Football fans across our archipelago of islands gathered around television sets and screens on one of the most anticipated days on the sports calendar. The event was Super Bowl 50 and in the midst of an unusually cold Sunday afternoon in February, all eyes were on the faceoff between the Denver Broncos' veteran quarterback Peyton Manning and the Carolina Panthers' dynamic quarterback Cam Newton.

The game would however be decided not by the two stars that grabbed the attention of the football world prior to Sunday, but rather by their supporting casts. More importantly, the skills, athleticism and strength of the quarterbacks were not as much of a factor compared to the play of the teams working together to counter the strengths and strategies of their opponents. This piece is a reflection on an event whose outcome defied all odds and confirmed that in spite of the advancement of technology and analytics, we can only ever be sure about one thing: that the future will be unpredictable.

The underestimated weapon of defense
The debate rages on as to whether a good defense is the best offense or whether a good offense is the best defense. Depending on the school of thought one belongs to, compelling cases can be made to support both assertions.
On Sunday evening however, the former proved to be true as the offensive prowess of the young Cam Newton was overshadowed by the defensive genius of the Denver Broncos.

Super Bowl 50 justified the saying that while good offense wins games, great defense wins championships. The low scoring game was one that was defined by the defense of the Broncos and a rushing game in which the winning quarterback did not throw a single touchdown pass. The Panthers had the league's top offense averaging 31.3 points per game during the regular season and 40 points per game in the postseason. The Panthers' quarterback - Newton was responsible for approximately 79 percent of his team's offensive scores during the season. Alas, this was no match for the suffocating and fierce defense of the Broncos.

Against all odds
In the lead up to the big game, several predictions were made by professional sports analysts, gambling firms and the multitude of self-appointed analysts both in The Bahamas and abroad. There was overwhelming support for and forecasts that pointed to the Panthers as the favorite to win the Super Bowl.

Different football fans and followers supported the Panthers and opposed the Broncos for different reasons albeit the rationale for local support for the Panthers seemed connected to Cam Newton. Many had expected Newton - the 2011 NFL number one pick, to rise to the occasion and perform at his best on football's biggest stage. However, this was not to be and rather the number two pick of the same draft - linebacker Von Miller - stole the show and was named Most Valuable Player. Von Miller won the MVP award not because he had the ball in his hands and controlled the game from an offensive perspective but by making the defensive plays that determined the outcome.

The Broncos, whom some regarded as the underdogs in this contest, outplayed and outhustled the favorites to clinch the coveted trophy. The Bible verse that notes that the race is not to the swift but to those that endure to the end could not be more relevant in this case.

A record-setting game
The 2016 Super Bowl will be remembered by many for different reasons. In a display of the paradoxical nature of life, while some will have joyful memories of moments seized, others will harbor painful recollection of opportunities squandered. Regardless of which category people find themselves in, we were privileged to witness a game in which several records were set.

Beginning with some unique records, in Super Bowl 50 we had the oldest quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl in Peyton Manning at age 39. Both teams had 12 sacks - the most ever - and the Broncos had the fewest total yards for a winning team with just 194 yards. The longest punt return of 61 yards belonged to Jordan Norwood while the Panthers' defensive lineman, Kony Ealy, with three sacks, tied the record for most sacks in a Super Bowl. Danny Trevathan of the Broncos tied the record with two fumble recoveries and Peyton Manning set a record for most career wins with his 200th win.

The Bahamian context
We could continue to list other records that were either set or tied during Super Bowl 50. These records could be attributed to individuals or teams but all of these are of little significance when compared to the overall result of arguably the biggest sporting event in the United States. When it's all been said and done, in the aftermath of the music and the discussions, the most notable achievement of the champions that will be enshrined in the pages of NFL history will be that they won Super Bowl 50 as a team.

In the same vein, we must consider the greater collective victories we can accomplish as a united people working for a common good. The individual accolades and personal victories will soon be forgotten if we fail to lift our dear nation up to greater heights.

The Bahamian nation will not be defined by the exploits of its sons and daughters operating for personal glory at the expense of our commonwealth. Our Bahamaland will only achieve its potential and the greatness we clamor for if we work as a team like the Broncos to confront the challenges that lie ahead of us. We must intercept crime, defend our unity, uphold our leaders, support each other but spare no effort in sacking the ills that threaten our future.

Conclusion
Super Bowl 50 is gone but the Commonwealth of The Bahamas will remain and it is the duty of those of us in this generation to take up the mantle of personal sacrifice in the national interest. We must have zero tolerance for individuals that seek to divide us and dumb down our people in their own selfish interests. After all we are supposed to be a people united in love and service.

The Bahamian people must reject the notion of some that we are simply not good enough to compete on the global stage. The odds may be against us because of some flawed policies over the past 40 years; however, we can defy all odds and silence those that have no confidence in our abilities.

As the trophy for the champions made its way to the podium at the conclusion of Super Bowl 50, a cousin of mine referred to the Biblical scripture which reads: "the stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone". This is not only relevant, it is appropriate as we continue our journey as a nation.

The concluded part of the referenced scripture is the most important one - "this is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes". Congratulations are extended to the Broncos team and fans for their hard work, faith and perseverance - traits that we need more than ever in our country today.

o Arinthia S. Komolafe is an attorney-at-law. Comments on this article can be directed to a.s.komolafe510@gmail.com.

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