January 20, 2014
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
And then there were two.
For the first time since 2010, the two teams left standing are also the league’s top seeds. The AFC’s No. 1 Denver Broncos (15-3) will square off against the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks (15-3) in Super Bowl XLVIII in East Rutherford, NJ on February 2nd.
The Broncos were first to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, knocking off Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. The much-anticipated match-up pitted Brady against Denver’s Peyton Manning in a showdown of the league’s best quarterbacks. Manning was coming off a record-setting regular season, but historically struggled both in playoff games and against New England.
It was the third consecutive AFC title game appearance for the Patriots, while it was the Denver’s first since 2005. Instead of being a showdown, it was mostly a showcase for Manning. He silenced his critics — if only for a day — by throwing for over 400 yards and two touchdowns. Denver’s defense also stepped up, allowing just three points through the first three quarters en route to a 26-16 victory.
Despite his disappointment at falling short of another Super Bowl appearance, Brady had nothing but kind words for his rival quarterback.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” the New England quarterback said. “Certainly, he’s a great player, and he played great today.”
Manning advances to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010, when he led to the Indianapolis Colts against the New Orleans Saints (they lost, 17-31). It will be the Broncos first big game appearance since they won it all in 1998 with Hall of Famer and current team executive John Elway. The Broncos appearance is especially bittersweet for Manning, who sat out the entire 2011 NFL season, due to neck surgeries, which left many wondering if he would ever play again.
Though he was released by the Colts, whom he led to a championship in 2007, he found a new home with Denver in March 2012. After a disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens last season, Manning will finally have a shot at his second ring.
“He’s been remarkable,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “It’s unprecedented what he did.”
Manning and his No. 1 ranked offense will have some steep competition when they go up against the Seattle Seahawks and their top-ranked defense. Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl after outscoring and outlasting the reigning NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers Sunday night.
Though they trailed 10-3 at halftime, the Seahawks used their game-changing defense—and the 12th man—to turn the game around in the second half. They outscored the 49ers 20-7 in the final two quarters, while the No. 1 Seattle defense forced three fourth-quarter turnovers.
Seattle’s sophomore, QB Russell Wilson, threw a 35-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to give his team the 23-17 victory and NFC crown.
It will be Seattle’s second franchise Super Bowl appearance and first since they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005.
“They’re really excited about this, this accomplishment,” Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll said. “But they know we’re not done.”
