The grizzled veteran Peyton Manning will aim to rise to the occasion once again at Super Bowl 50 but his opposite number is the thrilling Cam Newton who is redefining the quarterback position.
Factoring in the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers' mean defences, how will Manning and Newton match up when it matters most? They are quarterbacks with vastly different skill-sets - Newton is just beginning his exciting journey while Manning could end his legendary career next week.
With the help of Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, we've looked back over Manning and Newton's seasons for the ultimate comparison.
How do you stop Newton's rushing?
The 26-year-old's X-factor when it comes to playing quarterback is his penchant for running the ball, making him a duel threat for opposition. Not only must defences concern themselves with cutting off his receiver options, they must also be prepared to take down a quarterback with the physique and legs of a tight end. Newton ran for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season. And if he gets to within a couple of yards of the end-zone? He flings his 6'5", plus-230lbs frame through the air to evade last-ditch tackles.
Manning can still rise to big moments
The 39-year-old's form and fitness have been questionable for large periods of the season but there have been glimpses of his mercurial best. Particularly, in a November clash against the Green Bay Packers which pitted Manning against Aaron Rodgers, another viable contender for the NFL's premier quarterback. Rodgers was restricted brilliantly by the Broncos defence but Manning shone by throwing for 340 yards on a night dedicated to long-time owner Pat Bowlen. Manning can still step up to the plate, and that is reason for concern for the Panthers.
Newton has an arm, too…
Worryingly for the Broncos, restricting the energetic Newton to the pocket is not necessarily the way to stop him. Faced with an impenetrable wall in front of him, the Panthers star has the ability to emulate a more traditional quarterback by sitting back and picking out his receivers from distance. And that distance, as we can see in the video above, can be pretty huge if the Panthers are getting desperate. Manning simply doesn't have this distance in his arm.
Manning can be picked off
The Broncos legend has thrown 17 interceptions this season and a perceived lack of mobility means he can be vulnerable if he's unable to release the ball quickly. The agility to stay elusive in the chaos of the pocket is diminishing with age and, as such, opposition defences have found ways to halt his passing. He has thrown the most interceptions in NFL history which, to be fair, speaks more volumes about his longevity than his quality. Can the Panthers force a pick six this weekend?
Is Osweiler the secret weapon?
Manning's shortcomings mid-way through the regular season resulted in Brock Osweiler getting promoted to the Broncos' starting quarterback. Although he has virtually no chance of starting Super Bowl 50 he could yet prove to be an ace up Gary Kubiak's sleeve. The 25-year-old is a speedier, more athletic alternative to Manning and has completed 170 of 275 passes this campaign, throwing 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. Should Manning require a breather - or the unforgiving Panthers force him off the field - Osweiler might get an unforgettable opportunity to add to those stats.
The role of the defences
The Broncos defence has been lauded as the NFL's finest, outshining a Panthers' D which is pretty formidable in itself. The Redskins' Cousins believes that the Panthers deserve more credit for the way that they assist Newton with claiming the glory.
"At the NFL level, a team that works together is everything," Cousins told Sky Sports. "In our league there's a lot of parity - there's very little difference between the top teams and the weaker teams. As a result, that chemistry and that intangible difference can really make the difference in a win or a loss. That's a big reason why the Panthers are so successful.
"Defence wins championships, and the Panthers have just a talented defence as the Broncos. That's going to present a big challenge to Peyton and the Broncos offence. If there's anybody who's experienced enough and has been in these big situations before, it's Peyton Manning."