Reporting from SANTA CLARA — He is the NFL’s most valuable player, a transcendent talent who won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship in college football.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, though, remains in search of a Super Bowl title after being neutralized Sunday in the Denver Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
Newton answered only seven questions during a postgame news conference, most with very short answers.
He said the Broncos “did nothing†different on defense.
“They outplayed us,†he said.
Newton was sacked six times, lost two fumbles and had a pass intercepted.
He completed only 18 of 41 passes for 265 yards, with no touchdowns.
It was a hard day for a player who had passed for 35 touchdowns and run for 10 during the regular season.
“We’ll be back,†he said.
Jackson shines
Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson scored a touchdown in the first quarter when he recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Von Miller while sacking Newton.
“It was an all-around great effort,†Jackson said of the defense. “We had no doubt. We knew what we had in this group and we knew what we could do.â€
Jackson joined the Broncos as a fifth-round draft choice from Tennessee in 2012.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning looks at the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the Super Bowl 50 awards ceremony following Denver’s 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
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Denver quarterback Peyton Manning is handed the Vince Lombardi Trophy by a teammate during the awards ceremony at Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos General Manager John Elway holds aloft the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Denver defeated Carolina in the Super Bowl in February. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton walks off the field after losing to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
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Quarterbacks Cam Newton and Peyton Manning share a brief moment following Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos Coach Gary Kubiak is doused with Gatorade in the closing seconds of a 24-10 victory over the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos center Matt Paradis reacts as teammate C.J. Anderson scores on a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reacts after C.J. Anderson’s two-yard TD run against the Panthers.
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Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) strips the ball from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the fourth quarter.
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Broncos defensive back T.J. Ward recovers a fumble by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (not pictured) in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos defensive backs Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward celebrate after Ward recovered a fumble by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is brought down by Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson during the fourth quarter.
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Panthers receiver Corey Brown (10) makes an off-balance catch against Broncos defensive backs T.J. Ward (43) and Aqib Talib (21) during the second half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe reacts after sacking Carolina’s Cam Newton (not pictured) during the second half.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reacts to an incompletion during the second half of Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) scrambles from the Broncos’ pass rush during the second half of Super Bowl 50.
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Chris Martin of Coldplay performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
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Beyonce gives a hair-raising performance during the Super Bowl 50 halftime show at Levi’s Stadium.
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Bruno Mars, a last-minute addition, performs during the Super Bowl 50 halftime show.
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Chris Martin of Coldplay lays it on the line as he performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 50.
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Beyonce, Chris Martin and Bruno Mars perform together during the halftime show of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos receiver Jordan Norwood (11) runs the ball deep into Panthers territory on a 61-yard punt return in the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton sits on the turf after being knocked down during a pass attempt in the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos running back C.J. Anderson stiff-arms Panthers defensive back Cortland Finnegan during the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) leaps over the line of scrimmage against the Broncos for a one-yard touchdown in the first half.
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Quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates with reserve quarterback Derek Anderson after the Panthers scored a touchdown in the first half.
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Panthers tight end Greg Olsen tries to fend off Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan on a 19-yard reception in the first half.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton unleashes a pass against the Broncos in the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib tackles Panthers receiver Corey Brown by using the facemask, drawing a penalty during the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) is sacked by Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) during the first half.
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Broncos running back C.J. Anderson signals first down after he’s brought down by Panthers defensive end Jared Allen in the first half.
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Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) strips the ball from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, leading to a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Malik Jackson (not pictured).
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Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson (97) recovers a fumble by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton for a touchdown during the first half.
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Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson (97) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning attempts a pass against the Panthers during the first drive of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos receiver Andre Caldwell makes a 22-yard catch against Panthers defensive back Tre Boston in the first half.
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Broncos kicker Brandon McManus converts a 34-yard field goal in the first half to open the scoring in Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22) makes a reception against Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis (58) during the first half.
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The Blue Angels perform a flyover during pregame ceremonies for Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
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Lady Gaga sings the national anthem before the start of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium last February. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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Former Jets quarterback Joe Namath, MVP of Super Bowl III, is introduced before Super Bowl 50.
