Super Bowl 50 resembled an SEC reunion in more ways than one.

First, Peyton Manning (Tennessee) and Cam Newton (Auburn) were the two starting quarterbacks. Second, the game was filled with sacks and turnovers — defensive disruption ruled the night.

In all, 23 players on the active roster for the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers played college football at current SEC schools. Perhaps the two most impactful — Von Miller (Texas A&M, pre-SEC) and Kony Ealy (Missouri) — are each familiar to SEC fans.

The game featured 12 sacks, 6 turnovers and 15 punts. The teams combined for 4-of-29 on third down. There were as many defensive touchdowns as offensive touchdowns until the final 3:08.

Still, the game will go down in history as the third Super Bowl ever to feature two starting quarterbacks from the SEC. And since Denver won, 24-10, Manning claimed his second Lombardi Trophy in what could be his final NFL game.

Here’s an overview of the SEC’s contributions to Super Bowl 50.

CAM VS. PEYTON

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Both Peyton Manning and Cam Newton were under duress most of the night.

The headliners entering the game, they got battered into submission in the second half.

Manning won this Super Bowl without throwing a touchdown in the second half in the entirety of the playoffs. The team virtually abandoned the passing game after halftime, nursing a short lead and relying on the defense.

Meanwhile, Newton got hit so often that with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, when the ball got knocked out of his hand, he bypassed an opportunity to dive on it.

The Broncos won this game with defense, and the Panthers’ defense kept them in it. Neither quarterback looked especially sharp at any point, although Newton did find Ted Ginn Jr. and Corey Brown for a few long gains.

One has to believe that Manning now will choose to retire with two Super Bowl wins, tying his brother Eli Manning.

QUARTERBACK TEAM COMP./ATT. YDS. TDs/INTs FUMBLES/LOST
Peyton Manning Denver Broncos 13/23 141 0/1 2/1
Cam Newton Carolina Panthers 18/41 265 0/1 2/2

KONY EALY, VON MILLER, MALIK JACKSON MAKE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST HALF

Former Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy’s first half was emblematic of the game, then 13-7 in favor of Denver.

With the Broncos threatening to take a two-score lead at halftime, Ealy snared a Manning pass with one of his big mitts, then made an athletic return the other direction. He also added a sack of Manning in the half.

The only play that upstaged Ealy’s interception? Von Miller’s strip sack of Newton that created a defensive touchdown for the Broncos.

Miller, who played for Texas A&M before the Aggies migrated to the SEC, teamed with several others to harass the Carolina quarterback most of the game.

The second pick of the 2011 draft stripped the first pick midway through the first quarter on a particularly violent play. Former Tennessee defensive end Malik Jackson pounced on the ball for a touchdown.

DISRUPTION A BIG PART OF THE GAME

Most of the SEC players of note in Super Bowl 50 played defense. The defenses in this game were particularly disruptive.

  • Former South Carolina safety Darian Stewart dislodged the football from Mike Tolbert, ending what had been a promising second-quarter drive.
  • In the third quarter, former Missouri defensive end Shane Ray delivered a jolting hit to Cam Newton as he wound up for a long pass. The CBS Sports cameras caught Newton grimacing and rubbing his shoulder after the play.
  • Ray also forced a fumble. Ealy, Miller and Stewart all recorded sacks in the game.
  • On that same drive, T.J. Ward intercepted a Newton pass, and then fumbled. Luckily for Denver, former Kentucky linebacker Danny Trevathan was there to scoop up the loose football.
  • Miller was one of the most disruptive players on the field all game, whether or not he always got a sack or a tackle because of it.

  • On consecutive plays in the fourth quarter, Charles Johnson (former Georgia defensive end) and Ealy swatted the ball out of Manning’s hand. On the second one, Ealy recovered the fumble at midfield.

  • Miller sealed the game in the fourth quarter with yet another strip sack of Newton. Carolina trailed, 16-10, at the time, and the turnover gave Denver possession inside the 10-yard line with less than 4 minutes left. The Broncos punched it into the end zone to seal the outcome.

“OFFENSIVE” LINEMEN

Carolina’s starting offensive line has a strong SEC influence, including former LSU guard Trai Turner and former Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher. But the two of them didn’t have their best game.

To be fair, Denver’s defensive front has embarrassed a lot of offensive lines this season.

At least former Alabama guard Evan Mathis sprung a few running plays with some nice blocks.

THE BIG LEG

Field position often is a corrolary to good defense. Super Bowl 50 was no exception.

Denver punter Britton Colquitt, formerly of the Tennessee Volunteers, booted the ball nine times and averaged 48 yards per punt. He landed two of those inside the 20, but allowed just two punt return yards for the Panthers or Ginn.