The Seattle Seahawks are World Champions as they crushed the Denver Broncos 43-8 Sunday evening in Super Bowl XLVIII.
The Seahawks forced four turnovers in the game and that included intercepting Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning twice on their way to winning their first Lombardi Trophy.
The Broncos evening got off to a rough start on the first offensive play of the game as a shot-gun snap flew by Manning and into the end zone for safety. Manning was attempting to walk toward the offensive line to audible prior to the snap, but the loud crowd noise prevented center Manny Ramirez from hearing him in time.
The Broncos would never recover and they found themselves down 22-0 at halftime thanks to Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith returning a fluttering interception 69 yards for a touchdown with 3:21 left in the half. Smith, who also recorded five total tackles and a fumble recovery in the game, was named the MVP of the game.
When Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff of the second half 87 yards for a touchdown, all that was left at that point was a long wait until the Seahawk colored confetti filled the air of MetLife Stadium.
Manning finished the game 34-of-49 with the two interceptions and his lone touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas came on the last play of the third quarter with the game well out of reach.
Manning’s young counterpart, Russell Wilson, played well in the win as he finished 18-of-25 passing for 206 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. More importantly, Wilson and his teammates did not turn the ball over in the game.
With the win, Wilson became just the third quarterback to win a Super Bowl in just his second professional season. Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger are the only other two quarterbacks to accomplish the feat.
The Seahawks defense was the story of the game, however, as they did not give up the big play despite giving up 34 receptions in the game. Manning attempted seven passes that flew 19 or more yards past the line of scrimmage and completed none of them.
The Broncos have now lost more Super Bowls than any other team in the league as Sunday marked the fifth time that they have failed to win the big game in seven attempts.
