Osi Umenyiora's Super Bowl prediction: I’m going for Broncos vs Panthers

There is nothing quite like the NFL play-offs. Every game in the Divisional round finished with just one score separating the teams.

Now there are only four teams remaining. The New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos will fight it out for the AFC Championship, and the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals face up in the NFC.

Each team is just 60 minutes of football away from a chance to play in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara on February 7. A great play can make you a hero, a mistake can cost your team a shot at glory.

First up on Sunday evening is Tom Brady’s Patriots against Peyton Manning’s Broncos. This will be the 17th meeting between these two legendary quarterbacks, who have won five Super Bowls between them.

Manning did not have the best game against the Steelers in the Divisional round, and some are saying that he should be benched. That is ridiculous. Manning led his team to victory and that is all that matters. His big game experience could prove vital and he must start on the weekend.

The Patriots will be playing in their fifth consecutive Championship game and are always dangerous. However, having defeated Brady and the Patriots in a Super Bowl twice myself, I know they can be beaten.

I am going for the Broncos defense to hold out and Manning to get one last chance at a second Super Bowl ring. Then comes the NFC battle between the Cardinals and a Panthers team beaten just once this season, If the latter, guided by quarterback Cam Newton, come out firing on Sunday they will be too strong for the Cardinals, so I am going to say that the Panthers keep on pounding all the way to Super Bowl 50.