Super Bowl 50: Something for everyone in Bay Area

Cam Newton and the Panthers face Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium, and the Bay Area is bracing itself for a nightmarish week that expects a million people participating in festivities.
In his 18th season, Manning will appear in his fourth Super Bowl. Five-year veteran Newton, only 8 years old when Manning was drafted in 1998, will make his Super Bowl debut.
Super Bowl 50 marks the first time that two former No. 1 overall draft picks will go head to head. This Super Bowl will also have the number one and two picks from the same draft: Cam Newton was the No. 1 in the 2011 NFL Draft, and Broncos’ linebacker Von Miller went No. 2.
This contest showcases two different styles of quarterbacking.
Manning will beat you with preparation and pure football IQ. Newton can beat you with his arm, his feet, hit the dab and then flash his teeth.
“I expect a lot of dancing from Cam Newton,” said Jacob Cobos, undeclared major.
Those who follow football know well that Newton loves to enjoy the game and is not afraid to show you his enthusiasm after a big play.
“When people watch me play, I want them to say, ‘Damn, he’s having so much fun, he makes the game fun’,” Newton told Sports Illustrated.
On the other side, we have the sheriff, who might be playing his last NFL game.
After the Broncos’ victory over the Patriots, Manning was caught by NFL Network cameras telling the Patriots head coach, “Hey, listen, this my might be my last rodeo.”
Before this season, Manning made a living carving up opponents’ defenses, but injury put his 2015 season on hold. With a less than encouraging performance by back-up QB Brock Osweiler, many believed the Broncos didn’t have enough to make a Super Bowl run.
After Peyton got hurt, I did not expect the Broncos to make it, said Cesar Fernandez, administration of justice major but defense wins championships.
Defense is the reason both teams have found themselves days from playing in the biggest game of the year.
During the regular season, the Broncos’ defense ranked No. 1, while Carolina’s ranked No. 6, according to NFL.com
Carolina’s defense might be without linebacker Thomas Davis, who broke his forearm in their win over the Arizona Cardinals.
As for Denver, they might be without starting safeties TJ Ward (ankle) and Derian Stewart, who suffered an MCL sprain in the AFC Championship against the Patriots.
Carolina’s offense has put on a show in the postseason, routing the two teams they’ve played, averaging over 41 points a game in the postseason.
The Super Bowl is not just about the game played on Sunday. It’s a whole two weeks of festivities. This year, Santa Clara and the entire Bay Area have the honor of hosting the grand event.
“It’s exciting,” said Vianca Dinapoli, a kinesiology major at De Anza College. “It could have been anywhere else, but it’s here.”
Many Bay Area cities are gearing up with their own celebrations during the week of the Super Bowl.
San Francisco is hosting Super Bowl City, which starts on Jan. 30, an event which feature many games and events for family and friends to enjoy.
San Jose will host its own version of Super Bowl City downtown, which will include many small games, events and ice skating.
With these events being held, locals around the area should be prepared for several streets being closed down.
“I live five minutes away from the stadium,” said Daryl Jones, a biomedical engineer major. “So I expect a lot of traffic and roads to be closed the week of the Super Bowl.”
So the fight won’t only be between the two teams on Super Bowl Sunday, as locals and tourist expect to fight their way through weeks of traffic.