Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills
1 2 3 4 FINAL
CAROLINA 3 3 0 3 9
BUFFALO 7 21 7 3 38
HOUSTON – The Carolina Panthers showed up to NRG Stadium with dreams of hoisting the Lombardi trophy.
Midway through the 2nd quarter, those dreams turned to a nightmare as the Buffalo Bills started scoring and didn't stop on their way to a 38-9 runaway victory.
Buffalo won their franchise's first ever Super Bowl championship on the ground, through the air, and with an overwhelming pass rush.
The game was never truly in doubt.
"I'm sure it wasn't the most exciting game for those who care about ratings," Aaron Rodgers said. "But we'll take it - we are world champions."
On the opening drive, the Panthers drove down the field and stalled in the red zone settling for three. This would be one of their only positives of the game.
Tyler Lockett, after his record-breaking season, fumbled on the Bills first drive taking at least three points off the board for Buffalo.
After forcing a Carolina punt after Lockett's fumble, Todd Gurley led the team down the field leading to a James White 1-yard TD run to put the score at 7-3 late in the first.
Gurley finished with 147 yards rushing and a TD in the game.
"It's so crazy," Gurley said. "I have no words."
Immediately after stopping the Panthers for another 3-and-out, Amari Cooper beat Bradley Fletcher for a 56-yard deep TD reception at the start of the 2nd quarter.
As halftime approached, Carolina continued to struggle under the intense pressure of the Buffalo pass rush.
Lockett, making up for his previous fumble, took a slant route 47-yards for a TD to put the score 21-3.
"Glad they kept going to me," Lockett said. "Hate to put one on the ground, but our D stepped up big."
Later, as the game neared halftime, Gurley finished off another Bills scoring drive with a 5-yard TD run to put his team up 28-3.
To open the second half, Rodgers led the team down and put the game away with 75-yard drive culminating with a 26-yard TD pass to Travis Benjamin.
"It was fun the whole time," Geno Atkins said. "I love our offensive game-plan today. They took the pressure off us all."
As the confetti fell in Houston, Roger Goodell announced that Todd Gurley was named the game's MVP.
"It's a team win and a team game," Gurley said. "This is for the city of Buffalo. We're bringing it home."
