Seattle Destroys Denver, 43-8 — #SuperBowlXLVIII

I'm kinda shocked how poorly Denver played. It was almost a shutout.

Here's the Los Angeles Times, "Seattle lowers the boom on Denver, 43-8."

And at Sports Illustrated, "First Down/Fourth Down: Seahawks demolish Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII":

RT @NFLonFOX: The Broncos performance thus far summed up in one photo. pic.twitter.com/6VkuLaCgyb || Lolz

— Afterseven (@Afterseven) February 3, 2014

People will joke about it but the first play was a preview of this whole game. #SuperBowlXLVIII

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) February 3, 2014

Despite employing something of a makeshift unit, the Broncos protected Peyton Manning better than any O-line guarded any QB in the league. Denver allowed all of 20 sacks in 16 regular-season games, easily the lowest number in the league.

“We are confident in what we can do,” Seattle defensive end Cliff Avril said confidently on Thursday. “We feel like we can definitely rush him. Whenever we get the chance we’re going to try to make it happen.”

Make it happen, they did in a 43-8 win over the Broncos.

Avril came up with one of the most important plays of all up front. The game was still somewhat in the balance at 15-0 in the second quarter when Avril pushed his way into the pocket and hit Peyton Manning’s arm as he went to throw. Manning’s pass attempt fluttered out of his hand and into the arms of Seattle’s Malcolm Smith, who raced back 69 yards for a touchdown — turning the game from an early mismatch into a complete laugher.

Manning took just one sack in the game overall, resulting in a fumble, with 3:50 left in the game. He also had little time to set in the pocket and scan the field. That was a focus for Seattle’s aggressive defensive front entering the game: moving Manning off his spots.

From the outset, Manning struggled to find any sort of a groove, even whipping passes to no one in particular when he had time to throw. Both of his interceptions came on account of heavy pressure.

“This was an amazing team. I’m so proud to be part of them,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said after receiving the Vince Lombardi Trophy. “These guys would not take anything else but a win in this ballgame.”

More at the New York Times, "Poor Game Seals Manning’s Season but Not Debate on Legacy."