Super Bowl 50: Your Broncos Pregame Reading List

Super Bowl Football
<p>(AP Photo/Charlie&nbsp;<span data-scayt-word="Riedel" data-scayt-lang="en_US">Riedel</span>)</p>
<p>Denver Broncos fans Ted Cadigan, left, Sandy LaBelle and Daniel Oppenheim pose for a selfie at Super Bowl City Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, in San Francisco. </p>
Photo: Broncos fans in California (AP Photo)
Denver Broncos fans Ted Cadigan, left, Sandy LaBelle and Daniel Oppenheim pose for a selfie at Super Bowl City Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, in San Francisco.

The Broncos will take on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in a bid to win its third Super Bowl since the team was founded in 1959. While you're waiting for kickoff, check out our coverage of the team -- starting with a look at their home town.

Rewind To '99

Denver hasn't been this excited over its football team since ... well ... let's not talk about that right now. Instead, let's look back at the Mile High City as it was the last time the Broncos won the big game in, 1999. John Elway was QB. John Hickenlooper was a beer brewer. The population was skyrocketing. And, weed was illegal. CPR's Meg Arellano and Nathaniel Minor unearthed a collection of throwback moments.

Good, Bad And Strange

The Broncos have had some ups, downs, and some strange moments since their inception in 1960 -- starting with those, um, interesting earth-toned uniforms. True, Sunday marks their eighth appearance in the big game -- a four-way tie for the most ever. But actual wins? Not so many. And what about those musical tributes and anthems. Hear them, and more, in this Colorado Matters interview with Denver Public Library's Brian Trembath.

Classical Bets

CPR Classical's Brad Turner says that if the Carolina Panthers win the Super Bowl, the Colorado Symphony will play an arrangement of Neil Diamond’s tune “Sweet Caroline” at an upcoming concert. Associate Conductor Christopher Dragon would wear the jersey of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton during the performance. If the Denver Broncos win, the Charlotte Symphony will treat its audience to “Hoedown” from Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo” while the orchestra’s conductor wears a Peyton Manning jersey. And check out this video: "Panthers. They're What's For Dinner."

Religion And Superstition

Hundreds of Broncomaniacs showed up last Sunday for a rally in Civic Center Park hosted by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia and former Broncos players. The moment brought out folks from all walks of life, donned in everything from blue and orange-clad fuzzy leggings to spiky football shoulder pads and fierce-looking horse heads made of foam. Reporter Vic Vela was there to, capturing the sounds and sights.

Curtains?

Sunday's Super Bowl 50 could mark the end of an era: Peyton Manning's last game. He turns 40 next month. He dropped a hint about his "last rodeo" to New England head coach Bill Belichick. But will he walk away? Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg tells NPR that pro athletes like Manning never seem to know when it's time to punch out.