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Game Recap: Broncos 24, Panthers 10

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – They had time and they had their chances, but try as they might, the Carolina Panthers could not solve the disruptive Denver defense in Super Bowl 50, suffering a 24-10 defeat to the Broncos at Levi's Stadium.

"Denver did some really good things on the defensive side of the ball and made some plays," head coach Ron Rivera said. "Pass rush was strong for them, and unfortunately we didn't capitalize when we got the ball down near the red zone."

Carolina, despite all its uncharacteristic turnovers and penalties, had the ball twice trailing 16-10 in the fourth quarter.

The first time, the Panthers went three-and-out. The second time, on third-and-9, quarterback Cam Newton was strip-sacked for the second time in the game by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. Safety T.J. Ward recovered the ball at the Carolina 4-yard line, leading to a game-sealing 2-yard touchdown run by running back C.J. Anderson.

"So many times things just wouldn't go right and then we'd find our rhythm, but we couldn't sustain it," tight end Greg Olsen said. "It seemed like every time we settled into a rhythm and settled into a comfort zone, something else went wrong."

Carolina produced 315 total yards compared Denver's 194. The Panthers had 21 first downs compared to Denver's 11. But those stats were irrelevant in determining the outcome.

Not only did the Broncos defense produce four takeaways and seven sacks, they scored one of the game's three touchdowns.

After Denver opened the scoring with a 34-yard field goal, Miller strip-sacked Newton, and defensive end Malik Jackson made the recovery in the end zone.

Thanks to that defensive touchdown, the Broncos never trailed.

Running back Jonathan Stewart capped a 73-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 10-7, but that was as close as Carolina got.

The game took a strange turn late in the first half. The Panthers' punt coverage team mistakenly thought Denver returner Jordan Norwood was calling for a fair catch, and that hesitation allowed him to escape down the sideline for a 61-yard return. Defensive end Mario Addison made the touchdown-saving tackle at the Carolina 14-yard line.

The Broncos were forced to settle for a 33-yard field, extending their lead to 13-7.

Carolina looked primed to answer as fullback Mike Tolbert lowered his shoulder at the Denver 40-yard line, but he fumbled the ball away after colliding with safety Darian Stewart.

Three plays later, defensive end Kony Ealy dropped into coverage and used one hand to pick off quarterback Peyton Manning's pass for wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Ealy became the first player in Super Bowl history to record multiple sacks and an interception.

After the teams exchanged three-and-outs, the Panthers had a chance to cut into the deficit, taking over at their own 19-yard line with 1:55 remaining in the half. The Panthers advanced past midfield, but linebacker DeMarcus Ware sacked Newton to run out the clock.

"We had plenty of opportunities to take control of the game and we couldn't do it," center Ryan Kalil said. "Our defense played lights out. They gave us opportunities time and time again."

The Panthers took the ball into Denver territory with the opening possession of the second half, but no points came of it after Graham Gano's 44-yard kick clanked off the right upright.

The Broncos then extended their lead to 16-7 with a 30-yard field goal with 8:18 remaining in the third quarter.

Again, Carolina looked ready to answer, but again the Panthers were turned away. Newton's pass over the middle into the red zone for wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. went off his hands and was picked off by Ward, who fumbled, but linebacker Danny Trevathan made the recovery for Denver at its own 7-yard line.

"Their defense got more turnovers than we did, and that was a huge difference," defensive tackle Star Lotulelei said. "We could have put our offense in better positions."

View game action photos from Carolina's 24-10 loss to Denver in Super Bowl 50.