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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014
PAGE 13
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
"You can't get in Peyton's head, if you get in there, you'll get lost."
— Richard Sherman on whether he would be taking trash to Peyton Manning.
Seattle Times
FACT OF THE DAY
The most points scored in a Super Bowl was by the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIV, 55, against the Denver Broncos. The fewest points scored by a winning team in a Super Bowl was 14, by the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VII, when they beat the Washington Redskins.
— ESPN.com
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: What does Russell Wilson like to do in the offseason?
A: Play baseball... really well.
Wilson was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 4th round of the 2010 draft, and recently acquired by the Texas Rangers in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft.
ESPN.com
THE MORNING BREW
Quarterbacks raise Super Bowl 2014 teams from mediocrity
Before the arrivals of Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson in 2012, both the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks were mired in mediocrity. Each team boasted strong defenses, but each team also started inadequate quarterbacks, and that fact alone kept them from escaping the seven to nine win range—the NFL's version of purgatory. At best, without Manning and Wilson, the Broncos and Seahawks wouldn't be up to par in the NFL and wouldn't be in position win the Super Bowl this Sunday.
They would barely scrap into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth and on the backs of their defenses, only to get curb-stomped by their first-round opponent. And at worst, they would painfully miss the playoffs in the final week of the season on a last second field-goal or turnover.
The plucky 2011 Broncos rode Tim Tebow's miracle working play, rattling off six straight improbable, and mostly comeback wins from weeks eight to 13, thanks in large part to a suffocating defense that kept them in those games. Even still, the Broncos backed into the playoffs that year, on a three game losing streak, which couldn't have been accomplished without the help of a bad AFC West. The team finished the season with a -81 point differential.
The season before, the Broncos finished 4-12, and in 2009, after surging out to a 6-0 record, they failed to make the playoffs, choking away eight of the final 10 games.
The Seattle Seahawks were 4-12 in 2009. Seahawks' record was 7-9 in 2010 and made the playoffs, thanks to the uncompetitive NFC West, but went 7-9 in 2011 and missed the playoffs.
The Broncos and Seahawks, with above average defenses and poor quarterback play, combined for 38-58 during 2009-2011 seasons. Ever since Manning and Wilson, the teams have a combined record of 51-13.
Manning, the former first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft, is having one of the best statistical years for a quarterback in the history of the NFL at 37 years old. Wilson, the 75th pick in the 2012 NFL draft, is good, but less' super-human passing the ball. He's known more as a dual-threat quarterback given his ability to carry the football.
The two franchises did it differently: the Broncos gave Manning a contract worth $96 million over five years, while the Seahawks stole Wilson for just $2.99 million over four years. Both strategies worked, and here they are, Denver and Seattle, Manning and Wilson: at the Super Bowl.
secondary. The Seahawks, on the other hand pride themselves in their unparalleled defensive backs, which allows them to bring more men in the box, because they can trust their corners to make plays on the ball in one-on-one situations. It's a toss-up here, but I will give
GAME BREAKDOWN:
When the Broncos Run:
Knowshon Moreno has been the unsung hero for the Broncos this year. Not only has he been a rock carrying the football and pass blocking, but he is extremely dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield. He gives the Seattle defense another Bronco to account for, which should open things in the
it's a toss-up here, but I will give the edge to the Seahawks.
When the Broncos Pass:
The Seattle defense only allowed 172 passing yards per game this season, which was 63.6 yards better than the league average. They were also the only team to allow less than 300 total yards per game. Peyton Manning versus Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman should be quite a duel, because Manning may be the first quarterback to really challenge Sherman and throw his way consistently. Broncos tight end Julius Thomas could be the biggest problem for Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Nobody has been able to stop him this season. I give the edge to the Broncos.
When the Seahawks Run:
This is where the game could very well be won or lost. If the Broncos can contain Seahawks' half back Marshawn Lynch, then Manning and the offense should get enough possessions to spread the game out. But if Lynch can keep drives alive and keep Manning on the sideline, that would be a major victory for the Seahawks. Denver's defense is playing tough now, but Lynch is tough to stop. I give the edge to the Seahawks.
When the Seahawks Pass:
The Broncos are without defensive back Chris Harris Jr. and defensive end Von Miller, but defensive end Nate Irving is playing very well as a replacement. Future Hall-of-Fame defensive back Champ Bailey
will be locked in, playing in his first Super Bowl, and the Seahawks wideouts: Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and Percy Harvin are all formidable, but are nothing the Denver defense hasn't seen in the high-powered AFC. I give the edge to the Broncos.
Often in strength versus strength games like this one, it's not whose strong-suit is better, but whose weakest unit plays well. You really are only as strong as your weakest link. Who will win the matchup between the Denver defense and the Seattle offense? Denver's defense has been coming on strong lately, and the Seahawks have only scored more than 30 points 5 times this season, while Denver surpassed that mark 13 times. Neither the Broncos offense nor the Seahawks defense has played an opposing unit as strong as what they will see in the Super Bowl, so it might be a wash. The weather will help tilt the balance to the Seahawks side, because their team is based on defense and running the football, while Denver relies on timing patterns by the wide receivers and a fast paced offense, but, all things considered, the Seahawks defense won't be enough. Peyton Manning will make just enough plays, and the Broncos defense will hold up strong. Denver 27, Seattle 21.
Edited by Blair Sheade and Brook Barnes
This week in athletics
Thursday No Events
Friday
Saturday
Women's Tennis
Nebraska
4 p.m.
Lincoln, Neb.
Swimming and Diving
Arkansas
11 a.m.
Fayetteville, Ark.
Men's Basketball
Texas
3 p.m.
Austin, Texas
Women's Basketball Texas Tech 4 p.m. Lubbock, Texas
Sunday
Women's Tennis
Liberty
11 a.m.
Lawrence
Monday
No Events
Tuesday
Men's Basketball
Baylor
6 p.m.
Waco, Texas
Women's Basketball Oklahoma State 7 p.m. Stillwater, Okla.
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