A look back at the best moments of Super Bowl XLVIII

There was no stopping the Seattle Seahawks at the 48th edition of the Super Bowl

Over 100 million people sat down on Sunday night to watch what became the biggest Super Bowl rout in 21 years. Set against the glamorous backdrop of New York City, the Seattle Seahawks and their No. 1-ranked passing defence blew out Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ top-rated offence in spectacular fashion, stifling the Broncos’ receivers and coming away with a well-earned 43-8 victory.

If you missed the game, here is a recap of some of the biggest moments that Super Bowl XLVIII had to offer:

A breach of safety

On the very first offensive snap of the game, Broncos centre Manny Ramirez snapped the ball as Peyton Manning was walking up to the line to make an adjustment. The ball rolled towards the end-zone, and was recovered by running back Knowshon Moreno for a safety. With 12 seconds off the clock, it was the fastest score in Super Bowl history and was an early signal of the calamity to come for Denver.

Introducing the “Legion of Boom”

With Seattle leading 5-0, the Broncos’ offence finally had their first chance to get to work. Manning’s first throw, on 2nd and 7, was a completion across the middle to Demaryius Thomas for minimal gain.

It would have been a positive play for Denver were it not for “Legion of Boom” safety Kam Chancellor. Chancellor read the crossing pattern, came up from his safety position and put a hit on Thomas that knocked the receiver four yards backwards. The crowd erupted, the Seattle players responded and the tone was set for the entire game.

Not all of Peyton’s ducks go for touchdowns

Richard Sherman and Peyton Manning both agreed that Peyton throws a lot of “ducks” or flutter balls, but they also agreed that a lot of those ducks go for yards and touchdowns. That wasn’t the case in this game, though.

The Seahawks had completely dominated the early proceedings, but held only an 8-0 advantage after their first two drives. With just over one minute on the clock and situated deep in his own half, Manning threw a flutter ball down the middle of the field on 3rd and 7. The ball was too high for tight end Julius Thomas, and safety Kam Chancellor came down with the easy interception.

With good starting field position the Seahawks made the ensuing possession count, punching in a touchdown courtesy of Marshawyn Lynch to bring the score to 15-0. After starting their first three possessions with a safety, a punt after a 3 and out and now an interception, things were starting to look precarious for the Broncos.

Not all of Peyton’s ducks go for touchdowns, 2.0

Down only two scores despite being completely outplayed through the opening quarter, the Broncos recorded their first first-down of the game with just over 10 and a half minutes left in the second quarter. Three plays later they recorded their second first down. Three plays after that they got their third, and were beginning to move the ball. Three plays after that they got their fourth and they were comfortably in field goal range.

It was about here that things began to spiral downward for Denver.

With three and a half minutes to go in the second quarter, Cliff Avril came round the corner and hit Manning as he made a throw on third down. The ball spun straight into the air and into the hands of linebacker Malcolm Smith, who collected it and ran 65 yards the other way for a touchdown. Denver’s best drive of the game by far ended in the worst possible outcome, and it was suddenly 22-0 to Seattle.

Fourth down failure

Despite being down 22-0, the Broncos and their record breaking offence still had another shot to put some points on the board late in the first half, and perhaps take some momentum into the locker room at half time.

Faced with a 4th & 2 at Seattle’s 19 yard line, head coach John Fox elected to pass on a field goal and put the trust in his offence. It didn’t work, and the Broncos became the first team since the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV to be shut out in the first half of a Super Bowl. It would be a horrible thing to ponder over the extended half time break.

Bruno Mars performing at the Super Bowl

Welcome back, Percy

If the writing wasn’t on the wall before half time, Percy Harvin made sure it was written straight after.

After an upbeat half time show from Bruno Mars and an aged yet still shirtless Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Denver kicked the ball back to Seattle to start the third quarter already down 22-0. Harvin collected the ball on a bounce at the 13 yard line, and ran it back straight through the terrible tackling of the Broncos’ coverage team for Seattle’s third touchdown of the night. The score came 12 seconds into the second half, meaning that Seattle had scored after 12 seconds in both halves of the game.

At this point, with the score at 29-0, all but the most optimistic Denver fans were ready to crown Seattle. It was the definitive play for Seattle all evening, taking the air out of the Broncos side-line and stretching their lead to four scores.

One step forward, two steps back

In the third quarter, Manning’s side began to move the ball quite well. With their first two possessions of the second half, however, nothing would come of it. Firstly, they were forced to punt after moving quickly into Seattle territory.

On the second possession, disaster struck again. Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell stripped the football from Demaryius Thomas after the receiver had caught a 20 yard completion on the Seattle 21 yard line. The ball was recovered by Malcolm Smith, and the Broncos high-powered offence still had nothing to show on the scoreboard after four trips into Seattle territory on the night.

Broncos defence gives up

It didn’t take long after that turnover for the Seahawks to start turning the knife. Russell Wilson found receiver Jermaine Kearse for what would turn into a 15-yard touchdown, but not before Kearse bounced off several pathetic Bronco tackles on his way to the end zone.

The 36-0 lead and the lack of effort from Denver’s players confirmed what we had come to know an hour ago; that this game was well and truly over. Seattle had taken the heart right out of their opponents, and the only question remaining was by how much Pete Carroll’s side would eventually win.

Clock expired, Seattle are champions

The moment we had expected for the past two hours finally arrives. Denver finally scored a touchdown at the end of the third quarter and Chris Clemons forced Manning’s third turnover of the game late in the fourth, but the game had already been decided before any of that happened.

When the clock hits 0:00, the scoreboard reads 43-8 and the Seahawks are officially World Champions. Seattle led in the game for 59 minutes and 48 seconds, the longest in Super Bowl history. That stat alone should tell you everything you need to know about their dominance. The Seahawks had control of this game from start to finish, completely and utterly dominating a Denver side that had been so impressive in the regular season.

This Super Bowl has set up an interesting 2014 for the NFL. The Broncos are a team running out of time. Peyton Manning is now 37 years old, and the window of opportunity is closing.

The Seahawks, on the other hand, are headed in the opposite direction. They are now a team to be feared, and are on the cusp of becoming the next NFL dynasty. The team full of late round picks and outcasts that nobody wanted now hold the greatest expectations in the NFL. It is a reputation that they have definitely earned.