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Even while riding the emotion of having correctly predicted the outcome of Sunday's game and how it would happen, I am ranking Denver's defensive performance only No. 2 in Super Bowl history, behind Seattle's effort against the Broncos two years ago.
But in saying the Denver defense's showing was not the best ever, I'll rank it as the most important contribution to a victory. The Broncos were not truly dominant, but they were incredibly disruptive. Thanks mostly to MVP Von Miller, the defense basically produced both of the team's touchdowns, while recording seven sacks and four takeaways in a 24-10 victory in Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
My endorsement of Seattle's defensive work considers how the Broncos' offense was the the NFL's best two years ago. The Seahawks held them to eight points and 306 total yards — including some meaningless yards in the fourth quarter. Carolina's offense is not statistically spectacular, and the Panthers posted 315 yards in this game, while piecing together two long drives in the third quarter.
To the Broncos' credit, those possessions netted three points. And the Denver defense was at its best in the fourth quarter, when coach Gary Kubiak's strategy of "understanding who we are as a football team" paid off, as he relied on those guys to protect a 16-10 lead. Miller and the defense delivered, forcing another fumble by Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, leading to the clinching touchdown.
The Broncos needed their defense to come through, even more than the Seahawks did, because of Denver's lack of offense — 194 total yards, the fewest for a winning team in Super Bowl history.
In any case, the Broncos' defense joins an elite list of groups that have starred in Super Bowls. In addition to the 2013 Seahawks, Denver's D is in a class with the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Judging strictly by performance in the Super Bowl, I'm keeping Seattle at No. 1, because of the quality of the opposing offense. Then come Denver, Baltimore and Chicago.
In a losing effort, lineman Star Lotulelei of Bingham High School and the University of Utah was part of Carolina's memorable defensive effort. In statistically his most productive game of the season, Lotulelei was credited with four solo tackles (two for losses) and one assist.
Using the criterion of players appearing on the game-day active roster, Utah high school graduates now are a collective 7-23 in Super Bowls.
Ex-Utes are 15-17 by that standard, with offensive lineman Sam Brenner being listed as inactive for the Broncos on Sunday. But he'll get a Super Bowl ring, capping a season when he was waived by Miami in November.
Twitter: @tribkurt