It's no secret: Denver's offense has struggled to do its share this season.
Quarterback Peyton Manning said as much Thursday, telling reporters: "We can improve and we would like to improve."
The Broncos march into Super Bowl 50 with the second-lowest-ranked scoring attack to ever play in the big game. It's not just the lack of points, either, as only three clubs turned the ball over more than Denver this season.
"All the offensive guys, we certainly want to carry our weight and not take our defense for granted," said Manning, who acknowledged that won't be easy against a Carolina defense that led the NFL with 39 takeaways.
"You see just a fast and physical football team that's created a lot of negative plays for offenses," Manning said of the Panthers. "Created a lot of turnovers, giving their offense a lot of short fields. Which, if you watch the game unfold, you see the scoreboard and it's 7-0, it's 14-0. It's like the guy that's singing the nation anthem is still on the field and the game hasn't even started yet."
Said Manning: "Their offense takes advantage of the turnovers that the defense gives them. That's the sign of a great football team."
To Peyton's credit, the turnovers are down since he regained the starting job. Manning is pick-free over his last three starts despite ranking last in the NFL in passer rating and touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2015. He'll need another pristine afternoon if he plans to hoist the Lombardi one last time.
Make sure to watch Super Bowl Opening Night live Monday on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET.
