History will be made when the Broncos and Seahawks take the gridiron on Super Bowl Sunday. Not because another year of Super Bowl festivities will take place in what will likely be a cold MetLife Stadium in North Jersey, but because the highest scoring offense in NFL history, who has a combined 1-6 Super Bowl record (among active players) will be going up against a No. 1 ranked defense that poses just one player in Ricardo Lockette with Super Bowl experience in addition to being the second youngest team in Super Bowl history. Both teams have deservingly reached the mecca of football and it was in their own unique fashion historically and statistically.
Having said that, things couldn't have gone much better for the Broncos offensively this season. From Peyton Manning throwing a record setting 55 regular season touchdowns and 5,477 passing yards following a career threatening neck injury to the Broncos scoring a record 606 points (37.9 points per game average), the 2013-2014 season simply belonged to the Mile High City.
And while the Broncos will be going up against a fearless Seahawks defense that ranks first in opposing passing yards and seventh in opposing rushing yards, there will be a plethora of matchups that could go in favor of either team. These very matchups could ultimately decide whether or not CB Dominique Rodger-Cromartie does indeed retire and will more importantly decide who will be crowned Super Bowl XLVIII champions.
QB: Peyton Manning
The entire city of Omaha, Nebraska will undoubtedly be huddled around in their living rooms on Super Bowl Sunday when Manning, who happens to be the only player to take two different teams to the Super Bowl, takes the field and echoes their name over and over again in hopes of drawing the defense offsides. Manning will be the focal point in Super Bowl XLVIII and it will be because the future hall of famer, who is throwing 72.2 percent this post season, is going up against a secondary that just may be able to slow down one of the most versatile offensive tandems in NFL history.
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It should be noted that Manning's legacy as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history will not necessarily be on the line in this game. If Manning were to win, he would further solidify his place as one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game, with two Super Bowl wins and an endless list of record setting statistics.
The one question surrounding Manning all year long was whether or not his arm would be able to hold up in post season play, especially as he prepares to take on the likes of Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. And as a 37-year old quarterback who showed signs of fatigue in last year's playoffs, this question was a fair one. But as the postseason has dragged on, Manning's game has only continued to rise and has since silenced those claims.
This brings up another question. One that will be answered periodically throughout the game: how will Manning handle the lockdown Seattle secondary in presumably cold weather, and will he be able to deliver at the highest level when it matters most?
One of the biggest deciding factors in answering this question will unfortunately come down to the weather conditions. Though rain or snow now looks to be out of the question this upcoming Sunday, the reality is that Manning has a history of struggling in cold weather. In games that were under 20 degrees, Manning was 0-2 before defeating the New England Patriots in overtime this season 34-31. If he does indeed go up against a secondary that is giving up just 172.0 passing yards per game with a significant amount of wind, the timing will not be in his favor.
Aside from the uncontrollable aspects, there will be a number of key matchups to look for that will surely impact the outcome of the game. What makes one-on-one matchups like the one that will be played between Sherman and Manning so exciting is the level of attention that will be paid between the two sides.
On one hand, Manning is considered to be the prime of pre-game preparations and the minimization of mistakes. On the other, Sherman is the undisputed champion when it comes to taking advantage of others' mistakes, often daring his opponents to make the same mistake that has continually been thrown his way. Following an NFC championship game where Sherman silenced the crowd with a game winning tip against the 49ers en route to becoming an overnight sensation, Manning-Sherman will be the matchup to watch this upcoming Sunday.
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Wide receivers
Without Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas, there is no telling if Manning and Co. would have had such a historic year statistically. Sure, Manning has had a track record of making any and every player around him elevate their game, but it is a matter of degree.
The current set of Denver receivers are the best offensive weapons Manning has been presented with since donning the white and blue alongside Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne at Indianapolis, and he has made it a point of emphasis to validate that every game this season. Decker and Thomas' accumulation of over 1200 receiving yards each will attribute to that fact.
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Having said that, this very group of receivers will be going up against a physical secondary that is headlined by Sherman and Thomas, who will likely face up one-on-one, something Denver hasn't seen from other opposing defenses. This is where the numbers will play in the Broncos' favor. While Sherman and Thomas will have success against their respective matchups, there will still be three other aforementioned receivers for Seattle to worry about who have all racked up at least 778 receiving yards this season.
The bottom line is that the duel between the Seattle secondary and the Denver receivers will come down to who can handle the physicality the best. Denver hasn't faced a secondary similar to the Seahawks in regards to their physical nature, and that within itself will be an area of concern until proven otherwise, especially if wind minimizes the passing game. If that is the case, Denver will be in a world of trouble.
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Running backs
For Denver, the running game will have to be at its best this upcoming Sunday. Having already touched on the predicted weather conditions for the game, Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball will likely have to carry a similar to what they have had this season. However, with a Seattle front seven that is allowing just 101.6 rushing yards per game, Moreno and Ball will most definitely have their hands full.
This season, Moreno and Ball have been formidable backs to say the least. The two combined for over 1500 rushing yards and at times looked to be among some of the best backfield duos in the league. For Moreno, this was his best statistic year in regards to total rushing yards (1,038), receiving yards (548) and touchdowns (10).
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They will be going up against Bobby Wagner, who recorded a team-high 120 tackles, Kam Chancellor, and Michael Bennett, who finished the year with a team-high sack average of 8.5. Though Moreno and Ball have shown a high level of consistency this season, this will likely be their biggest test yet on the biggest stage in football. In a game where scoring will be minimized, Moreno and Ball may just make or break this game for the Broncos.
Kicker: Matt Prater
There is a good chance that the both kickers will play a vital role in Super Bowl XLVIII. Field goals and point afters are often overlooked in the NFL game, but they are brought to light in big time games.
This is where Matt Prater will be key for the Broncos. Prater had a notable season this year for the Broncos, where he was a near perfect 25 of 26 on field goals and was 75 of 75 on point afters. In a game that will likely pose unfavorable wind conditions for kickers, it will be interesting to see if Prater can cap off a memorable season with one more on-par performance.
Prater is coming off a cold this past week, but his worries lie more with how the weather will affect his range and accuracy. If Denver's offense is slowed down significantly by Seattle, Prater may well arise as the deciding factor in this year's Super Bowl.
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