There is absolutely no doubt who the best team in football is after Super Bowl 48, as the Seattle Seahawks pounded Denver in one of the more one-sided NFL title games we’ve seen, 43-8.
One of the stars of the game was former Minnesota Viking Percy Harvin, who put up 50 total yards in the first half on three touches, and then sucked the rest of the life out of the Broncos on the opening kickoff of the second half, taking the kick the distance to make the score 29-0.
The tough day for Denver started on the first play of the game, when quarterback Peyton Manning and his center Manny Ramirez had a miscommunication which ended up in a wild snap and safety.
Seattle followed up the safety by forcing two more turnovers which led to more direct points, the second of which an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith.
The score at the half was 22-0 Seattle, and after Harvin’s impressive return (linked above), Seattle forced two more second half turnovers to ensure there would be no comeback.
Denver’s only score to keep the game from becoming the first shutout in Super Bowl history was a Manning pass to Demaryius Thomas on the last play of the third quarter, the ensuing two-point conversion was good, but it’s all the Broncos would get.
There are nine with Minnesota ties that will receive Super Bowl rings for Seattle, including head coach Pete Carroll, who was a defensive backs coach with Minnesota from 1985-89.
General Manager John Schneider is a University of St. Thomas graduate, receivers Harvin and Sidney Rice are former Vikings, as are special teams maven Heath Farwell and backup quarterback Travarias Jackson, the latter of which saw game action in the fourth quarter since the contest was no longer in doubt.
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevall served in the same position for Minnesota from 2006-10, while fullback Derrick Coleman and kicker Steven Hauschka were members of the Purple in training camp, but never made the 53-man roster.
Those on the other side of the ball that miss out on a ring include former University of Minnesota receiver Eric Decker (held to one catch for six yards), former Viking player Jack Del Rio, now the offensive coordinator for Denver, and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who interviewed with Minnesota for their head coaching vacancy this offseason.
The Super Bowl win is the first in franchise history for Seattle, losing in their only other appearance in 2005.
For Manning, he remains stuck on one Super Bowl, having won with Indianapolis in 2007, and Denver’s only two wins came in back-to-back fashion in 1997 and ’98.
The margin of victory is the largest for any team in a Super Bowl since Dallas beat Buffalo 52-17 in 1993.
