Super Bowl 50
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:34:54 PM Wikipedia source
Super Bowl 50 was an American football game to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2015 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Carolina Panthers, 24–10. The game was played on February 7, 2016, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. As this was the 50th Super Bowl game, the league emphasized the "golden anniversary" with various gold-themed initiatives during the 2015 season, as well as suspending the tradition of naming each Super Bowl game with Roman numerals (under which the game would have been known as "Super Bowl L") for this Super Bowl, so the logo could prominently feature the number 50 in more familiar Arabic numerals. The NFL went back to Roman numerals the next year for Super Bowl LI. This was also the last Super Bowl logo to include the stadium in the background. The Panthers finished the regular season with a 15–1 record, racking up the league's top offense, and quarterback Cam Newton was named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP). They defeated the Arizona Cardinals 49–15 in the NFC Championship Game and advanced to their second Super Bowl appearance since the franchise began playing in 1995. The Broncos finished the regular season with a 12–4 record, bolstered by having the league's top defense. The Broncos defeated the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 20–18 in the AFC Championship Game, joining the Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, and Pittsburgh Steelers as one of four teams that have made eight appearances in the Super Bowl. This record would later be broken the next season, in 2017, when the Patriots advanced to their ninth Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl LI. This marked the fourth time in history that the Super Bowl pitted the top defense against the top offense, after Super Bowls XXV, XXXVII and XLVIII. In one of the most defensive matchups in Super Bowl history, the Broncos took an early lead that they never lost. The Broncos recorded seven sacks and forced four turnovers. The Panthers kept pace by recording five sacks and forcing two turnovers. Broncos linebacker Von Miller was named Super Bowl MVP. This game was the final game of Peyton Manning's career; the Broncos quarterback, who also won Super Bowl XLI, announced his retirement in March 2016. CBS' broadcast of the game was the sixth most-watched program in American television history with an average of 111 million viewers. The network charged an average of $5 million for a 30-second commercial during the game. The Super Bowl 50 halftime show was headlined by Coldplay, with special guest performers Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.
Infobox
Carolina Panthers (1) (NFC) (15–1)
Carolina Panthers (1) (NFC) (15–1) Denver Broncos (1) (AFC) (12–4) 10 24 Head coach: Ron Rivera Head coach: Gary Kubiak
Date
February 7, 2016 (2016-02-07)
Kickoff time
3:30 p . PST (UTC-8)
Stadium
Levi's Stadium Santa Clara, California
MVP
Von Miller, linebacker
Favorite
Panthers by 5
Referee
Clete Blakeman
Attendance
71,088
National anthem
Lady Gaga
Coin toss
Fred Biletnikoff, Marcus Allen, Joe Montana, Jim Plunkett, Jerry Rice, Steve Young
Halftime show
Coldplay featuring Beyoncé and Bruno Mars with Mark Ronson
Network
Westwood One
Announcers
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Boomer Esiason and Dan Fouts (analysts) James Lofton and Mark Malone (sideline reporters)
Nielsen ratings
46 (national) 53 (Denver) 55 (Charlotte) U . viewership: 111 million est. avg., 167 million est. total
Market share
72 (national)
Cost of 30-second commercial
$5 million
Tables
· Broadcasting › Television › International
Austria
Austria
Col 1
Austria
Rights holder(s)
The event was aired live on Puls 4, Sat and on live stream. Commentary of Puls 4 and Sat , who are owned by the same company, is different, but both are German speaking.
Australia
Australia
Col 1
Australia
Rights holder(s)
The event aired live on the Seven Network and 7mate, alongside subscription channel ESPN
Brazil
Brazil
Col 1
Brazil
Rights holder(s)
In Brazil the event aired live on Free-to-air television at Esporte Interativo and on paid television at ESPN Brasil at 9:00 PM.
Canada
Canada
Col 1
Canada
Rights holder(s)
CTV continues to hold rights to the Super Bowl under a long-term contract. CTV aired a new episode of DC's Legends of Tomorrow, "White Knights", as a lead-out program, prior to its premiere on The CW in the United States the following Thursday. CTV Go offered digital streaming of the game to authenticated pay television subscribers on participating
Czech Republic
Czech Republic
Col 1
Czech Republic
Rights holder(s)
The event aired live on paid television station, Sport 2.
Denmark
Denmark
Col 1
Denmark
Rights holder(s)
In Denmark the event aired live on paid television station TV3+. The rights to the event is owned by Viasat until 2017.
