So much for Peyton Manning's record-breaking season and the Denver Broncos intimidating offense. Super Bowl XLVIII was all about the Seattle Seahawks defense. Overpowering, dominating, lightening fast. And ultimately victorious.
The Seahawks led the Super Bowl from start to finish, running up a 22 to nothing lead by halftime. It was the relentless Seattle defense led by MVP Malcolm Smith that shutdown Peyton Manning. Smith picked off a Manning pass in the second quarter, returning it 69 yards for a touchdown. And then he picked off a second interception that sealed the game.
The final score, a lopsided 43-8.
Manning and the Broncos looked out of sorts from the very first play of the game when a snap from center flew over Manning's head and into the end zone. They didn't score a single point until the third quarter.
After the game, second year quarter back Russell Wilson told Fox's Pam Oliver the offense was clicking and he praised the team's number one-in-the-league defense.
"It's a true blessing," he said. "We had the talent, the best fans in the National Football League. We continued to fight." Wilson said the team's mindset from the pre-season was 'why not us' after getting knocked out of the NFC championship game last year by Atlanta.
Wilson becomes the first African-American quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory since Doug Williams took the crown back in Super Bowl XXII with the Washington Redskins.
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