Go Big or Go Home

Go Big or Go Home

More than four months after the first NFL game of the 2013-2014 season was played, the teams geared to compete in this year’s Super Bowl have been decided. The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos have both won their respective conference championship games, giving them the chance to face off in Super Bowl 48 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Denver Broncos led by quarterback Peyton Manning, fought their way through the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots to earn the AFC spot in the Super Bowl. The Broncos defeated the Patriots in the AFC championship game 26-16 after taking an early 20-3 lead into the locker room at halftime on the back of Manning’s 400 yard, 2 TD performance.

“I think we were pretty good even in the locker room after the game. I think this group has been pretty focused. They’ve responded well and I don’t anticipate that changing moving forward,” Denver head coach John Fox said.

The Seattle Seahawks led by quarterback Russell Wilson, fought their way through the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers to earn the NFC spot in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers in the NFC championship game 23-17, battling back from a 10-0 deficit at the half. Seattle clinched the victory when outspoken cornerback Richard Sherman batted a ball thrown towards the end zone by 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick into the arms of teammate Malcolm Smith’s arms.

In an emotional interview with FOX sideline reporter Erin Andrews just after the game, Sherman had this to say, “I’m the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like [the 49ers’ WR Michael] Crabtree, that’s the result you are going to get! Don’t you even talk about me!”

This game will feature the top-ranked teams from each conference, as well as the top-ranked offense (Denver) and defense (Seattle). Seattle and Denver now are preparing to play in the 48th Super Bowl on February 2nd in New Jersey where even though snow is not on the forecast, temperatures in the 20s are expected. For the record, the coldest Super Bowl ever played had a temperature of 39 degrees set by the city of New Orleans in 1972.