to.

Although it took him a solid first season to establish himself in the league, Newton now ranks among the NFL’s top quarterbacks. Since being drafted in 2011, Newton has thrown for 3,837 yards, 117 touchdowns and rushed for 43 touchdowns in comparison to Peyton’s 18 on the ground.

The final statistic in that list alone gives insight into the different quarterbacking styles that will clash in this year’s Super Bowl. This game will be one to watch as fans will debate if it will be Manning’s last game and if Newton will be able to steal a Super Bowl ring from him. Newton leads the Panthers in pursuit of the franchise’s first NFL title while “The Sheriff” looks to cap off a Hall of Fame career with his second Super Bowl victory.

Super Bowl 50 kicks off at 6:30 p.m. EST at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It will be televised on CBS.

Co-written by: Jake Nichols

Edited by Jordan Dajani