When thinking about who will become Super Bowl XLVIII champion for this upcoming Sunday, there is one thing that stands out to me, and that is experience.
The Denver Broncos team has been to the playoffs the last three years, and has been itching to make it to the Super Bowl. This Sunday they will finally get their opportunity. The last time the Broncos were victorious in the Super Bowl was in the 1998 season against the Atlanta Falcons, when John Elway won his second Super Bowl.
This is the first time since that 1998 season that the Broncos have appeared in a Super Bowl.
For the Seattle Seahawks, this is their second Super Bowl appearance, and first since 2005, when they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers. This Sunday’s game features the best quarterback in the game, with Peyton Manning against Seattle’s top defense in the league. Although it is the Broncos first Super bowl appearance since 1998, it is Manning’s third appearance in his career. Manning is 1-1 overall, with his win coming against the Chicago Bears in 2006, and his loss against the New Orleans Saints in 2009.
One of the main reasons I have to pick the Broncos in this game is because it seems like the end of a chapter to a Hollywood film. This season Manning broke the single season touchdown record with 55 touchdown passes, and Drew Brees passing yards in a season with 5,477 yards.
Manning has been sharp since the first week of the season, when he tied a National Football League record of seven passing touchdowns in a single game against the Baltimore Ravens, who were last year’s defending Super Bowl Champions.
Manning does a great job of using his receiving core as well. Five players caught 60 balls or more this season, and four of the five caught at least 10 touchdowns. Leading the receivers was Demaryius Thomas who had 92 catches for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns. Thomas is a tall 6’3” 229 lb wide out who is versatile and can be compared to the other best receivers in the game. One matchup I’ll be looking forward to is Thomas going up against Seahawks corner Richard Sherman who is notorious for playing at an elite level this season.
Another reason why I feel the Broncos have a strong chance in winning this game is because they are not one-dimensional. Running back Knowshon Moreno had a career season where he topped the 1,000 rushing yard mark for the first time in his career, while also adding 10 rushing touchdowns, and three more from receiving.
The other back is rookie Montee Ball out of Wisconsin who has gotten double digit carries in both playoff games this season, and is averaging over 4.3 yards per carry in the playoffs. Not only are the Broncos two-dimensional, but they have depth to back up their game as well, which will be vital in this physical matchup this upcoming Sunday.
I have nothing against the Seahawks and their great accomplishments this season, but I feel that nobody has been able to stop the Broncos offense so far this year, and I don’t think the Seahawks will be able to either. My prediction, Broncos 27, Seahawks 21.
