By Logan Lantz
Although the Super Bowl brought in an estimated $700 million for New York/New Jersey, the Seattle Seahawks are the true winners of the weekend. With Peyton Manning putting up unbelievable numbers all season long, especially against my beloved New England Patriots. He struggled like only one other quarterback has in the Super Bowl, Rex Grossman.
Peyton Manning started off the 2013 campaign with a NFL Record tying seven touchdowns in a single game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Seahawks had an impressive start to their season as well, winning the first four games, eventually having their win streak snapped at four, against the Indianapolis Colts. The Seahawks went on a determined rampage winning nine out of 11 of their last games, falling only to the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals.
The Denver Broncos had an amazing second season under the reign of Peyton Manning. Manning lead the Broncos to a quick start, winning six straight games, only to have it snapped by his old team, the Indianapolis Colts. The Broncos won seven of their last nine games, losing to the New England Patriots in overtime after blowing a 24-0 half time lead. Losing to the Chargers at home was major eye opener for fans and skeptics, especially fans. Could the Broncos do it? Could they get back to the elusive Super Bowl days back in the Elway era?
The Broncos entered the postseason with the same record as the Seattle Seahawks, 13-3. Earning the first round bye and home field advantage throughout the postseason, Peyton Manning and the Broncos looked unstoppable. It proved to be true. Denver defeated the Chargers, 24-17 in the Divisional Round, as the Patriots rolled past the Indianapolis Colts to earn an AFC Championship berth.
The showdown was set, with another Peyton vs. Brady matchup. Brady came out completely flat against the Denver Broncos, having no response to the Denver Broncos whatsoever until it was too late. The Broncos went on to beating the Patriots and earning a Super Bowl berth by defeating the Patriots 26-16.
The Seahawks entered the NFC Championship playing the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers ended up losing the matchup, but not from lack of heart. The 49ers made plenty of plays, just not when it counted. Colin Kaepernick created an impressive last minute drive for one last attempt to win the game. Kaepernick threw a ball on a 1st and 10 at the Seahawks 18, into double coverage. Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman tipped the pass intended for Michael Crabtree, eventually intercepted by Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith. Thus ending the 49ers Super Bowl hopes and thrusting the Seahawks into the bright spot, where the Seahawks would enter only their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Two weeks had passed since the NFC/AFC Championship games, and now in the line of sight was the Super Bowl. Both teams had their chance of speaking during the designated media days, but when it came down to it, the talk didn’t mean anything if you can’t back it up on the field. Peyton Manning was coming into the game looking to earn his second Super Bowl victory in his career (last won with the Indianapolis Colts.)
I was routing for the Seahawks all the way through this Super Bowl, due to the fact, I couldn’t stand seeing Peyton Manning get his second ring and even being mentioned in the same group as Joe Montana and Tom Brady. Don’t get me wrong, Peyton is a great “regular season” quarterback, but when it comes to the playoffs the numbers speak for themselves. Peyton Manning was 11-12 overall in the playoffs, and 1-2 in the Super Bowl, which includes this most recent loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Another reason I couldn’t stand to see the Broncos win is because of Wes Welker. When he left the New England Patriots before the season began, I couldn’t stand him. He took an $11 million contract from the Broncos when the Patriots offered him a $10 million contract. He also started bashing Bill Belichick after leaving the Patriots, and complained about the criticism he took. In my opinion Wes Welker needs to grow up. It’s the big leagues and you make millions of dollars each year and you can’t take criticism?
The Super Bowl began at 6:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 2. The game didn’t start off well for Peyton. First play from scrimmage the Broncos Center Manny Ramirez, hiked the ball before Peyton was ready and it sailed into the end zone forcing a safety. After the safety the Seahawks never looked back. The night’s key highlights consisted of Malcolm Smith’s 69-yard interception return for a touchdown to increase the Seahawks lead 22-0 in the first half. The second half started off with a BANG! Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin took the opening kickoff 87 yards to ‘pay dirt’. This was Percy Harvin’s second game of the season.
The final score to Super Bowl 48 was a lopsided affair where the Seahawks destroyed the Broncos 43-8. Malcolm Smith was named the Most Valuable Player for Super Bowl 48, Smith had the 69-yard interception, nine tackles with five solo, and he also recovered the fumble that was stripped from Denver’s wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
All in all I found this to be a very amusing game, mainly because I’m a Patriots fan. Seeing Peyton struggle the way he did, and throwing two interceptions made my night. The best view from the field was, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll getting Gatorade dumped on his head in the background, where Wes Welker was walking in front with that distinct look in his eye, like he was thinking, “Man! Not again…” Wes Welker is now currently 0-3 in Super Bowl play.
I bet every fan from every team can’t wait till September 4th when the NFL begins regular season play once again. Tell next time… Go Patriots!
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