Cam Newton has little to say after Super Bowl 50 loss - Los Angeles Times
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Cam Newton has little to say after Super Bowl 50 loss

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is brought down by Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson during the fourth quarter.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is brought down by Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson during the fourth quarter.

(Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
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He is the NFL’s most valuable player, a transcendent talent who won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship in college football.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, though, remains in search of a Super Bowl title after being neutralized Sunday in the Denver Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.

Newton answered only seven questions during a postgame news conference, most with very short answers.

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He said the Broncos “did nothing” different on defense.

“They outplayed us,” he said.

Newton was sacked six times, lost two fumbles and had a pass intercepted.

He completed only 18 of 41 passes for 265 yards, with no touchdowns.

It was a hard day for a player who had passed for 35 touchdowns and run for 10 during the regular season.

“We’ll be back,” he said.

Jackson shines

Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson scored a touchdown in the first quarter when he recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Von Miller while sacking Newton.

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“It was an all-around great effort,” Jackson said of the defense. “We had no doubt. We knew what we had in this group and we knew what we could do.”

Jackson joined the Broncos as a fifth-round draft choice from Tennessee in 2012.

Jackson played at Lake Balboa Birmingham High before spending two seasons at USC.

He had 5 1/2 sacks for the Trojans, but left before the 2010 season.

USC had been hit with NCAA sanctions that included a two-year bowl ban, the loss of 30 scholarships and four years of probation. Under NCAA rules, juniors and seniors were allowed to transfer without having to sit out a season.

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Ealy steps up

Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy had a standout performance in a losing effort.

Ealy sacked Peyton Manning three times, intercepted a pass and also forced a fumble.

Ealy’s three sacks tied the Super Bowl record shared by Reggie White of the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI and Darnell Dockett of the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

Ealy is also the first player to record multiple sacks and an interception.

But the Panthers could not capitalize on all of the plays.

“It’s unfortunate,” he said, “but it’s not the first time it has happened to any player.”

Record return

Broncos punt returner Jordan Norwood set a Super Bowl record with a 61-yard return in the second quarter.

The play set up a field goal that gave the Broncos a 13-7 lead.

It appeared as if the Panthers anticipated that Norwood would call for a fair catch.

“It was a short punt, and a lot of times guys will just run past it,” Norwood said. “They didn’t but I just decided to roll with it.”

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Davis plays

Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis made good on his vow to play in the Super Bowl despite a broken right arm.

Davis suffered a fracture in his right forearm two weeks ago in the Panthers’ NFC championship game victory over the Cardinals. The next day, a surgeon installed a metal plate and 12 screws to get Davis back onto the field.

Davis, an 11-year veteran, was in the starting lineup with Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson. Davis finished with five tackles, one for a loss.

“I didn’t have any issues,” he said. “I went out and just did what I could. I didn’t hurt my team.”

gary.klein@latimesklein

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Twitter: @latimesklein

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