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For many years, the closest we got to a Brit at the Super Bowl was Britney Spears belting out a few tunes at the 2000 half-time show.

But this year - hoist Union Jack bunting and cue God Save the Queen - there's genuine GB interest. Well, kinda.

Panthers kicker Graham Gano was born in Arbroath, Scotland. He even likes Rangers. Well in, laddie.

On the other hand, he grew up in Florida, pronounces his name 'Gram' and writes about "cooking mac n' cheese" and "having some fun on the shooting range" on his Twitter page. Verdict: more Yankee than Krankie. 

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The Carolina Panthers are running out on to the field to a muted accompaniment of drum-bashing, cheerleaders and waving flags. The man banging the drum, by the way, is basketball star Steph Curry, the reigning NBA MVP, who is a huge Panthers fan.

Cam Newton and Peyton Manning may play the same position, but that's about all they have in common.

Manning is an old warhorse, Newton is a young thruster. Manning is reserved, Newton is flashy. Manning dresses like a high-school principal. Newton dresses like Prince.

Image source, @TelegraphSport

By sheer coincidence, I am wearing that exact pair of trousers to do the live text. I've turned quite a few heads in Salford.

Newton's Denver counterpart, Peyton Manning, could scarcely have had a more different season. 

At 39, Manning is entering the twilight of what has been one of the great NFL careers - he is the all-time leader in both touchdown passes and passing yards.

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But this has been a season of struggle for the old gunslinger. Manning has taken plenty of criticism for some substandard passing displays and even suffered the indignity of being benched for deputy Brock Osweiler after chucking four interceptions against the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, Manning has rebounded well during the play-offs, employing a limited but effective game-management style that has dovetailed well with the Broncos' excellent defensive. His legs may be a little heavier than they were, but his mind is chock-full of big-game experience. That could be crucial tonight.

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So who are the key players to watch? Well, if you know anything about American football, you'll know that the quarterbacks are usually the most important players on the field - and this year looks set to be no exception.

The main man for the Panthers is 26-year-old Cam Newton, the newly-crowned Most Valuable Player in the NFL. He's had a stellar season, throwing for 38 touchdowns and rushing for 12 more.

An extravagant, extrovert figure, Newton has become well known for his signature celebration - the 'dab'. It's a party piece we've seen plenty of during the play-offs as he's swatted aside any questions about his big-game temperament. But tonight is an occasion like no other. Can he keep his cool under the white-hot pressure of a Super Bowl?

Jenni, Newtownards: Cam Newton has the ability to win quite a few Super Bowl rings over the course of the next decade, so for that reason I'm right behind Peyton Manning and his quest to win his second championship. He's been arguably the greatest QB of all-time, so he deserves to go out on a high. 

Andrew, Richhill: If the Carolina Panthers jump out quickly and take an early lead, I can't see the Broncos being able to mount a comeback. The Broncos defence needs to keep Cam Newton and his Panthers offence quiet, but that's easier said than done! 

Richard Bannister: Twelve months ago, I was in the stadium at Arizona - my 30-year-old dream come true, watching an incredible game. I hope the drama is the same tonight! Go Panthers! 

I'm hearing that Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis is playing this game with a broken arm. Gutsy stuff.

Thomas, I feel your pain. I had my wisdom teeth out two days ago and I'm doing this live text in a haze of painkillers. We'll get through this together.

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Last year's Super Bowl was an unmitigated thriller. The NFC champion Seattle Seahawks took on the AFC winners, the New England Patriots.

After the teams were tied 14–14 at halftime, the Seahawks - quarter-backed by Russell Wilson - built a ten-point lead to end the third quarter. But the Patriots, with the legendary Tom Brady behind centre, rallied to take a 28–24 lead with roughly two minutes left in the game.

However, with time running out, the Seahawks drove the ball to the Patriots' one-yard line. Victory seemed assured, but rather than hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch, a human bulldozer of a running back who could probably have burrowed his way through nuclear cladding if the Super Bowl depended upon it, they inexplicably opted to throw the ball. Result: interception, and Patriots win.

The stars are out in force tonight. The rumour is that singer Justin Bieber will be at the game, along with Snoop Dogg, Usher, actor Liam Hemsworth and Miss Universe 2015. They have already been seen at this week's Super Bowl parties!

And don't forget the half-time show - Britain's Coldplay will be flying the flag for us. It is believed they will be joined by Beyonce and Bruno Mars. Clocks could be a big one tonight!

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Super Bowl 50 will be Denver's eighth Super Bowl appearance - only three other teams have featured as many times (Pittsburgh, Dallas and New England, if it ever comes up in a quiz). However, they have only won it twice - the last time was when their current general manager John Elway was their quarterback in 1999.

Their last appearance was one to forget - they were crushed by the Seattle Seahawks 43-8. They will not be hoping for a repeat performance tonight!

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Carolina only joined the league in 1995 and have been to the Super Bowl just once before, losing to the New England Patriots in 2004.

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In a game hailed at the time as the Greatest Super Bowl of all time, the Panthers scored a late Dave Proehl touchdown to tie the game at 29 all - only for Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri to nail a field goal with the last kick of the game, and condemn them to defeat.

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One of the most eagerly anticipated parts of Super Bowl Sunday is the half-time show, and this year is no exception.

Joining forces at Super Bowl 50 are spangly pop super-vixen Beyonce and beige British glum-rockers Coldplay for a collaboration that seems likely, in the words of Ms Knowles herself, to be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare.

The last time the Carolina Panthers were in the Super Bowl, back in 2004, the half-time show famously featured Janet Jackson's, ahem, wardrobe malfunction. 

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I don't want to come over all Mary Whitehouse, but I'm sure you'll join me in hoping we don't see a repeat of that. The sight of a flushed Beyonce ripping off a fabric panel to expose Chris Martin's pasty pectoral is frankly more than I could stomach at two in the morning.    

Image source, European Photopress Agency

Denver and their top-ranked defence squeezed through a tight AFC Championship Game at home against the New England Patriots two weeks ago by 20 points to 18.

Their other play-off game was another narrow home victory - 23-16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The AFC West team lost four games during a season which was blighted by legendary quarterback Peyton Manning sitting on the sidelines with various injuries. But, he is back now and with a tough defensive unit, the Broncos have a chance at stopping Carolina.

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Carolina cruised into this year's Super Bowl with a convincing 49-15 win against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL Championship Game two weeks ago. 

Before that, they fended off a second-half comeback by the Seattle Seahawks in their only other play-off game this year to win 31-24.

The NFC South team strolled through the season headed by star quarterback and the league's Most Valuable Player Cam Newton - only losing one game, which was against the Atlanta Falcons on 27 December.

Image source, Reuters

Ross Wishart:  Loved the Race to SB50 coverage by BBC Sport - now it's time for the main event. Beers chilled, coffee pot on, it'll be a long night!

Stef Debeuf: The Panthers will destroy the Broncos! Go Carolina! 

Sam Hogbin: Sipping down the first of many cups of coffee as part of a vain attempt to stay awake for the whole of the Super Bowl. #nochance