When the NFL reached its final four it was almost in a can’t lose position as only one of the possible match ups would have resulted in ratings challenge. Had both the favorites made it then you would have had the defending champion Patriots going up against the team that threatened to match their record as the last team to go unbeaten. Not to mention a Brady vs. Newton matchup that could have been set up as the establishment taking on the new guard. A Cardinal match up with either the Pats or Broncos would have been a challenge as biggest draw on the Cardinals team would have been Larry Fitzgerald, but wide receivers make bad story lines. What it ended up with could be one for the ages if Peyton Manning can come away with a victory in what will probably be his last season similar to his predecessor and current team executive John Elway, and go out with a holding the Vince Lombardi trophy. After he was benched midway through the season it would make for a story that even Hollywood would have rejected. To lead his team to a Super Bowl win after beating his nemesis Tom Brady along the way would become stuff of legend. Meanwhile the Panthers have the MVP and most unstoppable force in the league in Cam Newton. A brash, in your face, “if you don’t want to see me dance on you then keep me out of the end-zone” kind of guy who is very polarizing. You either love his passion for the game and like how he brings it to the field making it more fun to watch, or you find him as brash as Ali and want to see him get knocked on his ass. It’s the Sheriff vs. the Showman and although most Super Bowls don’t need a tail wind to win the ratings war for the day, this will certainly not hurt when you’re asking the viewing public to sit through a six-hour pre-game show. Now we all just have to hope that Peyton and Denver have a much better showing than they did last time they made it to the big game.