France
Switzerland
France
Switzerland
Col 1
France
Switzerland
Rights holder(s)
France and Switzerland (French speaking), aired the event live on W9.
Germany
Switzerland
Germany
Switzerland
Col 1
Germany
Switzerland
Rights holder(s)
Germany, Switzerland (German speaking) aired the event live on Sat and on live stream.
Japan
Japan
Col 1
Japan
Rights holder(s)
The event aired live on NHK BS1 and Nittele G+.
Netherlands
Netherlands
Col 1
Netherlands
Rights holder(s)
The event aired live on the pay television station Fox Sports 2. and also broadcast live on national television by FOX HD.
New Zealand
New Zealand
Col 1
New Zealand
Rights holder(s)
ESPN was broadcast live on Sky Channel 60 (CBS feed), TVNZ aired the event live on TV One, TVNZ Pop-Up (Freeview 13), and streamed it live on TVNZ OnDemand (international feed).
Philippines
Philippines
Col 1
Philippines
Rights holder(s)
The event aired live on TV5 and Hyper (Channel 53 (SD)/Channel 130 (HD) on Cignal) via live feed from All Sports Network at 7:00 am Philippine Standard Time, with same day rebroadcast at 7:00 pm only on Hyper. TV5 programming aired during the morning hours have been pre-empted due to the live telecast and aired the following day.
Poland
Poland
Col 1
Poland
Rights holder(s)
The event aired live on Eleven Sports (Channel 128 (HD) on NC+) via the international feed with local commentary at midnight local time.
Romania
Romania
Col 1
Romania
Rights holder(s)
The event aired live on Dolce Sport at 1:00 AM Eastern European Time, with same day rebroadcast at 6:30 PM.
Thailand
Thailand
Col 1
Thailand
Rights holder(s)
TrueVisions aired it live on True4U Channel 24 and Truesport HD at 6:00 AM Time in Thailand.
United Kingdom
Ireland
United Kingdom
Ireland
Col 1
United Kingdom
Ireland
Rights holder(s)
The event aired live in the UK and Ireland on BBC Two (International feed) and on Sky Sports (CBS feed). The BBC secured a two-year deal to broadcast the Super Bowl as well as all three International Series games being held at Wembley Stadium in London, England, having previously lost the rights to public-service broadcaster Channel 4 in 2013.
| Rights holder(s) | |
| Austria | The event was aired live on Puls 4, Sat and on live stream. Commentary of Puls 4 and Sat , who are owned by the same company, is different, but both are German speaking. |
| Australia | The event aired live on the Seven Network and 7mate, alongside subscription channel ESPN |
| Brazil | In Brazil the event aired live on Free-to-air television at Esporte Interativo and on paid television at ESPN Brasil at 9:00 PM. |
| Canada | CTV continues to hold rights to the Super Bowl under a long-term contract. CTV aired a new episode of DC's Legends of Tomorrow, "White Knights", as a lead-out program, prior to its premiere on The CW in the United States the following Thursday. CTV Go offered digital streaming of the game to authenticated pay television subscribers on participating |
| Czech Republic | The event aired live on paid television station, Sport 2. |
| Denmark | In Denmark the event aired live on paid television station TV3+. The rights to the event is owned by Viasat until 2017. |
| France Switzerland | France and Switzerland (French speaking), aired the event live on W9. |
| Germany Switzerland | Germany, Switzerland (German speaking) aired the event live on Sat and on live stream. |
| Japan | The event aired live on NHK BS1 and Nittele G+. |
| Netherlands | The event aired live on the pay television station Fox Sports 2. and also broadcast live on national television by FOX HD. |
| New Zealand | ESPN was broadcast live on Sky Channel 60 (CBS feed), TVNZ aired the event live on TV One, TVNZ Pop-Up (Freeview 13), and streamed it live on TVNZ OnDemand (international feed). |
| Philippines | The event aired live on TV5 and Hyper (Channel 53 (SD)/Channel 130 (HD) on Cignal) via live feed from All Sports Network at 7:00 am Philippine Standard Time, with same day rebroadcast at 7:00 pm only on Hyper. TV5 programming aired during the morning hours have been pre-empted due to the live telecast and aired the following day. |
