Seattle Seahawks 43 Denver Broncos 8 - Match Report

Second year NFL quarterback Russell Wilson led the Seattle Seahawks to a dominant Super bowl victory over the Denver Broncos in New York last night. Wilson threw two touchdowns and no interceptions while Malcolm Smith claimed the coveted MVP award and a fantastic performance from Percy Harvin capped a great night for the NFC Champions. A terrible display by the Denver Broncos who throughout the regular season had become statistically the best ever offence in NFL history but could only put up 8 points in New York will be glad to have come away avoiding the first ever Super bowl shut out. The match started with a bang when on the first play of the game, the Bronco's centre sent the ball over Peyton Manning's head and into the end zone for Seattle to score a safety and set the record for the fastest score in Super bowl history. After receiving the kick-off, the Seahawks took the ball down field with Percy Harvin's long run the highlight play of the drive. Seattle were forced to settle for fourth down after Russell Martin was ruled as being just shy of the first down on the Denver 26- a decision head coach Pete Carroll challenged unsuccessfully. Kicker Steven Hauschka kicked a successful 31 yard field goal to make it 5-0. Denver's next drive brought up a 3 and out which meant the Seahawk's offence would make a quick return to the field. They marched down the pitch but an incomplete end zone pass meant they had to settle for a second field goal. The quarter ended when Manning threw his first interception of the game to Kam Chancellor. Marshawn Lynch got the first touchdown of the game after a pass interference call on Tony Carter brought the Seahawks to the one yard line for Lynch to run it in. The extra point made it 15-0 and no team prior had ever come back from 10+ down in a Super bowl such was the task facing the Broncos. Following a ten yard penalty making it 1st and 20 for Denver, they worked their way to 3rd and 13 but Manning's pass intended for Moreno was picked off and ran in by Malcolm Smith for another six points. Following the extra point, it was 22-0 and on Denver's final drive of the half, the AFC Champions went for it on fourth down but Manning's pass was incomplete to Demaryius Thomas and allowed the Seahawks to see the half out. The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with the Seahawks scoring after just 12 seconds, this time Percy Harvin returning the kick-off 87 yards for another early score. Denver's horrors continued, this time for Demaryius Thomas who took a pass from Manning and gained 23 yards before the ball was punched out of his arms and resulted in a fumble, which was recovered by the Seahawks. Two big plays back to back for the leaders, firstly Ricardo Lockett with a great catch from a Russell Wilson Pass to gain 19 yards before Seattle got yet another touchdown, this time through Jermaine Kearse who did brilliantly to get the reception and spin two defenders before running into the end zone for a 23 yard score. The Broncos finally got on the board when Manning found Demaryius Thomas in the end zone who did well to avoid the tackle from Maxwell and bring the ball down for the AFC Champions' first points of the game. As expected the Broncos went straight for a two point conversion and were successful, Manning hitting Welker to bring their points tally up to eight. Early in the fourth, Seattle extended their lead back to 35 When Wilson found Baldwin who despite being surrounded by three Broncos defenders, found the gap and avoided a final tackle on the goal line to get in for the score, once Hauschka kicked the extra point the Seahawks were up 43-8. Seahawks Corner back Richard Sherman left the game early after suffering an ankle injury; he would end the game on crutches with his ankle heavily strapped up. Sherman, who was a big reason why Seattle were even in the Super bowl with his pass block at the death against San Francisco would unfortunately not be able to finish the match. The last big play in Super bowl XLVIII was another fumble recovery by the Seahawks after Manning had the ball knocked out of his hands as he went to throw to cap off a dominant performance by Seattle.