After all has been said, it is time to get this game done!
Super Bowl XLVIII Predictions:
Seattle Seahawks vs Denver Broncos
Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 1
Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Denver Broncos by 3
Vegas Lines Pick: Denver Broncos by 2. Broncos by 2, Over/Under 48.5
Best Record Wins Pick: Denver Broncos by 3. Both teams at 15-3, advantage goes to Denver because the NFL has dubbed them the "Home Team of Record" for the Super Bowl.
Home Team Wins Pick: Denver Broncos by 3. The Broncos play their home games on Sports Authority Field at Mile High, just 1,776 miles away from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, whereas CenturyLink Field in Seattle sits 2,856 miles away.
In two weeks (on February 10th), once the Super Bowl celebrations have wound down and the champion has been duly praised, complete season recaps for all teams will begin. Don't miss out on your chance to relive the glory (or misfortune) of your favorite team's 2013 season!
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Super Bowl XLVIII Preview - Franchise Comparisons - Denver Broncos vs Seattle Seahawks
Two great franchises are set to battle it out in the cold in New Jersey on Sunday to determine which one will take that next big step towards becoming a storied franchise. We’ve compared the offenses. We’ve compared the defenses. Now let’s compare the organizations as a whole and see how they stack up to each other.
Founded -
Comment of Misfortune: Denver is older by 16 years and was part of the original American Football League before it joined with the NFL.
Team Advantage: Denver
Score:Denver, 1-0
Score:
Stadium Capacity -
Team Advantage: Denver
Score:Denver, 2-0
Score:
Uniform Colors -
Comment of Misfortune: Both teams have a variation of Navy Blue in their colors, so that's a draw. Orange and Action Green accents kind of offset each other with how possibly bad they can be if used incorrectly. Wolf Gray, however, is a very cool color and tips this category in favor of the Seahawks.
Team Advantage: Seattle
Score: Denver, 2-1
Team Advantage: Seattle
Nickname -
Comment of Misfortune: I know what Broncos are and I have a pretty good idea what a mythical Seahawk may look like. When I hear Orange Crush, though, I immediately think of a soda can, not something menacing. Legion of Boom, however, sounds like something Spider Man or Superman would have to fight. Gotta give the nod to Seattle.
Team Advantage:Seattle
Score: Tied, 2-2
Team Advantage:
Score: Tied, 2-2
2013 Record -
Comment of Misfortune: Both teams finished the season with 13 wins and neither have lost in the playoffs yet, so I have to call this category a draw.
Team Advantage: Draw
Score:Tied, 2-2-1
Score:
All-Time Regular Season Record -
Comment of Misfortune: Not only has Denver played more games than Seattle, they've won a higher percentage of them, too.
Team Advantage: Denver
Score: Denver, 3-2-1
All-Time Playoff Record -
Comment of Misfortune: That's holds true for the playoffs as well… Denver has more games and more victories.
Team Advantage: Denver
Score: Denver, 4-2-1
2013 Touchdowns Scored -
Comment of Misfortune: The Broncos offense has been the most prolific offense in NFL history and they have scored almost twice as many touchdowns as the Seahawks this season.
Team Advantage: Denver
Score: Denver, 5-2-1
2013 Field Goals Scored -
Comment of Misfortune: In close, defensive battles, field goals can be of utmost importance. The Seahawks have a significant edge here.
Team Advantage: Seattle
Score:Denver, 5-3-1
Score:
Super Bowl Titles -
Comment of Misfortune: My grade-school math tells me 2 is a lot more than 0, so this category definitely falls Denver's way.
Team Advantage:Denver
Score:Denver, 6-3-1
Team Advantage:
Score:
Other Championships -
Comment of Misfortune: Since neither of these teams existed before 1960, there wasn't much chance for them to win any other league championships.
Team Advantage: Draw
Score:Denver, 6-3-2
Score:
All-Time Record vs Each Other -
Comment of Misfortune: The Broncos own the all-time series by fifteen games…
Team Advantage: Denver
Score: Denver, 7-3-2
Score: Denver, 7-3-2
Record in Last 10 Games vs Each Other (since December 1998) -
Score: Denver, 8-3-2
Biggest All-Time Victory vs Each Other -
Comment of Misfortune: Both blowouts took place in the late eighties, but Seattle's 28 point victory in 1988 is far more impressive than the mere 27 points Denver managed to win by in their 1989 victory.
