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The 2015 NFL season all came down to Super Bowl 50 on Sunday night. Five former Ohio State players suited up to faceoff for their chance to win the Lombardi Trophy -- Corey "Philly" Brown, Kurt Coleman, Ted Ginn Jr, and Andrew Norwell for the Carolina Panthers, and Bradley Roby for the Denver Broncos (Jeff Heuerman made the trip with the team, but spent the season on IR).
After a hard fought battle, Roby and Heuerman will add a Championship ring to their impressive list of bling earned at Ohio State. Two Buckeye Panthers were sidelined early in the second half and two others failed to narrow the lead by the Broncos throughout the matchup.
In a game that saw two big-name quarterbacks battling against two of the League's best defenses, Buckeyes played a big role for both teams.
First half
Philly Brown started things off by drawing an unsportsmanship penalty on veteran Broncos secondary player Aqib Talib on the the sideline.
An unsportsmanlike penalty on Aqib Talib gives Carolina new life on this drive. Huge mistake.
— SB Nation NFL (@SBNationNFL) February 8, 2016
The flag wasn't easily forgotten by Talib, who body slammed Philly Brown on his way to the endzone using his facemask to assist in the tackle.
Aqib Talib tried to rip Philly Brown’s whole head off: https://t.co/HlyvxoD0Bl pic.twitter.com/9x3W3CP99x
— SB Nation (@SBNation) February 8, 2016
Four minutes before the half, Quarterback Cam Newton threw the ball down field to Philly Brown, who was blasted by former roommate Bradley Roby, forcing a fumble by the Panther wideout.
Second half
To open the second half, Ted Ginn Jr. saw his first reception of the game for 40 yards and a first down.
40 yard catch and run by Ted Ginn https://t.co/Lfgx1Z9jlI
— tOSU Recruiting (@tOSURecruiting) February 8, 2016
It wasn't a great ending for several former Buckeyes, who wound up being sidelined before the final whistle.
RT @SteveReedAP: Andrew Norwell is dealing with a right hamstring injury.
— AP NFL (@AP_NFL) February 8, 2016
Philly Brown had a big catch with eight minutes left in the third quarter, but his head hit the ground following the catch, putting the wideout in the concussion protocol. Before he was taken out, he was the leading receiver with four catches for 80 yards.
When in doubt, just throw it up...
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 8, 2016
to Philly Brown? #KeepPounding https://t.co/9cmFphleSw
Philly Brown (concussion) will NOT return to #SB50
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) February 8, 2016
Brown put the Panthers in scoring position after his 42-yard catch, but a pass targeted for Ted Ginn, was tipped wide and right into the hands of Bronco T.J. Ward.
Cam Newton finds Ted Ginn.
— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2016
Ginn tips it. T.J. Ward picks it. #Broncos ball! #SB50 https://t.co/UjiFKYqMIS
Bradley Roby got his chance to tackle another fellow Buckeye in the second half, when he took down Ginn for an incomplete pass. He could have drawn a flag for pass interference, but got away with being a little handsy without the call.
Panthers safety Kurt Coleman was relatively quiet during Super Bowl 50, he had a nice tackle early on; but failed to continue his interception streak.