After an exciting "Championship" Sunday, the big game is all set. The Seattle Seahawks will represent the NFC, and the Denver Broncos will represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, February 02, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Over the next couple weeks leading up to the game, BuffaloVibe will bring you coverage involving the teams, history of the game, and other fun tidbits to whet your appetite before kickoff.
The Seahawks will make their second appearance in the Super Bowl, with the first being in Super Bowl XL in Detroit in 2006. The 'Hawks lost to the champion Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10 that year, and were plagued by penalties and poor execution. Seattle fans must wonder why they can't catch a break and travel to a warm weather city. The forecast for New York/New Jersey calls for wintery conditions, while the weather in Detroit wasn't much better during their first run. This year the Seahawks came into the season on the short list of teams predicted to reach the Super Bowl. They did not disappointment. With an overwhelming home field advantage and a suffocating defense led by the "Legion of Boom" secondary, the Seahawks were involved in few close games on their way to a 13-3 record and champions of the NFC West.
QB Russell Wilson suffered no sophomore slump and continued his impressive poised play, while RB Marshawn Lynch relied on his "Beast Mode" mentality to have another great season. The 'Hawks also did all this without top offseason free agent WR Percy Harvin, as he was out most of the year with an injury. All in all this is a complete team with few holes, but can Wilson lead them to a victory on the grandest stage in sports?
The Broncos, off a record breaking offensive season, will make their seventh Super Bowl appearance off of back-to-back victories over the Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII and the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. Before that Denver had lost their previous four visits to the big game, and that's the last I will mention a team having for Super Bowl losses, UGH!
Denver rolled through most of its opponents on the way to a 13-3 record all while scoring the most points in league history, and having their leader QB Peyton Manning set the record for most touchdowns and passing yards in a season. While many expected the legend to begin to show signs of diminished skills, he proved everyone wrong and had perhaps his best season ever at age 37. Denver also saw the emergence of RB Knowshon Moreno, the 12th pick of the 2009 draft, who had yet to live up to his potential. He complimented the high power passing attack very nicely, and also had his best year as a pro. Free agent WR Wes Welker had another outstanding year, and it's easy to see why the Broncos are in the Super Bowl with so many players having career years. The defense did not live up to the output of the offense, but they also did not have to with the Denver offense outscoring most of their opponents at will.
What a matchup we are in store for with the top offense meeting the top defense for the right to raise the Lombardi Trophy. Do defenses really win championships? Can an offense averaging almost 40 point per game lose when it matters most? Answers coming February 2.