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Past Super Bowl MVPs are introduced before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
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Denver’s Corey Nelson (52) and Max Garcia (73) take a moment in the end zone before Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers receiver Corey Brown warms up before Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
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NBA star Stephen Curry greets Panthers Coach Ron Rivera before Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos linebacker Von Miller greets NBA star Kevin Durant before Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
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Denver Broncos fans cheer during warmups before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton stretches during warmups before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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A Carolina Panthers fan watches as the teams warm up before Super Bowl 50.
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Bonrcos quarterback Peyton Manning warms up Sunday at Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50.
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Fans enter the Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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Fans take s selfie near military personnel outside Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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Denver Broncos fans arrive at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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A Panthers fan arrives at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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Large dryers are used several hours before Super Bowl 50 to make sure the paint is set in the end zone at Levi’s Stadium.
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Workers take pictures outside Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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A security member arrives at Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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A soldier stands guard Sunday outside Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50.
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A soldier stands guard outside Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
(Ben Margot / Associated Press) Jackson played at Lake Balboa Birmingham High before spending two seasons at USC.
He had 5 1/2 sacks for the Trojans, but left before the 2010 season.
USC had been hit with NCAA sanctions that included a two-year bowl ban, the loss of 30 scholarships and four years of probation. Under NCAA rules, juniors and seniors were allowed to transfer without having to sit out a season.
Ealy steps up
Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy had a standout performance in a losing effort.
Ealy sacked Peyton Manning three times, intercepted a pass and also forced a fumble.
Ealy’s three sacks tied the Super Bowl record shared by Reggie White of the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI and Darnell Dockett of the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
Ealy is also the first player to record multiple sacks and an interception.
But the Panthers could not capitalize on all of the plays.
“It’s unfortunate,†he said, “but it’s not the first time it has happened to any player.â€
Record return
Broncos punt returner Jordan Norwood set a Super Bowl record with a 61-yard return in the second quarter.
The play set up a field goal that gave the Broncos a 13-7 lead.
It appeared as if the Panthers anticipated that Norwood would call for a fair catch.
“It was a short punt, and a lot of times guys will just run past it,†Norwood said. “They didn’t but I just decided to roll with it.â€
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Carolina Panthers fans watch Super Bowl 50 during a pensive moment at Beelman’s Pub in downtown Los Angeles. Most of the fans at Beelman’s are part of the Roaring Riot, the largest unofficial Panthers fan union in the nation.
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Chelsea Gilligan, left, and Cali Overvack are in knots as they watch the Panthers try to rally against the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
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Julian Gonzalez, 3, sleeps as Carolina Panthers fans watch Super Bowl 50 at Beelman’s Pub in downtown L.A.
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Carolina Panthers fans, including a screaming Chelsea Gilligan, watch Super Bowl 50 at Beelman’s Pub.
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Panthers fan Chelsea Gilligan throws her hands up in frustration as she watches Super Bowl 50 at Beelman’s Pub.
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Carolina Panthers fans dab in tribute to Cam Newton as they pose for a group picture during halftime of Super Bowl 50 at Beelman’s Pub.
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Broncos fan and bartender Josh Critchfield serves shots as he watches Super Bowl 50 at Cheba Hut in Denver.
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A Denver Broncos fan holds up the “D-Fence†sign during the first half of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
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Fans of the Denver Broncos cheer during the first half of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
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Denver Broncos fans celebrate the team’s 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 near the intersection of 20th and Market streets in Denver.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press) Davis plays
Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis made good on his vow to play in the Super Bowl despite a broken right arm.
Davis suffered a fracture in his right forearm two weeks ago in the Panthers’ NFC championship game victory over the Cardinals. The next day, a surgeon installed a metal plate and 12 screws to get Davis back onto the field.
Davis, an 11-year veteran, was in the starting lineup with Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson. Davis finished with five tackles, one for a loss.
“I didn’t have any issues,†he said. “I went out and just did what I could. I didn’t hurt my team.â€
gary.klein@latimesklein
Twitter: @latimesklein
