EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ever since Super Bowl XLVIII was awarded to New York/New Jersey four years ago, the question of weather at an outdoor stadium in a northern climate was a hot topic.
The NFL lucked out with about the best day you can ask for here in early February -- it was 49 degrees at kickoff. So the weather never was a factor. Neither was the record-setting Broncos' offense.
In a league in which scoring is on the rise annually, the Seahawks emphatically proved defense still wins championships. Seattle captured the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in franchise history Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, throttling Peyton Manning in a 43-8 rout before 82,529, capping a week that surely will put more outdoor stadiums in cold environments on the map for NFL owners when considering future Super Bowl sites.
Manning set records for touchdowns and yards during the regular season and picked up his unprecedented fifth MVP award on Saturday. A record 11,985 points were scored in the 2013 regular season, and 1,338 touchdowns were scored, surpassing the previous high of 1,297 from 2012. Eleven teams scored more than 400 points — two more than had ever done so before. Nine of those 11 teams reached the playoffs. But it was the Seahawks, who were No. 1 in points and yards allowed, who finished on top. The battle of the best defense versus the best offense fizzled in the first Super Bowl blowout in more than a decade.
The Seahawks posted the fastest score in Super Bowl history — just 12 seconds in — with a safety as the snap on the game's first play by Broncos center Manny Ramirez sailed over Manning, who was approaching the line to make an adjustment. From the start, the Seahawks were faster and more physical and the Broncos never recovered.
Manning's final numbers didn't look atrocious, but the offense never had a semblance of rhythm. He finished 34 of 49 for 280 yards with one touchdown. Both of his interceptions came in the first half with Malcolm Smith returning one 69 yards for a touchdown. The Seahawks quickly added to their 22-0 halftime lead as Percy Harvin's kickoff return to open the third quarter went 87 yards for a touchdown.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was efficient, completing 18 of 25 for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and running for 26 more yards. Harvin, who played just 40 snaps during the year, was dangerous with 45 yards on two jet sweeps in the first half. The Broncos bottled up Marshawn Lynch, who gained just 17 yards on his first 11 carries and finished with 39 yards on 15 carries. The key for the Seahawks was to protect the ball to allow the defense to deliver the big plays.
The Seahawks' thorough dominance was reminiscent of what the 2000 Ravens did to the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV and what the 1985 Bears did to the Patriots in Super Bowl XX. Keep in mind those Giants and Patriots teams were not offensive juggernauts of their day like this Broncos team was. A popular storyline was Manning could follow in the path of Broncos executive John Elway and bring a title to Denver. What happened was the kind of blowout Elway experienced in his first three Super Bowls, when the Broncos lost by an average of 32 points.
What is to be learned from the work of Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider over the last four years? The secondary is a big deal in a passing league and the Legion of Boom, with cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell and safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, gives Seattle the ability to play physical man-to-man coverage and intimidate. The Broncos finally shifted top wide receiver Demaryius Thomas away from Sherman's side to try to make some plays on Maxwell, but Denver's offensive game plan blew up. Manning was sacked only once, but he also wasn't comfortable in the pocket and he rarely attempted throws outside the numbers.
In a soft free-agent market, the Seahawks were able to sign defensive ends Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, and on Sunday, Seattle dominated up front from the start. It was Avril who hit Manning on Smith's touchdown return, causing the pass to resemble, well, a duck as Sherman referred to the quarterback's throws last week. Winning with a second-year quarterback means the Seahawks don't have huge money invested in the position and they began the season with the fourth-youngest roster in the NFL.
Manning, 37, has been remarkable the last two seasons after sitting out the 2011 season with a neck injury. His long-term status is a question worth pondering with the window beginning to close in Denver. The Seahawks, meanwhile, have youth but some salary-cap decisions ahead. Carroll and Schneider will be able to celebrate plenty before plotting their course to 2014.
Twitter @BradBiggs
Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1kBxyOp
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