The Denver Broncos shocked most of the known world Sunday night by defeating the offensively dominant one-loss Carolina Panthers 24-10, claiming their first Super Bowl title since 1998.
This championship isn’t only monumental for a city that’s obsessed with football, but it also means that unless he somehow gets a bionic arm (and neck and back, etc.), Peyton Manning rides off into the sunset in a blaze of glory, capturing his second Super Bowl championship and 200th career win while heading into retirement.
The win made football-crazy Denver go absolutely berserk. As expected, the Panthers were completely demoralized.
From Peyton Manning exclaiming he’s “going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight,” to Panthers quarterback Cam Newton refusing to answer post-game questions with the media, here are the best pictures which capture the huge contrast from elation to deflation.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of Crave Sports. Follow him on Twitter or like the channel on Facebook.
Photos: Getty
Best Super Bowl 50 Pics
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Peyton Manning walks off the field for the 2nd time as a World Champ!
(Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
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Cam Newton sits on the bench as a sad onlooker
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Denver RB C.J. Anderson is so happy he's about to take flight!
(Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
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Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr. stays grounded, onlooking the celebration from the bench as well
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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Manning eagerly grabs the Vince Lombardi Trophy!
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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He's thinking, 'this is way better than shooting a Papa John's commercial.'
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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Cam Newton avoids reporters following his team's loss
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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John Elway dedicates this SB win to Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who was unable to attend.
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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... While kids play in Super Bowl confetti!
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Even the Denver cheerleaders can't control themselves!
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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No, this isn't a parodied Queen video, it's Cam Newton still avoiding reporters and their questions
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, Broncos player Chris Harris is taking selfies!
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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This is what spending $10,000 on SB tix and losing looks like
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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These Broncos fans have never had a better day ... ever.
(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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This fan in Denver decided to triple fist it!
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 7: Denver Broncos fan Josh Critchfield from Cheba Hut in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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In fact, downtown Denver lost its mind.
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 7: Denver Broncos fans watch Super Bowl 50 at It's Brothers, a bar in Lower Downtown on February 7, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, Panthers fans are asking themselves when March Madness starts ....
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 07: Fans of the Carolina Panthers react while watching Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016 at Rooftop 210 in the EpiCentre area of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
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Denver will look like this for the next month.
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 7: Denver Broncos fans celebrate in the street after the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50 on Market Street in Lower Downtown on February 7, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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Numb to anything preventing the party ... the cold ... the cops ... who cares! Broncos are Super Bowl champs!
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 7: Fans celebrate after the Denver Broncos win in Super Bowl 50 in Denver, Colorado on February 7, 2016. Broncos fans gathered around Denver to cheer on the team as they took on the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. (Photo by Seth McConnell/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
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Congrats Denver. You're Super Bowl 50 champions!
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 7: Denver Broncos fans celebrate in the street after the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50 on Market Street in Lower Downtown on February 7, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
