What happens when the unstoppable force meets an immovable object? We will find out tomorrow night
when the Denver Broncos, the NFL’s number one offence, take on the top defence, the Seattle Seahawks, at Super Bowl XLVIII.
It has been billed as a contest between opposing football philosophies, a match-up of strength against strength. The Broncos scored more points (a remarkable 37.9 per game) and generated more yards on offence (457.3 per game) than anyone else in the NFL this season. Mirroring that achievement, the Seahawks gave up the fewest points (14.4 per game) and yards (273.6 per game).
This will be the first time in 23 years that the league's top-ranked offence and defence have squared off on Super Bowl Sunday, and only the sixth time ever. The evidence so far would appear to support the old mantra about defence winning championships. Only once so far has the top-ranked offence prevailed, Joe Montana leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 55-10 blow-out of a very different Broncos team back at Super Bowl XXIV.
Five touchdowns
Montana threw for five touchdowns that day, setting a new record for the NFL's championship game. During an interview session on Thursday, Denver's Peyton Manning cited Montana's poise as an attribute he deeply admired.
The Broncos quarterback has set a few records of his own this season, his 55 touchdowns and 5,477 passing yards shattering the previous single-season highs. But it will not be easy for Manning to sustain such levels of performance tomorrow against the most imposing secondary in the league.
Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman achieved instant infamy with his televised rant in the wake of this year's NFC Championship Game, and has since spent Super Bowl week rehabilitating his image with a series of eloquent interviews, but none of the off-field drama should distract us from his performance on the field. He led the NFL with eight interceptions last year despite having the ball thrown in his direction less regularly than any other starting player in the league at his position.
Agreed with
Sherman
His duel with Manning is sure to receive a great deal of attention
, Manning dispelled any hopes for a Super Bowl feud, when he agreed with Sherman’s claim that his passes can sometimes be erratic.
The Seahawks cornerback named Manning as the smartest quarterback in the league but questioned his arm, saying the Denver player sometimes “throws ducks” [wobbly passes].Sherman stood by those comments at an interview session, saying: “I still feel the same way I felt. He’s a great quarterback, he does a great job. But at the same time, when he catches the ball, he doesn’t necessarily catch the laces all the time.
“But he throws an accurate ball, regardless of how he catches it, how he gets it – he delivers it on time and accurately.”
Those comments were put to Manning at a media session near to the Broncos’ hotel in Jersey, but rather than take offence he instead was quick to agree with Sherman.
“I believe it to be true as well,” said the quarterback – drawing laughter from his audience. “I don’t think that’s a real reach what he’s saying. I’ve thrown a lot of yards and touchdowns with ducks. I’m actually quite proud of it.”
While seasonable temperatures have been forecast for tomorrow, the strength of winds that often swirl around the stadium built on swamplands is a wild card. Gusting winds could impair Manning, whose arm strength is not of the highest order.
Guardian Service