Team Advantage:Seattle
Score: Denver, 8-4-2
Team Advantage:
Score: Denver, 8-4-2
Total Franchise All-Pro Players -
Comment of Misfortune: When it comes to Pro's Pros, Denver has had twice as many All-Pro players on their rosters than the Seahawks, despite only being in the league 16 years longer.
Team Advantage: Denver
Score:Denver, 9-4-2
Score:
Total Franchise Pro Bowl Players -
Comment of Misfortune: When it comes to fan balloting, Denver once again has over double the number of players voted to the Pro Bowl and the Broncos have sent their players twice as many times to the glorified flag-football game than Seattle.
Team Advantage: Denver
Score: Denver, 10-4-2
PAC-12 Players on Roster -
Denver Broncos: 8 - C.J. Anderson (California), Omar Bolden (Arizona State),Sione Fua (Stanford), Winston Justice (USC), Ryan Miller (Colorado), Rahim Moore (UCLA), Cameron Morrah (California), Brock Osweiler (Arizona State)
Seattle Seahawks: 13 - Doug Baldwin (Stanford), Brandon Browner (Oregon State), Derrick Coleman (UCLA), Jermaine Kearse (Washington), Marshawn Lynch (California), Anthony McCoy (USC), Brandon Mebane (California), Zach Miller (Arizona State), Mike Morgan (USC), Richard Sherman (Stanford), Malcolm Smith (USC), Walter Thurmond (Oregon), Max Unger (Oregon)
Comment of Misfortune: What's with all the non-PAC-12 players, Denver? You're far enough west this shouldn't be an issue. Left Coast Advantage - Seattle.
Comment of Misfortune: What's with all the non-PAC-12 players, Denver? You're far enough west this shouldn't be an issue. Left Coast Advantage - Seattle.
Team Advantage: Seattle
Score: Denver, 10-5-2
Team Fans -
Denver Broncos: "Barrel Man", People on a Rocky Mountain High
Seattle Seahawks: The 12th Man
Comment of Misfortune: Since the 12th Man can generate recordable earthquakes, I have to give them the nod in this category. Not that it will do them any good at the Super Bowl, though, since the game will be played in New Jersey, about as far away from Seattle as you can possibly get and still be in the contintental United States.
Comment of Misfortune: Since the 12th Man can generate recordable earthquakes, I have to give them the nod in this category. Not that it will do them any good at the Super Bowl, though, since the game will be played in New Jersey, about as far away from Seattle as you can possibly get and still be in the contintental United States.
Team Advantage: Seattle
Score: Denver, 10-6-2
Final Judgment:
Denver clearly has the historical advantage over Seattle, despite only being in existence 16 years longer than the Seahawks.
Check back tomorrow for the predictions of Creative Misfortune for Super Bowl XLVIII…Will either team be a unanimous pick by all prediction systems?
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Super Bowl XLVIII Preview - Seattle's Offense vs Denver's Defense
The Seattle Seahawks have been playing hard-nosed solid football all season long, despite stumbling a bit down the stretch to close out the regular season. The NFC front-runner all season, Seattle has lived up to their expectations so far and now face an extremely difficult test in the Super Bowl against a Denver unit that has been just as dominating on the AFC side of the house. The young Russell Wilson leads the offense along with the help of Marshawn Lynch, a punishing back who will move piles and knock out would be tacklers every chance he can get.
Despite the weapons that Seattle has at their disposal - an up-and-coming star quarterback, a power running game, a solid receiving corps and a strong offensive line - the Seahawks offense will be no match for the Broncos if their defense can't slow down Manning and the most explosive offense in NFL history.
The Broncos, for their part, have improved greatly on defense during the second half of the season. While the offense has slowed a bit during the playoffs, the defense has picked up the slack and have helped punch Denver's ticket to the Super Bowl. The Denver D will have to play better than average if they want to slow down Seattle's power running game so they can get Peyton Manning and his charges back on the field. It's always easier to play defense when your offense gives you a 21-point lead to work with.
Super Bowl XLVIII Statistical Matchup
*Note: None of these stats “mean” anything, but let’s have fun with them anyway… Numbers include playoff games
Stat Keys:
Passing Points = Total Passing Touchdowns + ½ Total Field Goal Points
Rushing Points = Total Rushing Touchdowns + ½ Total Field Goal Points
Points per Passing Yard = Passing Points / Total Yards Passing
Points per Rushing Yard = Rushing Points / Total Yards Rushing
Based on the Denver projections from yesterday versus the Seattle defense -
If both offenses come out blazing and the defenses stumble, expect Seattle to win a very close shoot-out, 38-35.
