In the Super Bowl rematch that the world has been waiting for, the Denver Broncos (2-0) looked to gain a measure of revenge against the Seattle Seahawks (1-1) in front of Seattle's vaunted 12th Man.
Here's what we saw in the first half:
Déjà Vu For The Denver Broncos: After a Seattle three-and-out to open the contest, the Denver Broncos had a chance to exorcise the demons from that fateful day in February on their first possession.
That wouldn't happen exactly, as RB Montee Ball would fumble at the end of the nine-yard run on Denver's first offensive snap. Seattle would only manage a field goal out of the Kam Chancellor recovery, but the ghosts of Super Bowl XLVIII were alive (dead?) and well in the first few minutes.
Denver's Defense Makes An Early Statement: The Denver Broncos' defense under defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has taken its fair share of heat in 2014, and perhaps for good reason. Denver was 26th in total defense over the season's first two weeeks, giving up 394 total yards and 300.5 passing yards per game.
Denver would give up just 60 yards to the Seahawks in the game's first 20 minutes, as it seemed certain that the D wasn't doomed to repeat its past mistakes.
Seattle Answers The Best Way They Know How: If you take out a 15-play, 75-yard Denver drive that ended in a 24-yard chip shot for Broncos K Brandon McManus, Seattle's defense was equally impressive. On Denver's three other drives in the first 25 minutes, the Seahawks' swarm gave up just 38 yards while forcing the Broncos to act conservatively by running on a couple of third downs (unsuccessfully).
The Seahawks' defense was just as ready to engage in a heavyweight fight as the Broncos were and it showed.
Meet The Big-Play Seahawks: As the game seemed to be settling in to be a defensive fistfight, the Seattle Seahawks put together a blink-and-you'll-miss-it drive to take a 10-3 lead. All it took was four plays, 73 yards, and a beauty of a 39-yard strike from Russell Wilson to Ricardo Lockette in the end zone to give Seattle a quick 10-3 advantage with just over 3 minutes left in the half.
The Seahawks weren't done, however, as Seattle would take advantage of a bevy of missed tackles by the Broncos and some great look-off work by Russell Wilson in the passing game to pick up another seven before the break (capped by a 5-yard Russell Wilson TD pass to a split-out Marshawn Lynch).
In just three game minutes, the Seahawks had turned a 3-3 nail-biter into a 17-3 halftime lead in impressive fashion.
Denver Player of the Game: QB Peyton Manning (11-of-16, 87 yards)
Seahawks Player of the Game: QB Russell Wilson (11-of-13, 145 yards, 2 TDs, 3 carries, 11 yards)
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