By Zach Waltz
Sports Assignment Editor
Super Bowl XLVIII is bound to be one of the most thrilling Super Bowls in history.
But one question lingers over every Super Bowl: who is going to win?
Peyton Manning has put together perhaps the best statistical season for a quarterback ever, leading an explosive Broncos offense all the way to the big game.
Throwing 10 touchdowns or more to at least four receivers, Manning can throw the ball to anyone, and there will always be a chance of a touchdown. There’s no doubt this Broncos offense is a force to be reckoned with, and not too many defenses have been successful at containing it this season.
The Seahawk’s offense is just as explosive as the Broncos, though.
Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, powered by his Skittles, has proven he can be an elite running back in the NFL, serving as a compliment to quarterback Russell Wilson. Lynch scored 12 rushing touchdowns and added two receiving touchdowns on the season.
The Seahawk’s offense has been a double-edged sword all season long. If a defense stacks up against the run, Wilson has multiple options to throw to like wide receivers Doug Baldwin, Percy Harvin and Jermaine Kearse and tight end Zach Miller.
If a defense tries to shut down Wilson and the passing game, Lynch can consistently get positive yardage and occasionally break off a big run.
However, the one thing Peyton doesn’t have is an elite defense like the opposing Seahawks.
The Broncos’ defense has been lackluster compared to their defense last year. In a game with two of the most potent offenses in the league this year, I have to go with the team that has the better defense. In this case, that would be the Seahawks.
Led by all-pro, trash-talking cornerback Richard Sherman, the Seahawks’ defense has been the stingiest defense in the league, allowing only 14.4 points per game.
Sherman isn’t the only superstar- the defense is lined with All-Pro-caliber players such as safety Earl Thomas and middle linebacker Bobby Wagner.
In addition to allowing the fewest points this year, the Seahawks allowed the fewest yards per game and only 4.42 yards per play. They also managed to lead the league in takeaways with 39. While these statistics are impressive, the most impressive stat is holding opposing quarterbacks to an average passer rating of 63.4.
While it may be cliché, I believe that defense will win a championship in this case. It’s hard to make an argument against one of the best defenses in the NFL in the past 20 years.
waltzzd12@bonaventure.edu
