Super Bowl 50: 5 under-the-radar players you may not know who could decide the game

While a number of headline-grabbers will be key to who gets their hands on the Lombardi perhaps another will step up and make the play that matters 

The NFL ’s biggest game is now just days away and with it come more predictions and counter-predictions than you can shake a 64oz Big Gulp at.
 Who will best who one-on-one? Who will make the difference in the clutch? Who will walk away champions?

While both quarterbacks and a number of headline-grabbers around them are sure to be key to who gets their hands on the Lombardi trophy when it’s all said and done perhaps another will step into the spotlight and make the play that matters.

Baltimore returner Jacoby Jones made the decisive plays three years ago. Seattle’s Malcolm Smith was the MVP a year after that. New England cornerback Malcolm Butler was the game-winner 12 months ago.

The Super Bowl lends itself to the unheralded stepping up in a big spot – so who could it be this time?
Here are five players you may not know who could decide Super Bowl 50:

Derek Wolfe (Denver Broncos – Defensive End)

 

While Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware catch the eye and grab the column inches don’t sleep on Derek Wolfe and the seismic impact he could have on Sunday’s game.

A fortnight ago Wade Phillips’ masterful defensive gameplan keyed on his ability to get pressure on Tom Brady with just four rushing the passer – and Wolfe was a large reason why.

The former Cincinnati standout missed out the last time the Broncos made it this far and will have that extra motivation to make the play that counts this time around.

Kawann Short (Carolina Panthers – Nose Tackle)

 

Carolina’s unsung defensive hero comes in the shape – the albeit very large shape – of third year nose tackle Kawann Short.

Much like Denver and their use of Wolfe, Short’s ability to get home from the interior is crucial to the Panthers’ defensive gameplan.

An under-the-radar star all season long Short has really come to the party big time in the playoffs taking over the line of scrimmage both against Seattle and a fortnight ago against Arizona.

Matt Paradis – (Denver Broncos – Centre)

 

Tasked with stopping Short - and his equally large running mate Star Lotuleilei – will be Denver’s rookie centre Matt Paradis.

As assignments go it’s a toughie but the former Boise State linemen has held up well as part of a line which has played to more than the sum of its parts all year long.

Add in dealing with Peyton Manning’s habitual changes at the line and it looks like Paradis is in for a long night - how he deals with it all will be key to the outcome.

Tre Boston (Carolina Panthers – Safety)

 

With veterans Bene Benwikere and Charles Tillman out and Kurt Coleman and Roman Harper banged up and picked on second year defensive back Tre Boston has had to learn fast on the back end of Carolina’s defence.

And boy has he. The second year out of North Carolina has slotted in well whenever called upon and has held his own as part of one of the league’s best units.

How he’ll be challenged by Peyton Manning remains to be seen but Ron Rivera is sure to have liked what he’s seen so far and won’t be shy in chucking him back in at the deep end on Sunday.

Bradley Roby – (Denver Broncos – Cornerback)

 

Second-year cornerback Bradley Roby is another who, while they have more experienced and bigger names alongside them, has the talent to make a real difference on Sunday.

Part of one of the best secondaries in football Roby has shown more and more he deserves to be on the field in the game’s biggest spots.

It was he who forced the key fumble on Fitzgerald Touissant in the Divisional Round and he could come up big again in the season’s most important game Sunday.

Who will win Super Bowl 50?

• Denver Broncos
• Carolina Panthers

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