Super Bowl Stew

[Seahawker]

Starting this thread as a place to talk about Denver's #1 offense going against our #1 defense and any other points of interest.
There is a ton of statistical information, match ups and game planning to jump into.

Five of our games have been against the top 5 rated Niners/Saints.

9er 29-3 W
NO 34-7 W
9er 17-19 L
NO 23-15 W
9er 23-17 W

Combined score 126-61.

The top defense in the league only pitched one shutout, 23-0 Giants in NY.
Dudley Do-right and the Bronco's have not faced a defense like ours and I think they are walking into a buzz saw.

[phill206]

I have the feeling this game is going to be a lot like the BCS National Championships as of late, where a high powered offense from the Big 10 or Big 12 runs into an SEC defense and is completely dominated. We match up so well against this team - we can get pressure on the QB without blitzing, we can leave our corners on islands and allow our safeties to cover the field, and we are physical. Toss in some snow (which is looking more and more likely) and things could break really nicely for our hawks.

[Seahawker]

In browsing through the Bronco forums, here are some highlights I took away from the thread titles & reads.

1) Bronco's 0-3 in Super Bowl when wearing orange.
They seem worried about it, even through the bravado.

2) Gameday weather.
Cold not a factor, but wind/precip is. They try very hard to rationalize that bad weather does not favor Seattle.

3) Zane Beadles was on the talk show "Ellen".
Pretty big deal, they must like that show.

4) Welker block on Talib.
11 page scrutiny, NFL conclusion legal. (I hope they are ready for the way the Hawks hit).

5) Seattle teen fired from job for wearing Bronco jersey.
Tacoma. Outrage, disgust.

6) How Seattle's defense works.
Code for can we keep Peyton upright?

7) Seattle fan's are delusional.
We are over confident and arrogant.

8) List of QB's Seattle faced this year.
Keywords, pathetic/backups.

9) Seattle has no one close to Chandler Jones' talent, Chris Clark dominated him.
We can stop the Hawks pass rush.

10) The Percy Harvin factor.
They hope he isn't 100%. Plenty of nervous sarcasm. You can tell they fear Harvin's potential.

It looked about 60% homerism and the rest knowledgeable fans. Those in the know were calculating in their words and at times seemed to be trying to warn fellow fan's about the Hawks. Many were relieved they would face Seattle and not San Francisco.
Seattle was compared to Kansas City and that seemed to put fellow Donkey fan's at ease. The weather is their enemy and they know it. Seattle's offense sucks really, really bad and Peyton Manning is the reincarnated John Elway, both with golden arms. Most of them know this will be a helluva game, except for the 60% homers.

[hoxgmp]

1) Hope the refs let our DB's play and, if they do, watch out Thomas, Decker, Welker. Rub routes won't be that easy as it has been.
2) Denver's O-line hasn't faced a hard-nosed, rotating, pocket-collapsing, with outside speed-rushers like ours.
3) K.J. Wright should be fully healed and ready to take on Julius Thomas.
4) Try running with Kam in the box ready to take your head off.
5) Peyton's accuracy will be impacted in windy and snowy conditions and, if he holds on to the ball too long, Avril, Clemons, Bennett, Irvin will have a field day.
6) Expect both Bailey and Bowie to play and neutralize "Pot Roast" Knighton.
7) Harvin will be a factor both in KR and as a slot receiver.
8) RW will run around more than he has been and Denver's D won't have an answer.
9) Mike-Rob and Marshawn will have their best game.
10) Lockette and Lane will destroy Trindon Holliday.
11) Peyton will learn the hard way that Sherman is as good as advertised.
12) Earl Thomas will be a nuisance for Peyton the whole game.

[Seahawker]

Hey Hox,

That was the perfect post to read while I sipped a cold Kokanee. Yeah, Peyton better buckle his Omaha strap, a couple of roughing the passer penalties in the 1st quarter wouldn't hurt. Where you been friend?, it's Super Bowl time so don't be a stranger to the Shack.

[hoxgmp]

Been around, Seahawker, but really busy. Have to thank Yoder for starting this site and bringing all the Hawks fans together again especially now that we are in the SB. I still can't believe we are in it and playing Peyton Manning.

Had to pop a Kokanee myself before reading your post. Still remember how ticked off you were when the Hawks didn't draft Jared Allen many years ago. If I remember right, that year we picked Tubbs, Boulware, Locklear, and even Koutouvides but passed on Jared Allen who was #1 on your list of all the prospects that year.

I really like what Pete and John have assembled. Not only that the players are young and talented but play as a team and for each other. The coaches couldn't ask for more. We as fans are really blessed to watch this kind of talent on display every week. The Sherman rant has dominated the air waves but here's a link that you may have seen that at least shows another side of Sherman -

http://nextimpulsesports.com/2014/01/20 ... ange-mind/

These players have grown right before our eyes and they are such a tight group. It's fun to watch.

[monkey]

Many were relieved they would face Seattle and not San Francisco.

Funny you mention this because, I've maintained all along that, had San Francisco advanced instead of us, I GUARANTEE the Niners would have been favored to win the game.
Personally, I think the Niners would tear the Broncos apart if they'd gotten in. I've said all along the REAL SuperBowl was played in Seattle against the Niners.
Niners, for as much as I dislike them, are one helluva team! Second best in football IMO.

The Broncos weren't favored when betting first opened BTW, when it first opened the wise guys had it Seahawks by 2, but the line moved when the action started.
The line has moved because Denver has a bigger fan base, Sherman said what he said, and t's the Seahawks who no one knows much about.
But the guys who do know? They thought Seattle by 2.

[RiverDog]

I honestly don't know how to call this game. In our first two playoff games, I felt pretty confident that we'd win a close defensive struggle, but that was based on some observations from very recent games against both teams, and sure enough, my expectations fell very close to the mark.

But I don't know about this game. For one, it's away from the friendly confines. Our defense is much more effective when they have the 12th man behind them. Secondly, Peyton Manning makes this game difficult to predict. He doesn't have the velocity on his passes that he once did and tends to put a lot of air under his throws of 20+ yards. The added time those passes gives guys like Earl Thomas to react could spell real trouble for him. But Manning is a master at dissecting defenses and calling the exact right play at the right time, and if our defense has a fault, it's that we're pretty static once the huddle breaks. Will Manning be able to pick it apart? Will he have time to pick it apart?

If we are to win, IMO the game will break much like our last 5 or 6 games broke, in other words, total score around 40 points, differential 7 points or less. I have confidence that we can win the close game, so I'm going to stick with a 20-17 Hawks forecast.

[c_hawkbob]

Many were relieved they would face Seattle and not San Francisco.

Funny you mention this because, I've maintained all along that, had San Francisco advanced instead of us, I GUARANTEE the Niners would have been favored to win the game.
Personally, I think the Niners would tear the Broncos apart if they'd gotten in. I've said all along the REAL SuperBowl was played in Seattle against the Niners.
Niners, for as much as I dislike them, are one helluva team! Second best in football IMO.

The Broncos weren't favored when betting first opened BTW, when it first opened the wise guys had it Seahawks by 2, but the line moved when the action started.
The line has moved because Denver has a bigger fan base, Sherman said what he said, and t's the Seahawks who no one knows much about.
But the guys who do know? They thought Seattle by 2.

No way. It'd be seen as Kap vs Manning and the money would be on Manning, just as it is now.