Sometimes the love for the game and the heart to play will only get you so far — when it comes down to who will win the Super Bowl, it all depends on results and how the teams achieve them.
Looking at the statistics, the Denver Broncos have a far better chance at winning the Super Bowl.
Although both teams went 13-3, if you look at the quarterbacks comparison, Peyton Manning has accounted for 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdowns, whereas Russell Wilson has only accounted for 3,357 and 26 touchdowns.
There is quite the difference between the two, and unless Seattle finds some way to beat the statistics, it will lose.
Although the Seahawks have an excellent running back, Marshawn Lynch, who put up 1,257 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, the Broncos also have stellar athletes.
Denver has wide receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, who are some of the top wide receivers in the NFL, and as well as Knowshon Moreno, who is one of the top running backs in the game. These three will also be an interesting matchup for Seattle’s defense as we watch the Super Bowl.
But in the moments where the teams need to make a play and get results, you can find Denver capitalizing on that. If you look at the success of the conversions of third and fourth downs, as well as success in securing the win in the second half, the Broncos are in favor of that. The Seattle Seahawks went 76 of 204 in third down conversions and 6 of 11 in fourth down conversions, where as the Broncos went 90 of 205 in third down conversions and 8 of 9 in fourth down conversions.
The defense is where it gets interesting.
The Broncos have made 50 percent more sacks than their opponents during each game. Danny Trevathan has accounted for a total of 129 tackles, while the Seahawks’ top defender has accounted for a total of 109.
With just those numbers in mind, Manning’s quick thinking will be able to keep Wilson on the sidelines, and the Broncos’ defense will be able to keep Wilson in the pocket. Because the Broncos’ defense has the ability to keep Wilson within reach, Wilson won’t be able to make his big plays. Throughout the season, Wilson made his big plays when he scrambled, and with that opportunity potentially eliminated because of the match up for defense, it will be hard for the Seahawks to be in control of the game.
The matchups, such as Demaryius Thomas and Richard Sherman, will be entertaining to watch because they are both successful in their respective positions. But look out for Eric Decker, who has made most of the Broncos’ points throughout the season.
The Broncos have achieved a total of 439 first downs during their games, whereas their opponents have only achieved 339 while facing the Broncos. Denver also has a total of 7,317 total offensive yards where their opponents have only put up 5,696.
Along with the offense, Denver has scored an astounding total of 76 touchdowns in comparison to their opponents’ 47.
The Broncos have an ability to take control of the game early. And when they are ahead, it is almost impossible for their opponents to dig themselves out of that hole. Therefore, who ever can score first will be more likely to win the game. From watching them throughout the season, the Broncos have a higher percentage on being the first team to score in a game.
With these statistics in mind, it is more likely that the Broncos will win. The way they play defense will most likely beat out Seattle’s offense. Though Seattle thrives with its defense, Manning’s results in numbers back up how talented he really is. This game will probably not be as easy of a victory as the rest for the Broncos, but despite that, they will still achieve the same result — winning.