| Poland | The event aired live on Eleven Sports (Channel 128 (HD) on NC+) via the international feed with local commentary at midnight local time. |
| Romania | The event aired live on Dolce Sport at 1:00 AM Eastern European Time, with same day rebroadcast at 6:30 PM. |
| Thailand | TrueVisions aired it live on True4U Channel 24 and Truesport HD at 6:00 AM Time in Thailand. |
| United Kingdom Ireland | The event aired live in the UK and Ireland on BBC Two (International feed) and on Sky Sports (CBS feed). The BBC secured a two-year deal to broadcast the Super Bowl as well as all three International Series games being held at Wembley Stadium in London, England, having previously lost the rights to public-service broadcaster Channel 4 in 2013. |
Panthers (NFC)
Panthers (NFC)
Quarter
Panthers (NFC)
1
0
2
7
3
0
4
3
Total
10
Broncos (AFC)
Broncos (AFC)
Quarter
Broncos (AFC)
1
10
2
3
3
3
4
8
Total
24
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers (NFC) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Broncos (AFC) | 10 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 24 |
· Game summary › Box score
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
CAR
DEN
1
10:43
10
64
4:17
DEN
34-yard field goal by Brandon McManus
0
3
1
6:27
—
—
—
DEN
Fumble recovery returned 0 yards for touchdown by Malik Jackson, McManus kick good
0
10
2
11:25
9
73
4:50
CAR
Jonathan Stewart 1-yard touchdown run, Graham
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
CAR
DEN
1
10:43
10
64
4:17
DEN
34-yard field goal by Brandon McManus
0
3
1
6:27
—
—
—
DEN
Fumble recovery returned 0 yards for touchdown by Malik Jackson, McManus kick good
0
10
2
11:25
9
73
4:50
CAR
Jonathan Stewart 1-yard touchdown run, Graham
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
CAR
DEN
1
10:43
10
64
4:17
DEN
34-yard field goal by Brandon McManus
0
3
1
6:27
—
—
—
DEN
Fumble recovery returned 0 yards for touchdown by Malik Jackson, McManus kick good
0
10
2
11:25
9
73
4:50
CAR
Jonathan Stewart 1-yard touchdown run, Graham
| Scoring summary |
| Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP CAR DEN 1 10:43 10 64 4:17 DEN 34-yard field goal by Brandon McManus 0 3 1 6:27 — — — DEN Fumble recovery returned 0 yards for touchdown by Malik Jackson, McManus kick good 0 10 2 11:25 9 73 4:50 CAR Jonathan Stewart 1-yard touchdown run, Graham |
Plays
Plays
Quarter
Plays
Time
Yards
Drive
TOP
Drive
CAR
Drive
DEN
1
1
Quarter
1
Time
10:43
Drive
10
Drive
64
Drive
4:17
Team
DEN
Scoring information
34-yard field goal by Brandon McManus
Score
0
Score
3
1
1
Quarter
1
Time
6:27
Drive
—
Drive
—
Drive
—
Team
DEN
Scoring information
Fumble recovery returned 0 yards for touchdown by Malik Jackson, McManus kick good
Score
0
Score
10
2
2
Quarter
2
Time
11:25
Drive
9
Drive
73
Drive
4:50
Team
CAR
Scoring information
Jonathan Stewart 1-yard touchdown run, Graham Gano kick good
Score
7
Score
10
2
2
Quarter
2
Time
6:58
Drive
4
Drive
−1
Drive
2:13
Team
DEN
Scoring information
33-yard field goal by McManus
Score
7
Score
13
3
3
Quarter
3
Time
8:18
Drive
7
Drive
54
Drive
2:30
Team
DEN
Scoring information
30-yard field goal by McManus
Score
7
Score
16
4
4
Quarter
4
Time
10:21
Drive
6
Drive
29
Drive
2:56
Team
CAR
Scoring information
39-yard field goal by Gano
Score
10
Score
16
4
4
Quarter
4
Time
3:08
Drive
3
Drive
4
Drive
0:56
Team
DEN
Scoring information
C. J. Anderson 2-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass good (Peyton Manning to Bennie Fowler)
Score
10
Score
24
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
Quarter
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
Time
10
Drive
24
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | |||
| Plays | Yards | TOP | CAR | DEN | ||||
| 1 | 10:43 | 10 | 64 | 4:17 | DEN | 34-yard field goal by Brandon McManus | 0 | 3 |
