This Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVIII will bring to fanatic football fans a much-awaited intense competition between the NFL’s two most dominant teams of 2013, when the AFC champion Denver Broncos meet face to face with the NFC title holding Seattle Seahawks.
Super Bowl XLVIII will be 60 minute, extreme power struggle between the Broncos, who possessed the highest ranked offense in 2013 and the brutal Seahawks No. 1 ranked defense. On the average in 2013, Seattle limited opposing teams to scoring an average of only 14.4 points per game. Will they be able to stop Denver, who averaged 37.9 points per game in the regular season?
How will the players perform outdoors at MetLife Stadium with severe frigid and windy weather conditions playing a major factor in the outcome of this highly anticipated Super Bowl game? Either superb offense or preeminent defense will prevail. Here are my statistical projections for the key players from both teams.
Denver Broncos Projections
Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Denver Broncos
I’ve got to start with the amazing 2013 NFL double-record breaker, top-ranked quarterback of the year, Manning. In 2013 Manning averaged an astounding 342.3 passing yards and 3.4 touchdowns per game. Awesome, right? Conversely, he has yet to have the pleasure meeting the majorly intimidating Seahawks defense.
Expect Manning, a 16 year veteran of the game, to be in elite form in what could be his last Super Bowl runoff of his career. However, the weather and limitations the defense will thrust in his face cannot be ruled out, and will inevitably lower the numbers Manning typically earns.
Projected Statistics: 39/53, 292 Passing Yards, Two Passing Touchdowns, One Interception
Demaryius Thomas, Wide Receiver, Denver Broncos
Fans are already salivating at the potential one-on-one opposition between Thomas and Seattle’s and NFL’s self-proclaimed, top corner, Richard Sherman.
Thomas scored nearly one touchdown per game in 2013 with 14 to his credit. Sherman is sure to have his way with Thomas during portions of the game, stumbling up some key plays, but Thomas and Manning are just too polished as a unit for him not to meet the end zone during this Super Bowl.
Projected Statistics: 74 Receiving Yards, Eight Receptions, One Receiving Touchdown
Wes Welker, Wide Receiver, Denver Broncos
Welker is typically Manning’s short pass target, and his size and agility manage to land him in the end zone more often than not. With Seattle’s defense perhaps less focused on taking Welker out of the picture, he should catch plenty of short yardage passes as usual, making him a clutch guy when Manning needs to rid himself of the ball quickly. Don’t be surprised to see Welker the recipient of one of Manning’s touchdown passes.
Projected Statistics: 58 Receiving Yards, Nine Receptions, One Receiving Touchdown
Eric Decker, Wide Receiver, Denver Broncos
One of Manning’s significant receiving threats is Decker, who averaged 80.5 yards per game and scored 11 touchdowns over the 2013 season. Knowing Decker’s capabilities, expect him to be shadowed by Seattle’s secondary including a possible douse of Sherman, who will be casing him like a second skin. Manning will throw too many times to discount Decker all together, nevertheless, he will be challenged. Decker should rack up a substantial amount of receiving yards, but I think Seattle’s coverage of him will result in little scoring opportunity during this game.
Projected Statistics: 71 Receiving Yards, Six Receptions, Zero Receiving Touchdowns
Knowshon Moreno, Running Back, Denver Broncos
Moreno has been a true work-horse for the Broncos over the 2013 year, tallying up 1038 rush yards and 13 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns.
Look for another powerful ground performance out of Moreno who may need to run the ball more than usual due to the outdoor elements. Moreno should contribute one more touchdown to add to the Broncos final score this Sunday.
Projected Statistics: 81 Rushing Yards, 19 Rush Attempts, Five Receptions, 14 Receiving Yards, One Rush Touchdown
Julius Thomas, Tight End, Denver Broncos
What a gem of a player the Broncos third-ranked tight end, Thomas was in 2013? He will obviously be one of the Broncos key assets in attempting to win this Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup. However, Seattle will have Thomas’ number dialed in, where he’ll experience smothering coverage more than he would like. Thomas will accumulate some decent catching yards, but I see Seattle’s secondary restraining him from scoring.
