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Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll celebrate the Seahawks' success. Paul Sancya/AP/Press Association Images
Winning

The Redzone: Seattle worthy winners but Peyton's place in question

It wasn’t the scoreline anyone expected but few could argue with Seattle’s dominance.

YOU CAN’T WIN a Super Bowl on the first play of the game, but you can certainly lose one and that’s exactly what Denver did last night. Indeed, this Super Bowl was lost before the first play.

During the week, the Broncos decided to turn down the volume on the speakers used to simulate crowd noise after John Fox determined the Super Bowl crowd wouldn’t be as loud as an away game. It’s fair to say that decision backfired when Manny Ramirez heard a phantom count and snapped a ball to nobody.

2-0 Seattle and that was the ball game.

The Seahawks did manage to keep it interesting by only scoring field goals on their next two possessions but, with Denver starting the game safety, punt, interception, the result was never really in doubt.

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An awful lot of talk during and in the immediate aftermath of the game surrounded Peyton Manning, his performance and his legacy. Manning had a good game, he set a Super Bowl record by completing 34 of his 49 passes. The problem was the unstoppable force crashed right into the immovable object.

Manning was pressured twenty times last night when he dropped back to throw but only took four hits and a solitary Chris Clemons’ sack. The Seattle defensive line, specifically Cliff Avril, were constantly in Manning’s face, forcing the Denver quarterback to throw off his back foot often and giving him no time to settle.

Of course, the lack of any sort of run game from Denver meant it was much easier for the Seattle defence to pile pressure on because it was so obvious he was going to throw the football. While they had little choice but to pass as they were chasing the game, you can’t make just 27 yards on the ground — on 14 attempts — and ever expect to lift the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Normally, Manning would counter the pass rush by throwing quick, short passes, the kind that have set his offence’s rhythm all season. He hadn’t faced the Legion of Boom before though and they, led by Kam Chancellor, consistently stopped Denver’s receivers from making yards after the catch. All year, on passes of 10 yards or less, the Broncos’ receivers gained an average of 6.2 yards after making the reception. Last night they averaged less than four with the Seahawks stopping them for no gain at all on no fewer than nine occasions.

The final, crucial element hampering Manning last night was the Broncos defence’s inability to get off the field. Seattle converted seven of 12 third downs and gained a massive ten first downs by passing alone. Not bad for a run first offence and it meant Denver — with an average time of possession of 33.06 on the year — only had the football for 28 minutes last night.

Manning’s legacy

So when talk inevitably turns to legacy, it’s worth remembering that it, like beauty, only ever exists in the eye of the beholder. Manning will be remembered however you want to remember him which will, almost inevitably, be different than how I remember him.

For me, Manning will always be a great quarterback who has reached the playoffs a remarkable 13 times but who, for whatever reason has failed to win a Super Bowl 12 times. For me, it’s not the fact he’s lost two Super Bowls that taints his claims to be the greatest of all time but rather the eight times he’s brought his side to the playoffs only to lose at the first time of asking. For that reason, he stays behind Joe Montana and Tom Brady as my personal choice for the best of all time.

And what of the Seahawks?

They were excellent in all areas of the game last night. They are — and not just because I picked them before the season began — worthy winners. With their age profile, style of play and the massive home advantage that comes with CenturyLink field, there’s no reason to think they can’t become the first team since the Patriots in 2004/2005 to repeat.

The fact that the biggest threat to their crown in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers, play in the same division helps, not hinders, Pete Carroll’s men. When you can consistently play and beat the best, that instills confidence and makes you believe you are unbeatable.

On last night’s form, I’d go even further and say this Seattle team, when it hits top gear, is virtually unplayable.

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