Best vs. Best

Both teams played in the Western Division of their Conference.  Both teams ended the season with identical 15 – 3 records.  Each was the #1 seed in their Conference during the playoffs.  Each defeated a longtime rival to reach the big game.  But that is about where the similarities end. 

The Broncos were the top ranked offense in the league this past season.  They set an NFL record by scoring 606 points, which amounts to 185 points more than the Seahawks.  Quarterback Peyton Manning set NFL records for yards passing and touchdowns.  All four wide outs caught over ten touchdown passes apiece.  Two receivers had over 1200 yards seasons.  However the defense was statistically mired in the bottom half of the league rankings, giving up ten points more per game than the Seahawks.

On the other hand, the Seahawks were the best ranked Defense in the league.  They only allowed opponents to score an average of about 14 points a game, which is 24 points less than the Broncos scored each game.  In seven of the games they played this season their opponent was held to 10 or less points.   And they gave up 2692 fewer yards through the air than Peyton’s record breaking 5444.  Of course their offense ranked but 26th among the 32 teams in the league, 

The classic matchup.  Offense against defense.  Strength against strength.  Number one against number one.   The last time two number ones matched up against one another was in 1991, Super Bowl XXV.  In that one the defense prevailed by just one point, 20 – 19.  Time for the offense to even the score…