Projected Statistics: 62 Receiving Yards, Five Receptions, Zero Receiving Touchdowns
Seattle Seahawks Projections
Russell Wilson, Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
What an amazing accomplishment for the second-year quarterback, Wilson to be participating in Super Bowl XLVIII this Sunday? Ranking eighth among quarterbacks and playing with the unsurpassed secondary in 2013 has earned him this privilege. In order for Wilson and the Seahawks to prevail, he’s going to have to throw more than usual, as this will not be a game of running down the clock against a mediocre opponent. Denver’s weakened air defense should allow Wilson his fair share of passing attempts.
Projected Statistics: 24/37, 196 Passing Yards, One Passing Touchdown, 39 Rush Yards, One Interception
Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks
Oh, Harvin, where do we start? With literally zilch 2013 contribution as his first year as a Seahawk to build a projection upon, here goes.
My true hope for Harvin is that he will complete this ever-so prestigious Super Bowl XLVIII game that has fallen into his lap.
Hopefully he remains upright all day, however, you know that Denver’s veteran cornerback, Champ Bailey will be covering him like a blanket, knowing that all it takes is one klutzy move and Harvin exits the game.
Projected Statistics: 59 Receiving Yards, Six Receptions, Zero Receiving Touchdowns
Golden Tate, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks
Tate has been a trusted target of Wilson all season long. Of course playing for an offense who primarily relies upon the ability of their dominating secondary as the means to an end, does not leave Tate with any extraordinary, personal statistics to boast about. This Super Bowl competition will cause Wilson to pass the ball more, as stated above, so Tate’s skills will be relied upon heavier than usual. Keep in mind if Harvin goes out, Denver’s defense will hone in even more on Tate.
Projected Statistics: 72 Receiving Yards, Six Receptions, Zero Receiving Touchdowns
Doug Baldwin, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks
Another one of Wilson’s key players who will need to step up and perform this Sunday is Baldwin. He’s been a somewhat effective player overall when Wilson has targeted him during the 2013 season, scoring a touchdown here and there. I see Baldwin and Wilson making some sneaky plays as Denver’s secondary spends their efforts on obstructing Harvin and Tate. Wilson and Baldwin should connect in the end zone once as they have five other times during the regular season.
Projected Statistics: 45 Receiving Yards, Six Receptions, One Receiving Touchdown
Zach Miller, Tight End, Seattle Seahawks
Miller will likely play his standard supporting cast role in this Sunday’s game catching a couple of key passes near the end zone. However with only four touchdown catches all season, the 26th-ranked tight end is questionable to score in this scenario.
Projected Statistics: 28 Receiving Yards, Two Receptions, Zero Receiving Touchdowns
Marshawn Lynch, Running Back, Seattle Seahawks
Are we saving the best Seahawk offensive player for last? Perhaps as Lynch (“Beast Mode”) will dominantly take the field in his first Super Bowl opportunity this Sunday. Lynch, who ranks first in running back touchdowns, tied with, Jamaal Charles in 2013, will be a force for the Broncos secondary to keep contained.
Scoring multiple touchdowns in three regular season games and one playoff game should have the Broncos fearing this powerful ground threat.
Getting past Denver’s seventh-ranked ground defense more than once will be a test to Lynch’s abilities, but a score will be made, (maybe two) and yards abundant will be accomplished by Lynch in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Projected Statistics: 109 Rushing Yards, 24 Rush Attempts, Three Receptions, 11 Receiving Yards, One Rush Touchdown
In conclusion, if you have done the touchdown math above, I’ve projected three touchdowns for the Denver Broncos and two for the Seattle Seahawks. By no means, am I predicting a Super Bowl XLVIII Champion within this article though.
Remember that kickers are players too, and the expert skills from both teams’ top-five ranked kickers, Matt Prater, and Steven Hauschka will play a significant factor in the outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup. If weather limits the touchdown count, I see multiple field goals attempted between these two fine kickers, where ultimately, kicking a nail-biting, score changing field goal could easily determine whether the Seattle Seahawks or the Denver Broncos claim a victory title in Super Bowl XLVIII.