Panthers, Broncos to open season with Super Bowl rematch

The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos will open the 2016 NFL season with a rematch of Super Bowl 50, the NFL announced Thursday.

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The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos will open the 2016 NFL season with a rematch of Super Bowl 50, the NFL announced Thursday. 

The Broncos defeated the Panthers during February’s Super Bowl, riding Von Miller’s MVP performance to an upset victory.

The NFL traditionally schedules the previous season’s Super Bowl winner to open the season at home. Denver will look a little different than the team that beat Carolina. Peyton Manning has retired, and other key contributors such as Danny Trevathan, Malik Jackson and Brock Osweiler left in free agency.  

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The Panthers return much of the team that went 15–1 during the 2015 regular season, including reigning league MVP Cam Newton.

The 2016 NFL season will begin on Thursday, Sept. 8.