Below, The National's Sportsdesk offers its predictions for Sunday's Super Bowl 50 to determine whether the Carolina Panthers or Denver Broncos will be NFL champions:
Thomas Woods, Sports Editor
Super Bowl winner: Carolina Panthers. This is a team that has lost just once all season in a bizarre defeat to an Atlanta Falcons side they thrashed 38-0 two weeks previously. If the defences of Denver and Carolina basically cancel each other out then this game will be decided by offence. I’ll pick Cam Newton, the dynamic running quarter-back over Peyton Manning, a legend who has been awful for most of the season.
Predicted score: Carolina 31 Denver 10
Predicted MVP: Cam Newton. When he runs for his second rushing touchdown of the night, there won’t be any doubt.
Rob McKenzie, NHL writer
Super Bowl winner: Denver Broncos. What is Carolina’s weakness? Their wide receivers are average. So trust your cornerbacks, contain but do not big-blitz Cam Newton, and let Von Miller freelance. On offence, do anything to throw the Panthers off balance: go hurry-up; have a handful of designed runs for Peyton Manning; mix your formations (eg, two tight ends or two running backs).
Predicted score: Denver 14, Carolina 13
Predicted MVP: Von Miller. Because he is the variable that Carolina cannot turn into a given.
Aaron Gray, NFL writer
Super Bowl winner: Carolina Panthers. The hype has been mounting around Cam Newton and his ability to take over a game. That hype is over. It is now fact. But the reason the Panthers win this game is because of their defence. The pass rush against Peyton Manning will be stifling, which will force one of the greatest quarterbacks the game has ever known to either scramble (not his strong suit) or force the ball into tight holes against a heady secondary. Turnovers will decide the game and send Manning into retirement after yet another Super Bowl setback on his resume.
Predicted score: Carolina 28 Denver 10
Predicted MVP: Luke Kuechly. Odds are it will be Newton but I’d like to see Carolina linebacker Kuechly. The team’s leader in tackles has a nose for the ball and may just come up with that game-changing interception or forced fumble.
Kevin Jeffers, Online editor
Super Bowl winner: Denver Broncos. No part of me can pick against Peyton Manning, even though he’s closer to Trent Dilfer than Peyton Manning at this point. Luckily, like Dilfer, he has a Super Bowl-calibre defence behind him. Cam Newton hasn’t seen a pass-rush like Denver’s all season, and I think Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware give him fits. In a low-scoring slugfest, Peyton retires with his second Super Bowl ring.
Predicted score: Denver 16, Carolina 13
Predicted MVP: Von Miller. I think he disrupts Carolina’s world, with a sack and a pick.
Jonathan Raymond, Online editor
Super Bowl Winner: Carolina Panthers. Consider, for a second, just how thoroughly the Denver defence terrorised Tom Brady and the Patriots in the AFC championship game. How fast, how strong, how smothering. How decisive. Now consider that they won that game – barely – by two points.
The Panthers have a menacing defence in their own right. Not quite as good, but still very good. And they have Cam Newton. They scored 49 points against the Cardinals to win the NFC championship.
If two great defensive teams are paired against each other in Super Bowl 50, only one great offence will be standing alone on the field in Santa Clara. It belongs to the Carolina Panthers.
Predicted score: Carolina 20, Denver 9
Predicted MVP: Cam Newton. A defensive leader like Luke Kuechly or Josh Norman may deserve it, but if indeed the Panthers score their points, it will be through his excellence, and he will be rewarded accordingly.
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
The Specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 118hp
Torque: 149Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Price: From Dh61,500
On sale: Now
UAE athletes heading to Paris 2024
Equestrian
Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Al Marzooqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Karbi (four to be selected).
Judo
Men: Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (66kg), Nugzari Tatalashvili (81kg), Aram Grigorian (90kg), Dzhafar Kostoev (100kg), Magomedomar Magomedomarov (+100kg); women's Khorloodoi Bishrelt (52kg).
Cycling
Safia Al Sayegh (women's road race).
Swimming
Men: Yousef Rashid Al Matroushi (100m freestyle); women: Maha Abdullah Al Shehi (200m freestyle).
Athletics
Maryam Mohammed Al Farsi (women's 100 metres).
COMPANY PROFILE
Company: Eco Way
Started: December 2023
Founder: Ivan Kroshnyi
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Electric vehicles
Investors: Bootstrapped with undisclosed funding. Looking to raise funds from outside
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
TWISTERS
Director:+Lee+Isaac+Chung
Starring:+Glen+Powell,+Daisy+Edgar-Jones,+Anthony+Ramos
Rating:+2.5/5
Apple's Lockdown Mode at a glance
At launch, Lockdown Mode will include the following protections:
Messages: Most attachment types other than images are blocked. Some features, like link previews, are disabled
Web browsing: Certain complex web technologies, like just-in-time JavaScript compilation, are disabled unless the user excludes a trusted site from Lockdown Mode
Apple services: Incoming invitations and service requests, including FaceTime calls, are blocked if the user has not previously sent the initiator a call or request
Connectivity: Wired connections with a computer or accessory are blocked when an iPhone is locked
Configurations: Configuration profiles cannot be installed, and the device cannot enroll into mobile device management while Lockdown Mode is on
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
Maestro
Director: Bradley Cooper
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Maya Hawke
Rating: 3/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
HAJJAN
Director: Abu Bakr Shawky
Starring: Omar Alatawi, Tulin Essam, Ibrahim Al-Hasawi
Rating: 4/5
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
EMIRATES'S REVISED A350 DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE
Edinburgh: November 4 (unchanged)
Bahrain: November 15 (from September 15); second daily service from January 1
Kuwait: November 15 (from September 16)
Mumbai: January 1 (from October 27)
Ahmedabad: January 1 (from October 27)
Colombo: January 2 (from January 1)
Muscat: March 1 (from December 1)
Lyon: March 1 (from December 1)
Bologna: March 1 (from December 1)
Source: Emirates
ROUTE TO TITLE
Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
Round 2: Beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Round 3: Beat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2
Round 4: Beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0
Quarter-final: Beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2
Semi-final: Beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4
Final: Beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
More from Neighbourhood Watch