Sleepless in Seattle

It took only 12 seconds for Super Bowl XLVIII first score. That already sounded like destiny was on the Seahawks side, as a bad snap to Peyton Manning sailed into the end zone and was recovered by Knowshon Moreno for a safety. Following the punt by the Broncos the Seahawks decided to hand the ball off but not to Marshawn Lynch but to Percy Harvin. Harvin ran the ball for 30 yards before being forced out of bounds. the Broncos defense held Seattle to a field goal on the drive.

The following Denver possession the Seahawks defense forced a three and out, and after the Denver punt, Russell Wilson completed a 37 yard pass to Doug Baldwin, this would lead to another Steven Hauschka field goal and the Seahawks took an 8-0 lead. On Denver's next drive Manning threw his first interception of the game to Kam Chancellor, aided by a 15 yard run from Harvin and a pass interference call on defensive back Tony Carter, Marshawn Lynch ran the ball into the end zone with 12 minutes left in the 2nd quarter to put the Seahawks up 15-0.

Things really started to get bad for the Denver Broncos as on their ensuing drive, Manning's 3rd down pass was tipped high into the air, this allowed Malcolm Smith to grab it and once he did there was no turning back. Smith took it to the house for a 69 yard interception for a touchdown and so the Seahawks went up 22-0 before halftime. Denver started to get things going on the offense during their final drive of the half. The Broncos manged to get to Seattle's own 19 yard line but rather then taking the points and kicking a field goal they decided to go for it on 4th and 2. Manning's pass was nearly intercepted by Walter Thurmond, so the Seahawks went into halftime up 22-0, it was the largest deficit the Broncos had faced all season long.

The Seahawks won the coin toss but elected to defer to the second half, and what a start to the second half! Trying to avoid a huge kick return, Matt Prater kicked the ball short. The ball landed at the Seattle 12 yard line and Percy Harvin picked it up and began the second half with an 88 yard kick return for a touchdown. Again it only took 12 seconds to have this half's first score, pretty ironic huh?

After both teams punted the ball Denver began to show that they were not out of this game yet, as Manning was able to complete several passes to get the Broncos into Seattle territory. It wouldn't last. Manning threw a 23 yard completion to Demaryius Thomas but Byron Maxwell knocked the ball out of his hands and Malcolm Smith jumped on the ball and recovered the fumble to give the Seahawks the ball once again. Things just kept getting worse for Denver as an unnecessary roughness penalty gave the Seahawks 15 extra yards. Wilson didn't waste it after a 19 yard completion to Ricardo Lockette he threw a bullet to Jermaine Kearse, who shrugged off 4 tacklers and went 23 yards for the touchdown.

With a 36-0 lead it was looking like the Seahawks defense may produce the first shutout in Super Bowl history, but they didn't. Peyton Manning finally lead his team into the end zone, with a 14 yard touchdown pass to Thomas, but after that Denver would not score again.

Zach Miller recovered Prater's onside kick on the Seattle 48 yard line. He also caught an 10 yard pass as the Seahawks subsequently went 52 yards down the field for one more touchdown. With a 24 yard pass to Kearse that set up Russell Wilson's final touchdown pass of the game as he hooked up with Dough Baldwin for a 10 yard score. After that score which put the Seahawks up 43-8 that basically nailed the coffin shut. Denver's final drives would result in two turnover on downs and one fumble recovery by the Seahawks, thanks to Chris Clemons (which was the only sack in the game by either team).

The clock hit 0:00 and the confetti poured out blue a green and the Seattle Seahawks, who came 31 seconds short of the NFC Championship last year now were Super Bowl Champions for the first time in franchise history. It was the city of Seattle's first major championship since the 1979 Seattle SuperSonics.

Malcolm Smith was named the game's Most Valuable Player becoming just the ninth defensive player to win that award. A lot of ironic stats were recorded in the game. 12 seconds to score in both half's, 12 minutes left exactly when the Seahawks scored their first touchdown, 206 passing yards by Russell Wilson which is the area code for Seattle, Manning's 12th playoff loss, and finally Seattle's 12th playoff win. Those stats say "destiny" all the way.