CHARLOTTE - In Thursday's Super Bowl rematch (the Panthers aren't calling it that, but we are) the faces on the field will mostly be the ones we saw in February.
Except for one major change.
The Broncos will start little-known quarterback Trevor Siemian, after an offseason rife with quarterback turmoil.
Just two days after Peyton Manning's retirement, his heir to the starting job Brock Osweiler signed a free agent deal with Houston.
The Broncos signed veteran Mark Sanchez, but cut him after training camp after he failed to separate himself from Siemian.
THE TREVOR SIEMIAN FILE
- Has played one snap in a regular-season game, taking a knee to end a Broncos win in December
- He almost quit football after college
- Is one of Northwestern's best quarterbacks, finishing his career in the Top 10 in passing yards, completions and touchdowns
- Played as Cam Newton for Broncos scout team ahead of Super Bowl 50
- Chose Northwestern over NC State and Harvard
Panthers coach Ron Rivera knows the Broncos won't be running the same offense with Siemian that they did with Manning.
"At least I think it's going to be (different)," Rivera said. "It'll be interesting to see exactly how that pans out, but I'm anticipating a different style as opposed to the one Peyton was running as their quarterback."