If both teams play as they have tended to play all season, expect another close game with Denver coming out on top, 24-21.
If a knock-down, drag-out defensive struggle takes place, expect the Seahawks to win on the strength of field goals by the score of 9-7.
Based on these statistical comparisons, if Seattle hopes to win, they need their offense to be on fire or their defense to be on fire. If both units play average, expect the Broncos to be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after the game.
Check back tomorrow to see how these two Super Bowl franchises stack up to each other both in history and intangibles…
Despite the weapons that Seattle has at their disposal - an up-and-coming star quarterback, a power running game, a solid receiving corps and a strong offensive line - the Seahawks offense will be no match for the Broncos if their defense can't slow down Manning and the most explosive offense in NFL history.
The Broncos, for their part, have improved greatly on defense during the second half of the season. While the offense has slowed a bit during the playoffs, the defense has picked up the slack and have helped punch Denver's ticket to the Super Bowl. The Denver D will have to play better than average if they want to slow down Seattle's power running game so they can get Peyton Manning and his charges back on the field. It's always easier to play defense when your offense gives you a 21-point lead to work with.
Super Bowl XLVIII Statistical Matchup
*Note: None of these stats “mean” anything, but let’s have fun with them anyway… Numbers include playoff games
Stat Keys:
Passing Points = Total Passing Touchdowns + ½ Total Field Goal Points
Rushing Points = Total Rushing Touchdowns + ½ Total Field Goal Points
Points per Passing Yard = Passing Points / Total Yards Passing
Points per Rushing Yard = Rushing Points / Total Yards Rushing
Category
|
Seahwks Offense vs
|
Denver Defense Allowed
|
When They Collide…
|
Rushing Values
| |||
Rushing Points
|
147
|
139
| |
Rushing Yards
|
2477
|
1755
|
Each rushing yard worth
|
Points per Rushing Yard
|
0.059
|
0.079
|
0.069
|
At their Best (DEF worst)
|
218 yards
|
177 yards
|
198 yards = 13.7 pts = 14 pts
|
2013 Average
|
138 yards
|
98 yards
|
118 yards = 8.1 pts = 8 pts
|
At their Worst (DEF Best)
|
44 yards
|
23 yards
|
34 yards = 2.4 pts = 2 pts
|
Passing Values
| |||
Passing Points
|
239
|
238
| |
Passing Yards
|
3532
|
4520
|
Each passing yard worth
|
Points per Passing Yard
|
0.068
|
0.053
|
0.061
|
At their Best (DEF Worst)
|
323 yards
|
470 yards
|
397 yards = 24.2 pts = 24 pts
|
2013 Average
|
196 yards
|
251 yards
|
224 yards = 13.7 pts = 14 pts
|
At their Worst (DEF Best)
|
89 yards
|
153 yards
|
121 yards = 7.4 pts = 7 pts
|
Projected Score Breakdown
|
Rushing + Passing
|
Combined Points
| |
At their Best
|
14 pts + 24 pts
|
38
| |
2013 Average
|
8 pts + 14 pts
|
22
| |
At their Worst
|
2 pts + 7 pts
|
9
|
Projected Super Bowl XLVIII Score for the Seattle Seahawks: 23 points
Based on the Denver projections from yesterday versus the Seattle defense -
If both offenses come out blazing and the defenses stumble, expect Seattle to win a very close shoot-out, 38-35.
If both teams play as they have tended to play all season, expect another close game with Denver coming out on top, 24-21.
If a knock-down, drag-out defensive struggle takes place, expect the Seahawks to win on the strength of field goals by the score of 9-7.
Based on these statistical comparisons, if Seattle hopes to win, they need their offense to be on fire or their defense to be on fire. If both units play average, expect the Broncos to be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after the game.
Check back tomorrow to see how these two Super Bowl franchises stack up to each other both in history and intangibles…
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Super Bowl XLVIII Preview - Denver's Offense vs Seattle's Defense
The Denver Broncos are a team that crushes their opponent's spirit by scoring 35+ points a game. Few teams have won as often as the Broncos the past two seasons - or by so much. Peyton Manning, nearly forced to retire two seasons ago because of neck injuries, can pick apart a defense like few other quarterbacks in NFL history. His ability to read a defense and know exactly where to go each and every play will force Seattle's talented secondary to stay with their coverages longer than normal. Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas are among the many versatile weapons Manning has at his disposal.
