Superstitious Broncos opt for White Jerseys in Super Bowl
The Super Bowl mind games have already begun. The question is, are the Denver Broncos sending a message to the Carolina Panthers with their jersey choice, or trying to psyche themselves up before the big game? Whatever it may be, the Broncos will be ditching their home orange in favour of away white in Santa Clara.
As the designated home team in even-year Super Bowls, the AFC’s Broncos get to choose which jersey to wear on the big stage. In seven previous appearances, Denver has posted a disastrous 0-5 record in its traditional Orange Crush getup.
In five games against five different opponents, the Broncos’ closest loss was seventeen points, and the average margin of defeat was a fraction below thirty. Included in those wallopings were a 55-10 defeat to San Francisco – still the biggest whooping in Super Bowl history – and a much more recent 43-8 trouncing by Seattle only two years ago.
Denver’s two victories were split one apiece between white jerseys and their navy blue alternates. The wins came in consecutive years and served as the perfect ending to John Elway’s illustrious career; a feat Peyton Manning will be looking to replicate this year. Since the Broncos forewent the alternate strip for 2015, the decision was an easy one for a team desperate to overcome a haunting hoodoo.
The decision might worry some superstitious Carolina fans, too. In two playoff games (both played in Carolina by virtue of the Panthers earning the number one seed) the team opted against its intimidating home black and instead donned the fresh whites.
What does all this mean? Well, absolutely nothing. If Peyton Manning is destined to go out on top, he will do so regardless of his fashion statement. But for a team that has seen enough of its Super Bowl performances in home unis, there lies little motivation to challenge the football gods.
And if it gives the coaches and players just the tiniest bit of comfort in the moments before kickoff, maybe it isn’t so pointless after all.
