Well, that was unexpected. Even though pretty much every football expert, analyst and writer had predicted a close game between the AFC champion Denver Broncos and its counterpart from the NFC in the Seattle Seahawks, no one saw a blowout. Well, apparently no one told Seattle.
The Seahawks, who had been carried by their top ranked defense the whole season, demolished the Broncos 43-8. The 35-point margin of victory was the third largest in Super Bowl history. The vaunted Seattle defense did not disappoint, forcing Denver quarterback Peyton Manning, the newly anointed MVP, to turn the ball over three times in what can only be described in a shocking display of dominance by the young ‘Hawks.
Manning and his top ranked Denver offense just couldn’t get anything going against a defense that is now considered one of the best in NFL history. Seattle linebacker Malcolm Smith was named the game’s MVP after returning a lame duck pass thrown by Manning for a touchdown in addition to his recovery of a fumble by Broncos wideout Demaryius Thomas and nine total tackles.
Seattle didn’t just dominate on defense, they pummeled Denver in every way: on offense, special teams and coaching. The offense, led by second year quarterback Russell Wilson, scored 27 of the total 43 put up by the ‘Hawks and they did so by mostly riding the arms of Wilson, who spent the whole game shaking off the label of “game manager” he had been given over the past few weeks. Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch only ran for 39 yards, but his 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave Seattle its first touchdown of the night.
Seattle multi-purpose threat Percy Harvin didn’t disappoint either. After being acquired in the offseason, Harvin sat out pretty much the entire year after having hip surgery in August. Harvin’s 137 all-purpose yards were more than he had all season, and he brought the crowd to its feet when he jump started the second half with an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to give the Seahawks a 29-0 lead.
The Seattle coaching staff, led by head coach Pete Carroll, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, put together the perfect game plan to halt the Broncos right in their tracks. Quinn’s defense was a motley crew of smothering ballhawks, while Bevell’s game plan put Wilson in the best possible position to win the game. Of course, none of this is possible without Carroll and GM John Schneider, whose vision of how football should be played, led to the current Seahawk roster filled with young, hungry players who treat everyday like its championship day. That is what ultimately led to this franchise’s first ever title.
As for Manning and the Broncos, look for them to come back with a vengeance next season. Personally, I would not be surprised if Manning tops this season’s stats, even if receiver Eric Decker departs in free agency. You don’t break the NFL’s single season record for passing yards and touchdown passes without being somewhat decent. Even at age 37, Manning captured his league record fifth MVP title this year and arguably is the best quarterback in NFL.
But at the end of the day, having a great offense allows you to succeed in the regular season only, even in today’s pass happy NFL. However, a great defense allows a team to capture the Lombardi. For Pete Carroll, Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson and the rest of this young team (whose average age is just over 26 years old), a possible dynasty is not out of the question, especially with players such as Sherman, Wilson, Lynch, Earl Thomas, Russell Okung and Bobby Wagner entering and still in their primes.
Enjoy your first title, Seattle. You definitely deserve it. But in six months time, you will have to defend it. And we are all excited to see if you are up to the task.
Jordan Llanes can be reached at jordan.llanes@theminaretonline.com.