The Carolina Panthers played their worst game of the season on Sunday night. There's only one problem: it came during the Super Bowl. During the Super Bowl the Panthers did not resemble the team we saw in the regular season or the NFC playoffs.

What went wrong? How did the Panthers go from being seven point favorites to 14-point losers? Latin Post Sports did predict a 24-21 Broncos victory, but still, let's dissect what went wrong for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Mistakes, mistakes, and more mistakes. Overall, the Panthers outgained the Broncos, 315-195. But you just can't erase all the mistakes that the Panthers continuously made throughout the game. The Panthers turned the ball over four times in this game, three of which came by way of a lost fumble. How often does a team win a Super Bowl when they turn the ball over four times? The Broncos defense played incredible all game long, bending somewhat but never breaking. While many thought the Panthers could put up points against this elite defense, they were wrong as the Panthers offense managed zero net points for the game.

By far the biggest reason the Panthers fell short was the terrible performance by regular season MVP Cam Newton. Newton threw the ball 41 times but failed to find the end zone even once all game. His 23 incomplete passes left the Panthers punting time and time again. Midway through the second quarter, Newton was panting with exhaustion and fatigue from running away from Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware on what felt like every play. It was at that point it appeared the game was over. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips's game plan was simply phenomenal.

The Panthers managed just three points in the entire second half.

Let's also not forget about special teams. What an embarrassment for the Panthers in the biggest game of the year. Graham Gano missed a makeable 44-yard field goal on the opening drive that would have made the score 13-10. That field goal miss was also devastating because head coach Ron Rivera decided to kick off in the beginning of the game, an opening drive which led to three Broncos points. That's a six point turnaround. But that wasn't even the worst special teams play by the Panthers. Jordan Norwood returned a punt for a Super Bowl record 61 yards because the Panthers thought he fair caught the ball. Not knowing Norwood was actually a live player, the Panthers watched him run 61 yards into their territory which later set up a field goal. It was a terrible day for the Panthers special teams.

Tight end Greg Olsen was completely shut down in this game. Other than one nice trick play in which Olsen lined up on the right side and ran left to catch a ball from Newton for 19 yards, he was completely invisible against this Broncos secondary. Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and Chris Harris appear to have formed their own Legion of Boom.

It sounds really cliché and overused, but in all honesty, the Broncos truly did want this more. They played far more physical football, took the chances, and never held back. Knowing this could very well be the final game in Manning's Hall of Fame career, an extra spark was ignited in the Broncos locker room.

"Defense wins championships" is the oldest saying in NFL history, and it proved to be true yet again as the Broncos are Super Bowl champions for a third time in franchise history.

Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1

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