Manning and Wilson square off in Superbowl

So lads and ladies, it’s the big game, the big dance, the mecca of football. It’s the Superbowl. And as such you can’t expect the normal run of the mill stats for this game. Oh no! We have to pull out the big guns for this one…and boy did we!

So lads and ladies, it’s the big game, the big dance, the mecca of football. It’s the Superbowl. And as such you can’t expect the normal run of the mill stats for this game. Oh no! We have to pull out the big guns for this one…and boy did we!

Let’s look at the 2 teams that have been prancing through New York/New Jersey to the delight of many and chagrin of non-football lovers in the area (who ever could those be???). Seattle, the number 1 defence in the league, has flown relatively under the radar which some feel is as a result of being out there in the North-West, away from the media hubs and football hungry states (a la Texas). However their defence has not totally escaped notice and the Legion of Boom will be playing like they are in Century Link. 

Peyton Omaha’d a little less in the Conference championship game but showed that he could “slow” his horses down and still be the effective, efficient offense we’ve all come to expect. Those Broncos, the number one offense, have been to the big dance seven times before and carry that knowledge of how to prepare while in the maelstrom of pre-Superbowl mania while this is the second trip for the Seahawks. But it is said that offence wins games while defence wins championships. Will this adage hold true on Super Sunday? 

Break out your slide rulers, abacuses and calculators….its stats time!

The Seattle defence has allowed 3.9 rushing yards per attempt while the Broncos have rushed for 4.1 yards per attempt. The Broncos have gained 7.3 yards per passing attempt which speaks to where the prowess of the Broncos offense lies (no revelation there). Both teams are tied with the average amount of rushing yards allowed with 101.6 so who wins the rushing battle will come down to personnel. 

Knowshon Moreno (Denver) is questionable while Marshawn Lynch (Seattle) is fit and ready. Both these workhorses (pun intended for Moreno) are thousand yard rushers and could be difference makers if the air game gets stalled. However, don’t think that the path for Lynch could be a little clearer with Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton (DT – defensive tackle) being probable as both Chris Harris (60 tackles, 3 INT) and Shaun Phillips (33 tackles, 10 sacks) are on the rooster and rearing (I had to) …rearing to try and stop an offense that has more average rushing yards per attempt (4.3 to 4.1).

Broncos better watch their air game as Richard Sherman (40 tackles, 8 INT) and Michael Bennett (23 tackles, 8.5 sacks) are listed on the rooster, with Sherman having already demonstrated that he is willing to go up against the high flying wide receivers which will be needed as the Broncos arsenal is littered with aerial weaponry! Seattle is no slouch in that department with a net yardage per passing attempt being seven, gaining 160 1st downs this way. It is evident though where Seattle prefers its offense to be, with 509 rushing attempts (that’s 32 per game).I think they should change their team name. Their aerial completion is 63% to Broncos’ 68% which is also shown in the passing yardage (Seattle = 3,236, Denver = 5,444). 

Seattle’s defence shows up against where Denver is most prolific – the passing game and as previously mentioned, both teams are evenly matched against stopping the run. Seattle has allowed only 59% of passes to be completed and have limited the amount of passing touchdowns to 16 for the season while snatching 28 INTs. Denver’s defence is not out of the story here. They have are just as prolific against the pass, allowing only 58% to be completed. The difference between the teams though is that Denver has allowed more passing attempts than Seattle (613 vs 524). 

Seattle is just as mean on the ground, only allowing 4 (yup 1,2,3,4) rushing touchdowns while Denver has allowed 15. And Denver has allowed opponents to gain 90 1st downs on the ground and 208 by passing. In this department, Seattle is even meaner, 83 on the ground and 156 in the air.

But we have been forgetting the special teams… they get rings, caps and t-shirts when the big game is won so they must contribute somehow! Seattle returns the punt for 11.1 yds on average to Denver’s 7.8. However Denver returns the kick for 25 yds to Seattle’s 21.2. They also make 96.2% of its field goals to Seattle’s 94.3%, as well as being perfect for all attempts under 50 yards and making 6 out of 7 above 50 yards. Seattle isn’t that far behind, making 94% of kicks under 50 yards but 100% above it.

So let me sum this all up – Offense: Denver’s average drive begins at their own 28 yd line, lasts for 2:25 mins, 5.85 plays and 36.3 yds. And 47.5% of the time, it ends with them scoring 2.83 points. Seattle’s start at their own 31yd line, lasts for 2:41mins, 5.54 plays and 29.7 yds and 40.7% ends with a score of 2.12 points. 

Defence: Seattle opponents’ average drivestarts on their 25ydline, lasts for 2:38 mins, 5.5 plays, 23.4 yds. And 24.7% of the time the drive ends in the opponents scoring 1.17 points. Not to be outdone, Denver’s opponents start at their 27 yd line, drive lasts for 2:21 mins, 5.3 plays, 27.5 yds and 32.5% results in a score of 1.83 points

Guys, this Superbowl is really close with Denver only given a slight winning advantage in the Vegas polls (55%). Seattle will have to try and contain Peyton ‘cause if he piles it on early, they could find itself in a deep points and mental hole and it will take some serious BOOM from the legion to help right the ship and give Russell a chance at coming back.

This is the stuff of my football-loving dreams and nothing short of JPS (don’t even think about it) can stop me from being front and centre, laughing at the commercials, guzzling down the brew, singing with Bruno (gorilla love me all you want, baby) and biting my nails to stubs as I AM READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!!!!

Photo: Wilson and Manning (NFL.COM)

Writer: Shauna Douglas