| 1 | 6:27 | — | — | — | DEN | Fumble recovery returned 0 yards for touchdown by Malik Jackson, McManus kick good | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | 11:25 | 9 | 73 | 4:50 | CAR | Jonathan Stewart 1-yard touchdown run, Graham Gano kick good | 7 | 10 |
| 2 | 6:58 | 4 | −1 | 2:13 | DEN | 33-yard field goal by McManus | 7 | 13 |
| 3 | 8:18 | 7 | 54 | 2:30 | DEN | 30-yard field goal by McManus | 7 | 16 |
| 4 | 10:21 | 6 | 29 | 2:56 | CAR | 39-yard field goal by Gano | 10 | 16 |
| 4 | 3:08 | 3 | 4 | 0:56 | DEN | C. J. Anderson 2-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass good (Peyton Manning to Bennie Fowler) | 10 | 24 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 10 | 24 | ||||||
First downs
First downs
Statistic
First downs
Carolina Panthers
21
Denver Broncos
11
First downs rushing
First downs rushing
Statistic
First downs rushing
Carolina Panthers
8
Denver Broncos
4
First downs passing
First downs passing
Statistic
First downs passing
Carolina Panthers
10
Denver Broncos
5
First downs penalty
First downs penalty
Statistic
First downs penalty
Carolina Panthers
3
Denver Broncos
2
Third down efficiency
Third down efficiency
Statistic
Third down efficiency
Carolina Panthers
3/15
Denver Broncos
1/14
Fourth down efficiency
Fourth down efficiency
Statistic
Fourth down efficiency
Carolina Panthers
0/0
Denver Broncos
0/0
Total net yards
Total net yards
Statistic
Total net yards
Carolina Panthers
315
Denver Broncos
194
Net yards rushing
Net yards rushing
Statistic
Net yards rushing
Carolina Panthers
118
Denver Broncos
90
Rushing attempts
Rushing attempts
Statistic
Rushing attempts
Carolina Panthers
27
Denver Broncos
28
Yards per rush
Yards per rush
Statistic
Yards per rush
Carolina Panthers
4
Denver Broncos
3
Net yards passing
Net yards passing
Statistic
Net yards passing
Carolina Panthers
197
Denver Broncos
104
Passing – completions/attempts
Passing – completions/attempts
Statistic
Passing – completions/attempts
Carolina Panthers
18/41
Denver Broncos
13/23
Times sacked-total yards
Times sacked-total yards
Statistic
Times sacked-total yards
Carolina Panthers
7–68
Denver Broncos
5–37
Interceptions thrown
Interceptions thrown
Statistic
Interceptions thrown
Carolina Panthers
1
Denver Broncos
1
Punt returns-total yards
Punt returns-total yards
Statistic
Punt returns-total yards
Carolina Panthers
3–2
Denver Broncos
1–61
Kickoff returns-total yards
Kickoff returns-total yards
Statistic
Kickoff returns-total yards
Carolina Panthers
2–42
Denver Broncos
2–42
Interceptions-total return yards
Interceptions-total return yards
Statistic
Interceptions-total return yards
Carolina Panthers
1–19
Denver Broncos
1–(−3)
Punts-average yardage
Punts-average yardage
Statistic
Punts-average yardage
Carolina Panthers
7–45
Denver Broncos
8–45
Fumbles-lost
Fumbles-lost
Statistic
Fumbles-lost
Carolina Panthers
4–3
Denver Broncos
3–1
Penalties-yards
Penalties-yards
Statistic
Penalties-yards
Carolina Panthers
12–102
Denver Broncos
6–51
Time of possession
Time of possession
Statistic
Time of possession
Carolina Panthers
32:47
Denver Broncos
27:13
Turnovers
Turnovers
Statistic
Turnovers
Carolina Panthers
4
Denver Broncos
2
| Statistic | Carolina Panthers | Denver Broncos |
| First downs | 21 | 11 |
| First downs rushing | 8 | 4 |
| First downs passing | 10 | 5 |
| First downs penalty | 3 | 2 |
| Third down efficiency | 3/15 | 1/14 |
| Fourth down efficiency | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Total net yards | 315 | 194 |
| Net yards rushing | 118 | 90 |
| Rushing attempts | 27 | 28 |
| Yards per rush | 4 | 3 |
| Net yards passing | 197 | 104 |
| Passing – completions/attempts | 18/41 | 13/23 |
| Times sacked-total yards | 7–68 | 5–37 |
| Interceptions thrown | 1 | 1 |
| Punt returns-total yards | 3–2 | 1–61 |
| Kickoff returns-total yards | 2–42 | 2–42 |
| Interceptions-total return yards | 1–19 | 1–(−3) |
| Punts-average yardage | 7–45 | 8–45 |
| Fumbles-lost | 4–3 | 3–1 |
| Penalties-yards | 12–102 | 6–51 |
| Time of possession | 32:47 | 27:13 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |