I think Denver is going to get the shit kicked out of them in this game. I don't want to count them out completely considering that defense they have but for myself it really comes down to the simple fact I've never seen Manning play well against top defenses in the playoffs, he always seems to come up short when he's playing a defense like Carolina. Much like Seattle 2 years ago, I think Carolina is going to have a field day with the offense, they are going to just pound them into the ground and if Denver can somehow get 15 points offensively against Carolina I'd honestly be surprised. I don't want to shit on Manning here, he's a great QB but the odds are simply not in his favor.
I think the 1st half will be low scoring, something around 10-7 because both defenses are really strong but when the 2nd half rolls around I think Cam and Co. are going to start figuring out how to beat that defense, they're going to start making plays and the longer the game goes on the more and more they are going to run away with it. By the end the Panthers will win by at least 17 points.
Denver's defense stepped up HUGE against the Patriots and straight up won them that game but they'll have to play twice as good to beat the Panthers and I don't think they'll be able to do it. Denver may have the top defense but they'll have a hell of a time containing Cam Newton the entire game as that guy can beat you in so many ways. Carolina isn't the top defense but they're just as good as Denver on the defensive end and I think they'll eat Manning alive, I really do.
Carolina has given me no reason to think they can't win this game so I have to go with them. If they were going to lose it would've been against Seattle.
