Seattle finished the season 13–3, winning the NFC West division and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The team scored 417 points during the season, while giving up just 231.
The offense was led by second year quarterback Russell Wilson, a third round draft pick who had immediately picked up the starting role, leading the team to a playoff win in his rookie season. He finished his second completing 63.1 percent of his passes for 3,357 yards and 26 touchdowns, with only 9 interceptions, while also rushing for 539 yards and another score. His 101.2 passer rating ranked him 7th in the NFL, and made him the first quarterback in history with a triple digit passer rate in his first two seasons. His top target was Pro Bowl receiver Golden Tate, who caught 64 passes for 898 yards and 5 touchdowns. Tate was also a major asset on special teams, returning 51 punts for 585 yards (2nd in the NFL). Other key targets included Doug Baldwin (50 receptions, 775 yards, 5 touchdowns) and tight end Zach Miller (33 receptions, 387 yards, 5 touchdowns). Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch was the team's leading rusher with 1,257 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was also a reliable receiver, hauling in 36 passes for 316 yards and two more scores. The Seahawks' offensive line was led by Pro Bowl center Max Unger. Kicker Steven Hauschka ranked 4th in the NFL in scoring (143 points) and second in field goal percentage (94.3%, 33/35).
Seattle had the NFL's top defense, leading the NFL in fewest yards allowed per game (273.6), fewest points allowed (231), and most takeaways (39). Seattle's defensive line featured defensive ends Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, both of whom recorded 8 sacks. Avril also forced 5 fumbles, while Bennett recovered three, returning them for 39 yards and a touchdown. Defensive tackle Clinton McDonald also made a big impact with 5.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and an interception. Linebacker Bobby Wagner led the team in combined tackles (120), while also racking up 5 sacks and two interceptions. But the best aspect of the defense was their secondary—collectively known as the Legion of Boom—which sent three of their four starters to the Pro Bowl: cornerback Richard Sherman, who led the NFL in interceptions (8, with 125 return yards), along with free safety Earl Thomas (5 interceptions, 105 tackles, 2 forced fumbles) and strong safety Kam Chancellor (99 tackles, 3 interceptions, 78 return yards).
In the playoffs the Seahawks took down the New Orleans Saints 23-15, the they beat the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 in the NFC Championship game.
As for the Broncos, Denver finished the season 13–3 for the second straight year, winning the AFC West division and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Broncos had the best offense in the NFL, leading the league in points scored (606, the highest total in NFL history) and yards gained (7,313). The offense was so explosive that they scored points on their opening possession at least eight straight games leading into the playoffs and a ninth time against the San Diego Chargers during the Divisional Playoffs game. During the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, they broke that streak, only to score on the opening possession of the second half.
In command of the offense was 16-year veteran quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning had enjoyed a stellar career with the Indianapolis Colts for his first 13 years in the NFL, making 11 Pro Bowls, winning four NFL MVP awards, and a championship ring in Super Bowl XLI. However, it all came to an end in 2011, when Manning, who had never missed a game in his career, had to miss the entire season due to neck surgery. Without Manning, the Colts finished the season with an NFL-worst 2-14 record, and with uncertainty about Manning's future looming, they decided to release him and use their number 1 draft pick to select quarterback Andrew Luck.
