Two number one seeds from each conference meeting in the Super Bowl doesn’t happen very often, but this year’s matchup not only features the two best teams in pro football, it also pits the Denver Broncos’ number one offense against the Seattle Seahawks’ number one defense. The National Football League could not have asked for a better Super Bowl matchup.
There are fascinating matchups all over the field, from Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson versus the Broncos’ secondary, to Denver’s running game going up against the immovable force that is Seattle’s front seven.
Every clichéd ‘game within the game’ itself will be instrumental in deciding which team wins the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but the matchup that will have the most influence, unquestionably, will be Peyton Manning and his plethora of receivers going head to head with Seattle’s secondary, commonly referred to as the Legion of Boom.
Denver’s offense is a nightmare for defensive coordinators to plan against because of the incredible athleticism pass-catchers Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, and Julius Thomas possess. Add Wes Welker into the mix and with no disrespect to Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne — two of the all-time greats — this is the best receiving corps Manning has ever had at his disposal.
That said, Seahawks’ defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has the athletes to matchup with the Broncos’ offense. Richard Sherman, however boastful he may be, is the most athletic corner in the game and he will be tasked with keeping Demaryius Thomas in check.
Safety Kam Chancellor is 10 pounds away from being a linebacker, so he can get physical with Julius Thomas. Free safety Earl Thomas will be all over the field at Met Life Stadium come game day and unheralded corner Byron Maxwell has been solid in filling in for suspended starter and CFL alumni Brandon Browner.
Since Quinn likes to run man-to-man coverage, this game will come down to whether or not Denver can successfully run its controversial, yet incredibly effective, pick plays. These plays require two receivers crisscrossing so one receiver can effectively run interference against the other receiver’s defender. Seattle’s physicality at the corner back position make this strategy the one to keep an eye on during the game.
The question of who has the upper hand in this game within a game is another matter, and one that is incredibly difficult to answer. Seattle’s physicality may allow their corners to get their hands on the Broncos’ receivers before the wideouts can run their pick routes, or the Seahawks can sit back in zone and switch who they’re covering.
The main factor is that Seattle is capable of doing each, and doing each well, giving them a slight advantage in this matchup, despite the NFL being a pass happy league.
Add in potentially bad weather that may adversely affect the Broncos’ passing game and Seattle has the chance to suffocate the greatest offense in NFL history. Also, combine the return of dynamic Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin with Seattle’s staunch run game and it’s hard not to choose the Seahawks to win this game.
But, the Broncos have arguably the greatest quarterback of all time in Peyton Manning, so the only thing for certain is that this years’ Super Bowl will be one of the best in recent memory.
