Update: An injured Thompson didn’t get to make the field tonight, but he was part of the roster.
Original Story: ST. CROIX — For the second time in three years, the Denver Broncos are playing in the final game of the season, this time against the Carolina Panthers, as they try to bring home a Super Bowl win.
Helping them achieve this goal will be St. Croix native Juwan Thompson (pictured above, center).
Mr. Thompson, wearing jersey number 40, is a running back for the Denver Broncos. Born on St. Croix on May 13, 1992, Mr. Thompson played college football at Duke University from 2010 to 2013, finished his college career with 1,244 rushing yards on 274 carries and nine touchdowns, and was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
That same year, Mr. Thompson scored his first career touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. Also in 2014, he ran for two touchdowns during a Thursday Night Football game against division rival San Diego Chargers, as the Broncos went on to win 35-21.
As for his team, The Broncos were humbled by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII, but they have devised a strategy in hopes of capturing the championship this year.
They lead the league in rushing defense on a per-carry basis, allowing just 3.3 yards per rush, according to the team’s official website.
“I think if we stop the run, get them into some third-and-longs, some third-and-8s, third-and-7s, I think we can win the game,” Broncos Linebacker Brandon Marshall said, speaking of their opponent tonight, the Carolina Panthers.
As for the team’s most visible star, Peyton Manning, history is on the line. His Hall of Fame credentials are secure, as is his status as one of the finest quarterbacks in NFL history, based on his career records for yardage and touchdown passes and matching Brett Favre for regular-season games his teams have won when he started.
But a win today for Mr. Manning would take him into uncharted territory. It would make him the first quarterback in NFL history to start and win Super Bowls with two different teams. He already holds records by making it with four different head coaches, and taking two different teams to the Super Bowl twice. Mr. Manning isn’t thinking about that, but in the big picture, this is a talking point that will ensure that Super Bowl 50 lingers in the memory, one way or another.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Tags: broncos, juwan thompson, panthers, st. croix native, superbowl 50
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