2013: PO POW 3-1, Teasers 0-0, Overall 4-5-1
Posted RX SB: 2-3
DEN (-2) proved they could hold onto the div & #1 seed after being seriously threatened by KC, despite a slew of injuries esp on "D". They've been a team that's held it together, despite being the biggest gm on the calendar for every team they faced. And their schedule was far from cupcake softness. They played PO teams 7 times during the season, w/a really hyped up opener vs the SB Champs. On "O", there was uncertainty @ LT & C w/all-pro Ryan Clady going on IR early & losing Dan Koppen in July. RB's struggled early & DEN was w/out Welker & Julius Thomas in stretches. They even loss their HC for a while. Yet the "O" didn't miss a beat. Why? What's the 1 consistent in all of that? That person (likely MVP for SB & the NFL) is the reason why I give the Broncos a big edge in the big gm. SEA's "D" is special but it's not great. Their secondary hits hard, but they can be outsmarted. Sherman is a great cover corner, & KJ Wright is a TE specialist, but who will shut down Decker, Welker & Moreno? And will SEA's "D" be able to handle all the different plays out of multiple formations? Containing the 1 dimensional Kaepernick & Drew Brees away from a dome are ok, but this is a completely different animal. In fact SEA's secondary had major difficulties w/T.Y. Hilton @ IND w/Sherman on Reggie most of the gm. SEA plays a very basic "D" which relies on its talent to make plays. This works great against running QB's (SF & CAR) & dysfunctional "O"s (NYG & ATL). So I strongly feel DEN will win that battle of their "O" vs SEA's "D". On the other side, DEN's "D" again is getting no respect. They've lost starters Vickerson, Miller, Wolfe, Moore & Harris over the course of the season, yet still finished #8 vs the run w/an avg under 100 rypg (SEA was #13). Their major problem is late gm swoons. DEN has had the lead @ halftime in all their gms except 2, yet a lot of their gms have been close @ the end. Chances are if SEA is to pull this one off, they'll need to make a 2nd half comeback. Russell Wilson's #'s take a noticeable dip in the 2nd half, & in the 4th Q. This is the time when SEA has relied on Lynch to close out opponents, but they've always been in the lead. Wilson has been awful since their Wk 14 tilt @ SF. SEA's oline is not the best (some would say they're below avg) & w/the way DT Knighton is playing, I expect Wilson to be under duress often. Seeing as defending the run is DEN's specialty, Lynch shouldn't expect much success either. CBs Tony Carter & Champ Bailey did a great job replacing Chris Harris vs NE. R-Cromartie should shut down Tate or Harvin, w/Carter & Champ more than able to contain Baldwin & Kearse. Percy is a major wildcard rt now, but being out that long & now coming off a concussion, I have a feeling he won't be a factor as some people expect. If I were DEN I'd be hitting him hard & early, & always attempting to force a fumble. Finally the experience factor will loom large here. Fox has been thru SB preps while Carroll has not. This is Peyton's 3rd SB & he's been telling the team to not take this opportunity for granted. Watching the reactions from DEN & SEA postgame last wk tells the tale. SEA is yelling, hugging, crying & giving WWE-type interviews (I so wanted Sherman to say "Uuuuuugh, WHAT A RUSH!!" after his interview), while DEN personnel were definitely happy, but there's one more game. Don't get me wrong, SEA will be focused, I just feel DEN will be more so, esp @ the critical positions. A friend of mine (who's on SEA) mentioned this SB reminds him of the first NE/NYG epic; where the juggernaut "O" faces off against a stout "D". If you read my post last wk about Peyton vs Brady, then you'll know what I feel about that comparison. I agree that the 2 SB's are similar but for a much different reason. The heavy public fav will win this one too.
SEA 16
DEN 27
4 Units
Note: Weather is currently forecast to be 27-34 degrees w/80% chance of rain/snow. This will likely impact the final score, but definitely not my prediction. Peyton has taken preparations for cold & wind before, and playing @ DEN the last 2 yrs has helped that. Also, my Units is low because I'm waiting for MVP odds to come out (currently looking like 11/10) for Peyton, which acts like a ML play. I'll post that when it comes.
