The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions for the first time after defeating the Broncos 43-8. One of the best defenses in NFL history clashed with a prominent offense in Super Bowl XLVIII.
The Denver Broncos’ offensive line was overwhelmed; the running game was shut down; and the receivers struggled to separate and make plays after a completion. The Seahawks’ defense made Peyton Manning, the Denver quarterback, look like a middle school offense. Manning was forced to move in the pocket on nearly every throw. Denver’s running game was stuck.
Every first down was a struggle for the Broncos offense as Seattle pushed Denver’s offense around. Pass rushers Chris Clemons and Cliff Avril beat Denver’s tackles and frustrated Manning. (Avril helped force two interceptions.) When Manning did have time to throw, he couldn’t find any open receivers quickly. Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell did an incredible job against Denver’s outside receivers. Linebacker Bobby Wagner was all over the field. Malcolm Smith, a linebacker, won the game’s MVP award.
On Seattle’s offensive side, quarterback Russell Wilson also did well on third downs and did his part, however the Seahawks’ offense, along with “Beast Mode” running back Marshawn Lynch, was practically an afterthought for much of the game.
The Broncos’ offense, after doing so well all season, looked completely overwhelmed. They weren’t ready for the moment; Seattle was. This was the Seahawks’ time. This team, constructed from the ground up, built toward this game for the last four seasons. Now, it will be mentioned as one of the greatest defenses in NFL history.
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