Denver Broncos

The Panthers-Broncos Super Bowl rematch to open 2016 season is perfect

Published Apr. 14, 2016 6:07 p.m. ET

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Fans won't have to wait long for a Super Bowl 50 rematch. Or at all.

The Carolina Panthers will go on the road to face the Denver Broncos in the NFL's traditional Thursday night opener hosted by the reigning Super Bowl champions. This would mark the first time that the season kick-off game will be a rematch of the previous season's finale, which saw the Broncos beat the Panthers 24-10 in what would be Peyton Manning's final game.

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Ever since Denver won the Super Bowl in February, thus earning the right to host that Thursday opener, it was hard not to notice that the team's home schedule (i.e. the only eight possible games that could have been scheduled) had that Carolina game sitting there in flashing neon lights. But there was a prevailing thought that the NFL wouldn't "waste" one of the season's top matchups in a game everybody will be watching anyway. The general rule about these Thursday games has been to schedule a good game, not a great one.

That strategy was going to be problematic this year. In addition to Denver's AFC West slate, the Broncos are hosting the Texans, Colts, Falcons, Patriots and Panthers. The Texans and Falcons were obvious nos. The Colts might have been tempting had they not sputtered to an 8-8 finish last year. So that left two teams at the NFL's disposal. There was no realistic middle ground: It was either an AFC championship rematch against the Patriots or a Super Bowl rematch against the Panthers. 

(Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/TNS via Getty Images)

So why Cam and not Tom? With the Broncos quarterback situation so unsettled, leading to the very-real possibility that Mark Sanchez will be under center for Denver in Week 1, the league obviously needed star power at the sport's marquee position. Brady would have obviously provided that and, not that I think this was a factor, but we can all agree we've seen enough Sanchez vs. Brady matchups for one lifetime. 

No, Carolina was the right choice because it has the dual effect of bringing in the most pregame hype (that Super Bowl rematch thing) as well as giving Cam Newton the biggest stage in the sport, something that he and the Panthers only had in a few spots last regular season. They weren't all over your televisions in stand-alone games like the Broncos and Patriots were. 

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Newton is the NFL's future, while Brady will soon be joining Peyton Manning as the NFL's past. The league needs to give him as much exposure as possible. What better spot than a Super Bowl rematch to open the season?

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