It’s almost time, ladies and gents. We are ready to make our Super Bowl prediction!
The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will square off at Metlife Stadium in Super Bowl XLVIII. Both teams were the top dogs in their respective conferences all season, and there will be great match ups all over the field. The most feared defense in the league is faces an offense led by one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time with weapons across the board. We do have to take the weather into consideration as well, but for now it looks like the forecast is clear (please no snow).
Check out our breakdown of both teams and who has the advantage at key positions.
Quarterback – Denver Broncos
OMAHA! We’re going with Peyton Manning on this one. Manning broke the regular season touchdown passing record with 54 (Tom Brady 50), and the regular season passing yards record with 5,477 yards. Manning is also coming off of a 400 yard passing game against the New England Patriots two weeks ago in the AFC Conference Championship game.
Manning is chasing history. Fair or unfair, he knows the critics have been critical of his play in playoff games and the games that matter the most. Colts owner Jim Irsay went as far as saying Manning’s career has been “disappointing,” for only winning one ring. Manning will do whatever it takes to silence the haters and get his second Super Bowl ring.
Russell Wilson is no push over. He is only in his second year and is a dual threat with the pass and the run. He is an intelligent, hardworking, and high character guy that commands the Seahawks offense. He is coming off of a 215 yard game vs their division rival San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Conference Championship game. We are expecting him to play well in the biggest game of the year.
Defense – Seattle Seahawks
Richard Sherman. Enough said.
If you watched more than two Seahawks games this year, you know that Sherman isn’t the only guy the Broncos should be worried about within their defense. Keep an eye out for these Legion of Boom members: safety Earl Thomas, safety Kam Chancellor, defensive end Chris Clemons and cornerback Brandon Browner.
Quarterbacks and receivers across the league have had their hands full going up against the Seahawks secondary and front four. Defense wins championships, and we believe the Seahawks’ amped up defense will get a ton of crucial stops in the big game.
The Broncos defense held its two playoffs opponents to 16 & 17 points respectively and they do have some stars on that side of the ball in cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, linebacker Danny Trevathan and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton. But the Broncos aren’t known best for their defense (we didn’t forget the Cowboys dropping 48 points on the Broncos defense. 48!)
Running Back – Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have Marshawn Lynch aka Beast Mode. He can take over the game at a moments notice and has been a force to be reckoned with throughout his entire career. He has been in the news all week for his press conferences and media time. The man said it himself: “I’m just about that action, boss.”
Knowshon Moreno starts at the running back for the Broncos. Coming off of a 59 yard rushing game vs the 49ers, it was tough for Moreno to have a major impact vs the Niners tough defense. He will be going up against the best defense in the league and the Broncos will need him to step up by making some game changing plays to compliment Peyton Manning and the Broncos passing game.
Receivers – Denver Broncos
The Broncos have one of the best receiver groups in the league. It also makes everyone look like stars when you have a quarterback as precise as Peyton Manning. Their play may be the biggest factor in the outcome of the Super Bowl.
Led by wide receivers Wes Welker, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, this receiver core has been killing teams all year with cross routes, rubs and picks that almost always end in a completed pass. They will have their hands full with the intimidating Seahawks secondary, but we expect Manning to throw a lot of completions to his receivers.
The Seahawks are led by wide receivers Percy Harvin and Doug Baldwin. Baldwin is coming off of a 109 yard game vs the 49ers and will need to have another big game for the Seahawks. Harvin has been injured throughout the year, but when he is 100% he is big time. One of the biggest factors in the game will be special teams, and Harvin can make those plays that can change the game.
Head Coach – Seattle Seahawks
Simply put, Pete Carroll is a rock star. He demands the best from his players in every practice, walkthrough and game, and his players have ultimate respect for him. He allows them to have fun in the process and even has a basketball court in the practice facility. Carroll doesn’t have any Super Bowl experience, but he is a winner, leading USC to two BCS National Title games in 2005 (victory over Oklahoma) and 2006 (loss to Texas). He has big game experience and is always ready to make those calls that can change the game.
John Fox has some big game experience too, as he led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl 10 years ago. He has a talented cast and is doing a great job coaching a mix of veterans and younger players. Fox is resilient too, as he compared his heart surgery to an ankle sprain during a press conference this week. Fox will definitely have his guys ready to go for the big game.
Weather – Denver Broncos
The Super Bowl is usually hosted by warm weather cities and locations with a dome. The weather may dictate the outcome of this years game.
If the weather gets extremely cold, wet or windy, we give the advantage to the Seahawks. A slippery field would give the Broncos receivers problems against an already intimidating Seahawks defense.
Staff Picks: Broncos 12, Seahawks 11
Final Prediction: Broncos 21 Seahawks 17
The Denver Broncos will be victorious on Sunday. We are expecting a big game from them on both sides of the ball. Peyton Manning and his cast of receivers will rise to the occasion and the defense will get the necessary stops and hold the Seahawks to 17.
