You know what’s so great about the Super Bowl? (Other than the commercials, the gambling, the friends, and even the actual game) It’s the buildup. The two weeks prior to this one game, where the media can make judgments, create story lines, and allow viewers to become invested in a team, that they really don’t care for (especially this year with two distant, probably unpopular, cities like Denver and Seattle). I mean just look at the past couple years, you had Ray Lewis retiring, Harbaugh V Harbaugh, Eli V Brady II, Green Bay as a 6 seed, Manning’s first title, the other Manning’s second title; there’s always something, whether it’s a player’s story, their childhood, their legacy, or a team’s story/legacy, or a head to head matchup that is all decided in one game, one night. It’s this kind of buildup that allows your average Patriots/Eagles fan like myself to root for a team, and become invested in the game, or at least the story.
This year is no different. Offense V Defense. Manning V Sherman. Old School v New School. This game will not only define Manning’s legacy, but that of Richard Sherman as well. If he gets beat, after all the talk, he may never recover. But if he, and this defense, beat up on Manning, then he may never have another chance to win it all.
Earlier in the year, both me AND the Average Bro picked this as the Super Bowl. (He must have just went along with what I was saying, but I don’t blame him) He seems to think that Manning is going to take the title next Sunday. He sees this story line of offense v defense leaning towards Manning, and the Broncos O. Well he’s wrong. It won’t. Let me break down my version of the events that will occur next Sunday night.
So here’s how it goes.
The game will begin as planned. Teams will be announced. Rich people who obtained their tickets will cheer. Singer will sing. Knowshon will cry. Coin will be tossed. And Denver will defer.
First Quarter:
On Seattle’s first possession, they run the ball a couple times, throw a couple times, and ultimately punt. Denver will open their first possession in the same manor, ultimately punting back to Seattle. This nonsense will go on for two more series until Beast Mode finally decides to arrive. A long run, let’s say 62 yards, scores Seattle the first points of the game, and gives them a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
Second Quarter:
By now, Peyton’s fore head is starting to become very red, and as we all know, the redder his fore head the better he plays (I did in fact rhyme that). Denver drives down field and scores. Manning connects to Decker for the TD. Game is tied 7-7. After a 3 and out by the ‘Hawks, Peyton decides one more score would be nice, and once again he hits Decker, on a short crossing route, to put the Broncos up 14-7 with 3 minutes left in the half. Mr. Wilson, Russell that is, after seeing his half-brother, Owen, on the sidelines, decides to finally do something. A deep pass to Doug puts them in FG range, and with just seconds left before half, Hauschka puts a 44 yarder through the uprights, putting Seattle down 14-10 going into halftime.
Halftime:
While Bruno Mars performs several of his female-empowering songs to get the primarily male crowd amped up, coaches Manning and Carroll are busy in their locker rooms doing just the same. Coach Manning’s speech will go something like, “Hey guys, I can’t have my legacy end up as a guy who was really good in games against terrible teams, but sucked in big games, and had far too many TV commercials. Let’s win this!” Meanwhile, Coach Carroll’s will be a little more emotional, something like, “Hey guys, I love all of you. And no matter what were a team…blah blah blah…lets have fun…blah blah blah…Go Seahawks”
Third Quarter:
Fact: Every Super Bowl ever played has had a third quarter. Opinion: This game’s third quarter will be terrible! Strong defense from the Seahawks, including an INT by one Kam Chancellor, will prevent the Broncos from ever scoring a point. However, one decent drive by Wilson, along with a solid return from Harvin, will equate to two FGs by Hauschka and the ‘Hawks, giving them a 16-14 lead going into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
With the Broncos down 2, and the ball at their own 37, Peyton will proceed to conduct one of “those” drives. A couple handoffs to Moreno (who hasn’t done much due to his tears freezing during pregame) will put the broncos into Seattle territory. Then a few short passes by Manning will put them even closer. And on third and 4, and Seattle’s 27, with 5 minutes left, manning completes a long pass to…you guessed it, Eric Decker, his third TD of the day, giving the Denver Mannings a 21-16 lead.
After a short return and three short runs, Seattle has a 4th and 2 at their own 30. Confident in his defense, and with three timeouts, Carroll sends out the punt squad, but WAIT!!! It’s a fake, the up-man, (whoever that guy is) takes the fake for a good 22 yards, similar to the play they ran against Buffalo a few years back. (Note: There is no way Carroll makes it through this game with at least one trick play, so why not here) After a few runs by Lynch and a few scrambles by Wilson, the Hawks have the ball at Denver’s 12 when the 2-minute warning arrives.
The Seahawks, in a run heavy formation, fake the run, it’s a rollout with Russell, but wait, he throws it, and to who other than his other other half-brother (again I just rhymed) Luke Wilson. The other Wilsons go crazy! (and not just Owen and Luke, but Castaway Wilson and Home Improvement Wilson, and even Woodrow himself) The Seahawks, up by one, go for two, but unfortunately fail. So, with just 1:48 on the clock, and 2 timeouts, and the ball on his own 25, down by 1, Manning has the chance his been waiting for.
Cut to a commercial, starring Manning of course, for a company many of us know, AARP. What’s this?! Manning, knowing this drive would eventually come, planned to announce his retirement via AARP, in a commercial that would air right before the final drive. Only, once we come out of commercial break, the very thinkable happens, Manning throws a deep ball to his man DT, only, he forgot to look off the safety. Just as he throws, Kam breaks on the ball, getting his second pick of the game. Ending the game, the season, and Manning’s career.
None-the-less, Chancellor is named MVP. 12% of the nation instantly becomes Seahawk’s fans. And the rest, as they say, is history. (or in this case, the future)
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