Manning signed with Denver for the 2012 season and quickly put any doubts about his future to rest, leading the team to a 13-3 record. However, the year ended in disappointment, with the team losing in the divisional round of the playoffs. Now in his second year as the team's starter, Manning posted one of the best seasons of any quarterback in NFL history, leading the league in completions, attempts, yards, and touchdown passes. His 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdown completions both set new NFL records. His 450 completions were the second highest total in NFL history, and his 115.1 passer rating ranked second in the league. Denver's leading pass-catcher was Pro Bowl receiver Demaryius Thomas, who caught 92 passes for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns. But Manning had plenty of other reliable options, including Eric Decker (97 receptions, 1,288 yards, 11 touchdowns), Wes Welker (73 receptions, 778 yards, 10 touchdowns), and Pro Bowl tight end Julius Thomas (65 receptions, 788 yards, 12 touchdowns). Overall, they made Denver the first team in NFL history ever to have four players with at least 10 touchdown receptions in a season. Running back Knowshon Moreno was the team's leading rusher with 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also catching 60 passes for 548 yards and another 3 scores. Rookie running back Montee Ball was also a big contributor with 554 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 20 receptions. The team's offensive line featured Pro Bowl guard Louis Vasquez. On special teams, Pro Bowl kicker Matt Prater ranked second in the NFL in scoring (150 points) and first in field goal percentage (96.2%, 25/26). His only miss of the year was from 52 yards, and he set a new NFL record for the longest field goal ever made (64 yards), breaking a record that had stood for 44 years.
Defensive end Shaun Phillips anchored the Broncos' line with 10 sacks, while linebacker Danny Trevathan racked up 129 combined tackles, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions. Linebacker Malik Jackson was also a key component of the defense with 42 tackles and 6 sacks, helping compensate for the loss of Von Miller, who had 5 sacks in 9 games before suffering a season-ending injury. Cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Chris Harris led the secondary with 3 interceptions each.
So this is going to be a battle of two titans from the regular season. In fact, this will be the 5th time in history that the #1 offense and #1 defense will square off in the big game. Those previous four games were in 1978 (Cowboys vs. Steelers), 1984 (Dolphins vs. 49ers), 1989 (49ers vs. Broncos), and 1990 (Bills vs. Giants). Of those four previous meetings, only once has the #1 offense come out on top, that game being the 49ers over the Broncos in 1989. The other three times, the best defense has won the championship. So if history is any indication, then the luck is on the side of the Seahawks.
As for the actual game itself, its going to be a close, highly contested football game. Looking at the offenses, the running attack is about even, so the running games may cancel each other out. It's the passing game that's going to be key. Sure the Broncos have the best pass attack in the league, but the big question is can the Seattle secondary shut down the passing game. Think about this, Peyton Manning hasn't been sacked at all during this years playoffs, his offensive line has been that good. Knowing Peyton Manning as a passer, he is one of the most patient guys in the pocket in the world, so he has no problem waiting for the play to develop. He has four dangerous weapons to throw to, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Julius Thomas and Wes Welker. Plus Denver has a very ballanced attack in that if the passing game doesn't really work out they can run the ball with good effectiveness from Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball.
But they are going up against the best defense in the leauge. Seattle has the top ranked defense for a number of reasons. Their defensive backs get most of the attention because of what Richard Sherman says and what they all do. They cover, hit hard and tackle well. Add it up, and it’s difficult to get first downs, let alone long balls and big plays after the catch. The Seahawks' deep edge pass rush led by Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett is one of the most fierce in the NFL. Sop this is going to be a fun matchup to watch.
Now lets not sell Seattle short on offense here. We all know about Seattles running game with Marshawn Lynch, who has had a good post season, but he hasn't really looked like "Beast Mode" that people are expecting. Also lets not forget Russel Wilson can throw the football too, if the running game isn't going to pan out. Whether it’s Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin or Jermaine Kearse, Wilson will hit on a few deep balls, the sneaky strength of Seattle’s offense. That’s before getting to the fact healthy wild card Percy Harvin will draw plenty of attention working the slot, facilitating the outside routes. They are doing this against a slightly banged up Denver defense. The Broncos are without their most disruptive pass rusher (Von Miller) and top cover man (Chris Harris). So its going to be a fun game to watch.
This is going to be a tight game, and its going to be a very tough test for the Seattle defense. The Legion of Boom had a good week two weeks ago against the 49ers, but now they are facing a tougher offense in Denver and they won't get as lucky. I got the Denver Broncos winning it 30-27!
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