While the Broncos are known for their passing game, their ability to run the football may be the key to winning the Super Bowl for them. Their offensive line has managed to stay reasonably healthy this season and has kept aggressive defenses from wrecking havoc with the timing of their passing game. This has also helped Denver open up its running game. Knowshon Moreno finished the season with over 1,000 yards rushing and Montee Ball added another 500 yards.
The Seattle Sehawks defense has played lights out football during their run through the regular season and playoffs. Just as versatile on defense as the Broncos are on offense, Seattle's defensive front seven look to completely disrupt the high-powered Denver attack. If Seattle's defense can slow down the Broncos enough to hold them to field goals instead of touchdowns, they will be able to give Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch a fighting chance to keep pace with Peyton Manning and company. The Seahawks can win the game with their defense, but they will have a lot easier time containing the Broncos if their offense can give them any kind of lead during the game.
Super Bowl XLVIII Statistical Matchup
*Note: None of these stats “mean” anything, but let’s have fun with them anyway… Numbers include playoff games
Stat Keys:
Passing Points = Total Passing Touchdowns + ½ Total Field Goal Points
Rushing Points = Total Rushing Touchdowns + ½ Total Field Goal Points
Points per Passing Yard = Passing Points / Total Yards Passing
Points per Rushing Yard = Rushing Points / Total Yards Rushing
Check back tomorrow to see how the Seattle Seahawks offense compares to the Denver Broncos defense. Will the numbers for the Seahawks put them over the 23 points the Broncos are projected to score?
While the Broncos are known for their passing game, their ability to run the football may be the key to winning the Super Bowl for them. Their offensive line has managed to stay reasonably healthy this season and has kept aggressive defenses from wrecking havoc with the timing of their passing game. This has also helped Denver open up its running game. Knowshon Moreno finished the season with over 1,000 yards rushing and Montee Ball added another 500 yards.
The Seattle Sehawks defense has played lights out football during their run through the regular season and playoffs. Just as versatile on defense as the Broncos are on offense, Seattle's defensive front seven look to completely disrupt the high-powered Denver attack. If Seattle's defense can slow down the Broncos enough to hold them to field goals instead of touchdowns, they will be able to give Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch a fighting chance to keep pace with Peyton Manning and company. The Seahawks can win the game with their defense, but they will have a lot easier time containing the Broncos if their offense can give them any kind of lead during the game.
Super Bowl XLVIII Statistical Matchup
*Note: None of these stats “mean” anything, but let’s have fun with them anyway… Numbers include playoff games
Stat Keys:
Passing Points = Total Passing Touchdowns + ½ Total Field Goal Points
Rushing Points = Total Rushing Touchdowns + ½ Total Field Goal Points
Points per Passing Yard = Passing Points / Total Yards Passing
Points per Rushing Yard = Rushing Points / Total Yards Rushing
Category
|
Broncos Offense vs
|
Seahawks Defense Allowed
|
When They Collide…
|
Rushing Values
| |||
Rushing Points
|
149
|
67
| |
Rushing Yards
|
2113
|
1895
|
Each rushing yard worth
|
Points per Rushing Yard
|
0.071
|
0.035
|
0.053
|
At their Best (DEF worst)
|
280 yards
|
205 yards
|
243 yards = 12.9 pts = 13 pts
|
2013 Average
|
117 yards
|
105 yards
|
111 yards = 5.9 pts = 6 pts
|
At their Worst (DEF Best)
|
18 yards
|
13 yards
|
16 yards = 0.9 pts = 1 pt
|
Passing Values
| |||
Passing Points
|
423
|
151
| |
Passing Yards
|
6074
|
3200
|
Each passing yard worth
|
Points per Passing Yard
|
0.070
|
0.047
|
0.059
|
At their Best (DEF Worst)
|
445 yards
|
325 yards
|
385 yards = 22.7 pts = 23 pts
|
2013 Average
|
337 yards
|
283 yards
|
310 yards = 18.3 pts = 18 pts
|
At their Worst (DEF Best)
|
132 yards
|
107 yards
|
120 yards = 7.1 pts = 7 pts
|
Projected Score Breakdown
|
Rushing + Passing
|
Combined Points
| |
At their Best
|
13 pts + 23 pts
|
36
| |
2013 Average
|
6 pts + 18 pts
|
24
| |
At their Worst
|
1 pt + 7 pts
|
8
|
Projected Super Bowl XLVIII Score for the Denver Broncos: 23 points
Check back tomorrow to see how the Seattle Seahawks offense compares to the Denver Broncos defense. Will the numbers for the Seahawks put them over the 23 points the Broncos are projected to score?
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