Super Bowl 2014: Seattle Seahawks Will Beat Denver Broncos

Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) carries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated San Francisco 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl XLVIII will consist of many match-ups that are sure to excite. Whether it’s Marshawn Lynch against the Denver front-7 or Richard Sherman against the Broncos’ receivers, Super Bowl 2014 should be one to remember. Pete Carroll’s bunch looks to knock off Peyton Manning and keep his ring total to one. Can Russell Wilson, in just two years, match Manning’s total of Super Bowl rings?

As seemingly every important game lies on the shoulders of the quarterbacks, this game might be a bit more in-depth and closer than the majority of folks think. Sure, Manning and Wilson will play a large role, but it could be the play of the guys around him that decide who hoists the Lombardi trophy at the end of the day.

Seattle hasn’t been able to put together much offense during the post-season, but this is the game they turn it around and keep up with Manning and the Broncos. I look at Marshawn Lynch as someone who can steal the MVP right out of everyone else’s hands. Putting up two 100+ yard games in the playoffs, Lynch is averaging five yards per carry and has three touchdowns. Denver’s run defense can compete, but Seattle has proven they can over-power good defenses. Lynch was able to score three touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers and tally 97 yards with a touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams. The Broncos are allowing just 3.9 yards per carry, but allowing about a touchdown a game. Look for Lynch to score and go over 80 yards.

Peyton Manning is going to put up a good game–he always does–but if you think that the Seattle secondary isn’t going to have their best game of the season in this one, you don’t know this defense. Richard Sherman wants to back up his talk, but his team is going to back him up and make him look even better. The safeties are going to have a big day in both the run and pass game and Sherman will lead the secondary to success.

The Seahawks defensive front will completely out-match the Denver running game and leave the Broncos’ offensive attack to lie on Manning’s shoulders. The pressure is on Manning while the Seahawks have nothing to lose. If the Seahawks effectively shut down the Denver rushing attack, Peyton Manning will have to be perfect. Seattle has the ability to win in two ways on offense where the Broncos might struggle to find balance as the game goes on.

Although it seems unethical, the only way that Denver might have a chance to take this game from the Seahawks is to take the ball away from Manning. If the running backs can wear out the Seattle front-7, the Seahawk defense might get exhausted by the end of the third quarter, giving Adam Gase the ability to do whatever he wants in crunch time.

There’s more upside on the Seahawks side. Pete Carroll’s team is going to take this game with balance, skill, and victory of head-to-head matchups.