The Denver Broncos will be taking on the Seattle Seahawks in a game that everyone is going to watch. Whether you watch it for the commercials or the players, this will be a great game that features the NFL’s number one offense with Denver versus the number one defense with Seattle. Before you continue reading I must admit that I grew up a Colts fan. I loved watching Peyton Manning play and I will be cheering for Denver. However, this does not prevent me from giving a good preview of both teams and letting you, the reader, choose who you believe is going to win.
The Seahawks have the number one defense in the NFL lead by playmakers such as Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Brandon Maxwell. They are known as the Legion of Boom and for the most part this year they have lived up to the talking they have done. Combine that with a good pass rush by Michael Bennet and Cliff Avril and they have given opposing offenses fits all year.
Denver, on the other hand, has the league’s number one offense, led by Peyton Manning. For those who have been living under a rock for the past year, Manning re-wrote the record book throwing for 55 touchdowns and 5,477 yards, which are both NFL records.
This is a classic case of offense vs. defense and the last time a matchup like this happened was in 2003 Super Bowl when the Tampa Buccaneers (number one defense) faced off against the Oakland Raiders (number one offense) and, as history would tell us, the Raiders got blown out of the game that day, losing 48-21.
History has a tendency to repeat itself, but there is a major difference this year. While Seattle has the number one defense this year without question, the Broncos not only have the number one offense but one of the best offenses in NFL history.
Seattle and the Legion of Boom have not faced an offense this proficient all season. This is a team that is capable of beating you with five different weapons on offense. Seattle lost to a Colts team that at the time had all pro receiver Reggie Wayne and burner T.Y. Hilton, both of who torched the defense. Hilton had 140 yards and two touchdowns and Reggie had 65 yards on six catches.
The way I am making this sound right now the Seahawks shouldn’t even bother showing up in New Jersey. But don’t count out the Seahawks just yet because the team is built to beat a Peyton Manning-led team. They can rush four at the quarterback and drop seven into coverage. Forcing Manning to wait to check to a run on most occasions and thus slowing down the offense. This team can blitz at the right time and not get burned in coverage because they have the cornerbacks who can play one on one with the Denver receivers. Also, this defense is built very similar to one in Jacksonville, who Denver played in week six. Yes, Denver beat them, but Jacksonville was able to slow down the Broncos offense only losing by two at half time and despite having less talent than this Seahawks team.
When you have a case like this, where two teams strengths cancel each other out, it is usually other factors that come into play: Seattle’s offense vs. Denver’s defense. This is where it becomes interesting; Russell Wilson, the sophomore out of Wisconsin and North Carolina State, has struggled in the past month but help is on the way in the form of Percy Harvin who is a game breaker – but is also a china doll. Oh, and don’t forget about Marshawn Lynch, aka “Beast Mode”, who can break a game wide open late in the game when the defense is tired.
On Denver’s defense, they are lead by future Hall of Famer Champ Bailey, who has battled through injuries this year and has been playing at the elite level he used to during the majority of his career. In regards to pass rushing, Denver is led by free agent pick up Shaun Phillips, who is currently playing on a one-year deal. Both these players have been the reason Denver’s defense is able to play well enough to get by the entire season.
The matchups in this game are amazing, especially if you’re a football junkie like me. You have Richard Sherman vs. Demaryius Thomas, Marshawn Lynch (Beast Mode) vs. Terrance Knighton (nicknamed Pot Roast).
It’s the matchups within the game that will decide the Super Bowl. I plan to be wearing my number 18 Peyton Manning jersey cheering for him. While I personally think the Broncos will win 28-21, I would not be surprised if Seattle was able to pull out a victory either.
