It’s on. The wait is over and thank God for that. Tonight on NBC we open the 2016-17 NFL season with the Carolina Panthers visiting the Denver Broncos in a Super Bowl 50 rematch.
As always, scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for the game notes from the NFL.
GAME MARKS 1st SB rematch on KO Weekend since 1970 (KC vs. Min)…PANTHERS: Advanced to SB 50…Won division for 6th time (1996, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015) last year…QB CAM NEWTON named NFL MVP in 2015. Became only player ever with 30+ pass TDs (35) & 10+ rush TDs (10) in season…RB JONATHAN STEWART had 1,088 scrimmage yards in 2015, 3rd career season with 1,000+ scrimmage yards…TE GREG OLSEN led team in catches (77) & rec. yards (1,104) last season & had 7 TDs. Only NFL TE with 5+ rec. TDs in each of past 8 seasons…LB LUKE KUECHLY led team with 118 tackles in 2015. Since entering NFL in 2012, leads league with 591 tackles. LB THOMAS DAVIS has 816 career tackles, 3rd among active NFC LBs. DE KONY EALY had 3 sacks & INT in SB 50. S KURT COLEMAN has 18 INTs since 2011, tied for 2nd among S (incl. playoffs)…BRONCOS: Won 3rd SB last season…QB TREVOR SIEMIAN makes 1st career start. Broncos are 1st defending SB champ to start QB with 0 career pass att. in season opener…RB C.J. ANDERSON has 5 rush TDs in past 5 at home (incl. playoffs)…WR DEMARYIUS THOMAS led team in catches (105) & rec. yards (1,304) last season. Is only Bronco with 4 consecutive 1,200-yard seasons. Since 2012, ranks 2nd in NFL with 5,787 rec. yards. Only NFL player with 5,500+ rec. yards (5,787) & 40+ rec. TDs (41) since 2012. WR EMMANUEL SANDERS had 1,135 rec. yards last year, his 2nd consecutive 1,000-yard season…Broncos led NFL in total (283.1 yards per game) & pass defense (199.6 yards per game). LB VON MILLER won SB 50 MVP & had 2.5 sacks with 2 FFs. In past 2 (AFC CG & SB), has 5 sacks, 2 FFs & INT. Since 2011, ranks 2nd in NFL with 60 sacks. LB DE MARCUS WARE is 2nd among active players with 134.5 career sacks. Incl. SB, Ware has 7.5 sacks, 3 FFs & FR in 6 games vs. Car. Ware’s teams are 6-0 in those meetings. Since 2008, CB AQIB TALIB leads NFL with 8 INT-TDs. Broncos
BUCCANEERS: DIRK KOETTER makes debut as TB head coach…QB JAMEIS WINSTON passed for 4,042 yards in 2015 & was 3rd rookie in NFL history with 4,000+ pass yards. Became 1 of 3 rookies in NFL history with 3,500+ pass yards (4,042), 20+ pass TDs (22) & 5+ rush TDs (6)…RB DOUG MARTIN ranked 2nd in NFL with 1,402 rush yards & was 4th in NFL with 1,673 scrimmage yards. Has 455 scrimmage yards (91 per game) & 4 TDs in 5 career games vs. Atl…WR MIKE EVANS had career-high 74 catches & 1,206 rec. yards last year. WR VINCENT JACKSON has 75+ rec. yards in 4 of past 5 vs. Atl. Has 1,000+ rec. yards in 4 of past 5 seasons…LB LAVONTE DAVID had 3rd most tackles (147) in NFL last year. Has 9+ tackles in 5 of past 6 vs. Atl. Since 2013, is only NFL player with 400+ tackles (437), 10+ sacks (11) & 5+ INTs (8). DT GERALD MC COY had 8.5 sacks in 2015, 5th most among NFL DTs. Has 3 consecutive seasons with 8.5+ sacks. CB BRENT GRIMES makes debut with TB. Has 4+ INTs in 5 of past 7 seasons…FALCONS: QB MATT RYAN had 4,591 pass yards last season, his 5th consecutive 4,000-yard season. Passed for 21 TDs in 2015, his 7th consecutive 20+ TD season. Franchise leader in career pass yards (32,757), comp. (2,915), TD passes (202), rating (90.9) & 300-yard pass games (35)
The game is on NBC at 8:30 p.m. It’s the Broncos. It’s the Panthers. We’re watching it.
