Seattle Seahawks 43 - 8 Denver Broncos

• Congratulations to the 2014 Superbowl Champions, the Seattle Seahawks. The first title in franchise history, and a deserved one.
• Russell Wilson: 18/25, 206 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs. What a player and what a leader. He even took the initiative with the Gatorade Shower of Pete Carroll.
• Defence > Offence. Not every time, but usually.
• Turnovers will cost you in any game. Denver gave them up all over the park. It wasn’t just one area that they were exploited in, they fumbled in front of and behind the line of scrimmage, there were special teams troubles and interceptions.
• How much different would this game have been if Denver had made their stops when they had the chance? Russell Wilson came up huge from the very start with 3rd down completions. As a team Seattle was 7/12 on 3rd down, though they stopped trying sometime in the second half.
• The Legion of Boom was incredible today. Heavy pressure up front forced Peyton to have to get the ball out early, and tight coverage meant he wanted to hold onto it. Even the very best are helpless against defence that good.
• Some of those defensive hits were bone-crushing too! Compare that to Denver slipping off tackles all day. No team in the league finishes defensive plays better than Seattle. No one even comes close.
• Malcolm Smith: Superbowl 48 MVP. He joins Chuck Howley (1971 Cowboys) and Ray Lewis (2001 Ravens) as the only linebackers to win the prize.
• Not a great start to the gameplan when you throw away the ball for a safety first play of the game. Doubt that was in the playbook.
• And starting the second half, you pretty much have to throw the book out the window when you give up a kick return TD when already down 22-0.
• Cliff Avril, Seattle defensive end, spent five years in Detroit, including the infamous 0-16 season. He was flawless today. Would not have complained if he’d gotten the MVP.
• Demarius Thomas did set a Superbowl record for catches with 13 for 118 yards. For what that’s worth.
• Peyton Manning is now 1-3 in Superbowls. Wes Welker is 0-3. I wonder how many chances they’ll have left…
• At least Denver managed to keep Marshawyn Lynch in check. 15 rushes for 39. Not that he really cares, he’s been their best player on offence this year, and the skittles will be flowing tonight.
• Dick Sherman was quiet today too. Peyton avoided throwing near him just as everyone else has done all postseason. He finished the game on crutches in the locker. Call him arrogant, say what you want, but he backs up every word.
• Seattle was prepared to win ugly, though they didn’t have to in the end. I don’t think Denver was at all.
• So, at what point did you think the game was over? You never wanna count Peyton out, right, but that hill got very steep to climb very quickly. For me I’d say the kick return TD was the clincher. After that it was gonna take the greatest comeback of all time to win. Seattle just doesn’t give up leads.
• Maybe Peyton borrowed too heavily from Eli’s gameplan against the Seahawks? The Giants were shut out 23-0 in this very stadium in November, giving up 5 turnovers (all Eli interceptions).
• Obviously it’s now Russell Wilson number one, Andrew Luck number two and then the field as far as the 2012 Draft class of QBs are concerned. Can’t argue with a ring, folks.
• The scary thing is that this Seattle team is so young. The championship window will be open for a long while yet. Their rivalry with San Francisco is the best thing in football right now.
• You know what though, Seattle were dominated by both the Saints and the 49ers this postseason and probably should have lost. They definitely have something intangible to be able to win close games. For the record, I think Denver beats New Orleans, and probably San Francisco too if that were the case.
• Dammit Percy Harvin is fast!
• I just wrote a thing on the film Cool Runnings too (for our Sochi 2014 segment – going live within the next 48 hours!), about how those characters (and the real life inspiration) found glory despite their failure. I don’t think that in any way applies here. I guess Peyton was pretty brave to finish the game.
• Demarius Thomas has this thing where he cuts back and around defenders when the first down is there for the taking already. Not clever. Especially against this defence.
• I enjoyed the half time show. Bruno Mars isn’t James Brown, but he came close, and the Chilis were typically energetic and on form. Kudos for the opening drum solo too. A good show all round, though surprised by the low-key finish. And also by Anthony Keidis’ stockings. Liked the golden blazers though.

What I got right in my preview:

“…Usually in these tussles, it’s the other side of the ball that decides the outcome. Who wins out of Denver’s D and Seattle’s O?” – Seattle’s offence smashed ‘em.

“Seattle won’t be too upset about a game like this, but they need to throw the ball around and stretch that Denver D out…” – They did and they did.

“[Seattle will] need to be playing from in front and controlling the pace of the game.”

“[Seattle need to] PRESSURE THE QB!”

What I got horribly, horribly wrong:

“Wilson doesn’t have the accuracy to match Brady or Manning, and although he moves sharply and elusively, he isn’t the best playmaker…”

“I believe that Superbowl XLVIII will be won by a margin of 4 points by… The Denver Broncos”

 - Wildcard