The problem with Super Bowl 50 is that both the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos come in with quirks, things that fall outside the box, and not just the tackle-to-tackle one.
The Panthers were No. 6 in points allowed; the Broncos were No. 4. The Panthers were No. 2 in rushing average; the Broncos were No. 1 in rushing defense. That sort of thing. Strengths against strengths. If there’s a startling difference it is Carolina being No. 1 in interception rate defensively, while Denver finished 31st at being intercepted. But even that gets an asterisk, since the Broncos had zero or one turnover in nine of their 18 games, and the early season struggles of Peyton Manning figured significantly into that problem area.