Carolina, Denver Headed To Super Bowl

When Peyton Manning was watching games from the locker room a few months ago, none of this seemed possible.

Manning, back on the field, playing the role of the most decorated game manager in history. Manning churning his 39-year-old legs around right end for a 12-yard gain and a first down. Manning back in the Super Bowl.

The strangest season of No. 18's Hall of Fame career will play itself out all the way to the last game. Manning and the Denver Broncos are heading to the Super Bowl, thanks to his efficient offense and a big-play defense that saved a 20-18 victory over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on Sunday.

"It's been a unique season," Manning said. "And this game today was a unique football game."

Manning's third-quarter scramble for a first down -- "the run," he called it, using air quotes -- might be the most celebrated scramble by a Broncos quarterback since John Elway helicoptered in the Super Bowl 18 years ago. It was certainly the most unexpected.

"He's going to do what he has to do to win," Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's one of the greatest competitors ever in this league."

That play helped flip the field early in the second half for the Broncos (14-4). Then defense saved the day.

Manning's fourth trip to the Super Bowl wasn't wrapped up until cornerback Bradley Roby picked off Brady's pass on a two-point attempt that would have tied the game with 12 seconds left.

Brady hit a double-covered Rob Gronkowski in the back of the end zone on fourth down from the 4 to set up the potential tie. The Patriots had to go for two because Stephen Gostkowski pushed an extra point to the right in the first quarter -- his first miss in 524 tries.

"All day, these guys put their bodies and lives on the line, and for me to come out here and miss a kick, it's a nightmare scenario," Gostkowski said.

That left it to one play, and after the Broncos took a timeout to give DeMarcus Ware time to rest and get back in the game, Aqib Talib stepped in front of Brady's pass and deflected it skyward.

Roby, who forced the game-changing fumble in last week's victory over Pittsburgh, made the pick. The Broncos recovered the onside kick, and the celebration began.

Panthers 49, Cardinals 15

Superman is bringing his cape and his pen to Super Bowl 50. He's leaving behind his camera.

"Yeah, we are going to the Super Bowl. We are not going just to take pictures," Cam Newton said Sunday after leading the Carolina Panthers into the big game with a 49-15 rout of Arizona for the NFC championship. "We are trying to finish this thing off."

That would be against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in two weeks.

"Playing the sheriff," Newton said of Manning. "We're going to live in the moment right now. We're going to be excited."

Newton threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others, and Carolina's big-play defense stifled Arizona's top-ranked offense. The 49 points were the most for an NFC title game winner.

The NFL's new top man at quarterback -- Newton is an All-Pro this season -- goes against five-time MVP Manning. Carolina is favored by four points.

"We've been dreaming about this moment since Day 1," Newton said. "Our pen has a lot more ink left."

It will be Newton's first trip to the Super Bowl and the second for the Panthers (17-1), who lost to New England 12 years ago. Denver, of course, has made a habit of going to Super Bowls, reaching it for a record-tying eighth time.

And while the Broncos' defense carried it past New England 20-18 for the AFC crown, Carolina's D was just as destructive. It picked off Carson Palmer four times, forced two fumbles by him and never let up the assault.

Special teams also had a takeaway, and when Carolina grabbed a 24-7 halftime lead this time, it didn't back off, as it did in nearly blowing a 31-point margin a week ago versus Seattle.

When Newton flew into the end zone for a 12-yard third-quarter touchdown -- no, he didn't have the cape on -- he posed like a superhero, dabbed a bit, and pointed the Panthers toward the Bay Area.

Newton finished with 335 yards passing and 47 rushing as Carolina won its 13th straight home game, including three in the playoffs.

One of his biggest helpers was Ted Ginn Jr., who was dumped by the Cardinals after last season. Ginn had a 32-yard punt return to set up his weaving 22-yard TD run and chased down All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson to prevent a second-quarter touchdown. He also had 52 yards on two receptions.

"Yes, it was personal," Ginn said. "My team knew it was personal."

Carolina's defense did the rest, most notably making Palmer uncomfortable in the pocket and turning Larry Fitzgerald, the star of last week's overtime victory against Green Bay, into a virtual non-entity. It led the league with 39 takeaways, and at times it made an Arizona team that gained more yards than anyone look amateurish.

Sunday, February 7 Schedule (Time Central)

Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos, 5:30 p.m., CBS Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara

SUPER BOWL 50