GL to everyone, and as always, comments are most welcome.
Posted RX SB: 2-3
DEN (-2) proved they could hold onto the div & #1 seed after being seriously threatened by KC, despite a slew of injuries esp on "D". They've been a team that's held it together, despite being the biggest gm on the calendar for every team they faced. And their schedule was far from cupcake softness. They played PO teams 7 times during the season, w/a really hyped up opener vs the SB Champs. On "O", there was uncertainty @ LT & C w/all-pro Ryan Clady going on IR early & losing Dan Koppen in July. RB's struggled early & DEN was w/out Welker & Julius Thomas in stretches. They even loss their HC for a while. Yet the "O" didn't miss a beat. Why? What's the 1 consistent in all of that? That person (likely MVP for SB & the NFL) is the reason why I give the Broncos a big edge in the big gm. SEA's "D" is special but it's not great. Their secondary hits hard, but they can be outsmarted. Sherman is a great cover corner, & KJ Wright is a TE specialist, but who will shut down Decker, Welker & Moreno? And will SEA's "D" be able to handle all the different plays out of multiple formations? Containing the 1 dimensional Kaepernick & Drew Brees away from a dome are ok, but this is a completely different animal. In fact SEA's secondary had major difficulties w/T.Y. Hilton @ IND w/Sherman on Reggie most of the gm. SEA plays a very basic "D" which relies on its talent to make plays. This works great against running QB's (SF & CAR) & dysfunctional "O"s (NYG & ATL). So I strongly feel DEN will win that battle of their "O" vs SEA's "D". On the other side, DEN's "D" again is getting no respect. They've lost starters Vickerson, Miller, Wolfe, Moore & Harris over the course of the season, yet still finished #8 vs the run w/an avg under 100 rypg (SEA was #13). Their major problem is late gm swoons. DEN has had the lead @ halftime in all their gms except 2, yet a lot of their gms have been close @ the end. Chances are if SEA is to pull this one off, they'll need to make a 2nd half comeback. Russell Wilson's #'s take a noticeable dip in the 2nd half, & in the 4th Q. This is the time when SEA has relied on Lynch to close out opponents, but they've always been in the lead. Wilson has been awful since their Wk 14 tilt @ SF. SEA's oline is not the best (some would say they're below avg) & w/the way DT Knighton is playing, I expect Wilson to be under duress often. Seeing as defending the run is DEN's specialty, Lynch shouldn't expect much success either. CBs Tony Carter & Champ Bailey did a great job replacing Chris Harris vs NE. R-Cromartie should shut down Tate or Harvin, w/Carter & Champ more than able to contain Baldwin & Kearse. Percy is a major wildcard rt now, but being out that long & now coming off a concussion, I have a feeling he won't be a factor as some people expect. If I were DEN I'd be hitting him hard & early, & always attempting to force a fumble. Finally the experience factor will loom large here. Fox has been thru SB preps while Carroll has not. This is Peyton's 3rd SB & he's been telling the team to not take this opportunity for granted. Watching the reactions from DEN & SEA postgame last wk tells the tale. SEA is yelling, hugging, crying & giving WWE-type interviews (I so wanted Sherman to say "Uuuuuugh, WHAT A RUSH!!" after his interview), while DEN personnel were definitely happy, but there's one more game. Don't get me wrong, SEA will be focused, I just feel DEN will be more so, esp @ the critical positions. A friend of mine (who's on SEA) mentioned this SB reminds him of the first NE/NYG epic; where the juggernaut "O" faces off against a stout "D". If you read my post last wk about Peyton vs Brady, then you'll know what I feel about that comparison. I agree that the 2 SB's are similar but for a much different reason. The heavy public fav will win this one too.
SEA 16
DEN 27
4 Units
Note: Weather is currently forecast to be 27-34 degrees w/80% chance of rain/snow. This will likely impact the final score, but definitely not my prediction. Peyton has taken preparations for cold & wind before, and playing @ DEN the last 2 yrs has helped that. Also, my Units is low because I'm waiting for MVP odds to come out (currently looking like 11/10) for Peyton, which acts like a ML play. I'll post that when it comes.
GL to everyone, and as always, comments are most welcome.
