Super Bowl XLVIII: The Legion of Boom arrives
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, hosted Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014. The Seattle Seahawks, champions of the NFC, faced off against the Denver Broncos, champions of the AFC.
Pete Carroll's Seahawks had a dominant regular season, finishing with a record of 13-3. They won their division and then defeated the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game to advance to the Super Bowl. Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson led the team's offense, completing 257 passes for 3,357 yards and 26 touchdowns, alongside running back Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for over 1200 yards, and the defense was led by safety Earl Thomas, who recorded 5 interceptions that season, along with the rest of the secondary, who were collectively known as "The Legion of Boom."
The Broncos also had a successful regular season, finishing with a record of 13-3. They won their division and then defeated the San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game to advance to Super Bowl XLVIII. Quarterback Peyton Manning led the team's offense, completing 450 passes for an NFL record of 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns, winning his fifth MVP award. It was a remarkable comeback for Manning, who was just 2 years removed from a serious injury. The Broncos' offense led the league in points scored and yards.
BREAKING: Peyton Manning wins 5th NFL MVP award, two more than any other player. He's the first to win for two teams. http://t.co/YZvoi53BmS
Super Bowl XLVIII
Super Bowl XLVIII was a one-sided affair, with the Seahawks dominating from start to finish. The Seahawks' defense held the Manning led Broncos to just 8 points, keeping them scoreless for almost three quarters and giving them a 36-0 lead at the time. The offense led by Wilson, who threw for 206 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a strong running game, scored 43 points and went on to win by a score of 43-8. The
Malcolm Smith, the Seahawks' linebacker, was named the Super Bowl MVP after his 9 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 touchdown. The win marked the Seahawks' first Super Bowl victory in franchise history and solidified their status as one of the NFL's elite teams of 2010s.