Matt Rosenfeld, Sports EditoI have never been a big proponent of the phrase “defense wins championships.” I have always thought that an offense that can score at will is just as valuable, if not more so, than a stout defense. Well, the NY/NJ Super Bowl seems to pit the best offense against the best defense in the NFL. And, while I admire Richard Sherman and the Seattle Seahawks’ dominance on the defensive side of the ball, I don’t think they will be able to handle Peyton and his record-setting offense.
It’s not that I don’t think it will be close. The Seahawks are an excellent football team. But since Peyton and his scary good air attack dropped 49 points on the defending champion Ravens, they have been on an inside track to this game.
I’m a huge fan of Russell Wilson’s work. Richard Sherman won me back with his response column on The MMQB. But, Denver simply has too many weapons, and those weapons are far more diverse than anything Seattle has faced this season. Give me Manning, give me DeMaryius Thomas, give me Eric Decker and give me the over. Broncos 31, Seahawks 24
Max Prinz, Sports Editor: One of my most vivid memories from years of playing Madden NFL is the first time I faced a CPU controlled Peyton Manning. Manning, then a member of the Colts, called audibles at the line and directed his offense in a way that made my defense look silly.
For the first time in a long time, we’re getting a Super Bowl that features the two best teams in the NFL. Seahawks-Broncos pits the league’s top offense against its No.1 ranked defense. There’s no underdog or Cinderella story.
It’s hard for me for to pick against Peyton Manning, and I have no plans to do so. He is the greatest quarterback of my generation. This year, at age 37, he has led a record-setting offense. He played brilliantly in the win over New England, and I do not see that changing anytime soon. He’s going to make Seattle’s league-best defense look just as silly as my Madden one.
I’m going with Manning, the Broncos and Fordham football alum Greg Wilson to get a Super Bowl ring. Broncos 27, Seattle 21
Anthony Pucik, Assistant Sports Editor: Denver versus Seattle. Experience versus Youth. Best defense versus best offense. Nobody could have scripted Super Bowl XLVIII any better than what we have in store this Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
As to who is going to win, well, that’s another story. It’s hard to bet against the Seattle defense, which has been dominant all season no matter who they play. They have not, however, had to deal with the passing of Peyton Manning and the multitude of offensive weapons that he has at his disposal in Knowshon Moreno, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker and Julius Thomas. Despite how good the Seahawks secondary is, I believe even they will not be able to cover every single threat Denver has, especially because Manning has arguably the best defensive reading mind for a quarterback in NFL history.
Given Peyton’s intelligence, the inconsistency of the Seattle pass rush, lack of depth in their secondary and the fact that Seattle is “technically” on the road, I think that a Manning will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy in New Jersey, it just won’t be Eli.
Broncos 30, Seattle 21.
