By now, you’ve heard every tiny detail about the biggest day on the NFL calendar. You’ve watched every television broadcast, read every trivial fact, and have been subject to the insane media bombardment that invariably accompanies the Super Bowl match-up every single season.
There is nothing that I can tell you about this game or these teams that you’ve haven’t already heard fifty times in the last week and a half. Last week’s column was entitled “Let the Media Hype Begin,” but this is no longer about hype. The time for that has passed. We sit mere days away from awarding an NFL franchise a Lombardi Trophy for the 48th time in the league’s illustrious history. The two best teams in the NFL all season have been the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. This game sells itself. It’s for this reason that I want to take a closer look at what matters most in events like these: stories and people.
Peyton Manning is the center of attention in any game he plays in. From the moment the Indianapolis Colts selected him first overall in the 1998 NFL draft, Manning has been one of the most dominant and scrutinized athletes in the world of sports. His journey back from four neck surgeries to lead his new team to a Super Bowl while shattering records along the way is one of the feel-good stories of the year, and speaks volumes about what a determined and ferocious competitor he is. He is the gold standard of NFL quarterbacks, the very definition of greatness at the position, and his story is one of the most captivating in the league.
On the other side of the field stands Russell Wilson. The second year man out of Wisconsin was never supposed to get this far. Pundits said he was too short to be an NFL quarterback. He just didn’t posses all the attributes of a true NFL signal caller. Since day one, all Wilson has done is serve these pundits a healthy dose of crow. Wilson has already emerged as a superstar; a true winner in every sense of the word. Having lost only one home game in his first two seasons, the former Badger is well on his way to carving out a unique legacy all his own.
How about Knowshon Moreno? The twelfth overall pick in the 2009 draft had been written off by everyone. His production hadn’t matched his lofty draft status. Then, 2013 happened. The Broncos’ passing offense was certainly the talk of the town, but Moreno’s capacity as a runner, receiver, and pass-blocker was instrumental to the team’s success. His fiery passion, and tenacious running have given the team a spark at all the right times, and he hasn’t received enough credit for his contributions.
At times, Marshawn Lynch has put the Seattle Seahawks on his back and carried the team to victory. Written off in Buffalo, he has carved out a spectacular career for the ‘Hawks, a player who runs with ferocity and lets his play do his talking. To paraphrase, Lynch speaks softly and carries a nasty stiff-arm. He is one of the most physical runners in the game today, and very few ball-carriers mean more to their team than this man.
Peyton Manning’s cast of pass-catchers deserves plenty of the credit for the Broncos’ success this season. Demaryius Thomas has steadily improved in each of his four seasons, and now ranks among the position’s elite players. Eric Decker has proven to be a match-up nightmare across the field from Thomas, and pass-catching tight end Julius Thomas is an athletic marvel. Of course, one of the biggest stories of this game is Wes Welker. The superstar slot man had a remarkable career in New England, accomplishing every feat imaginable with one notable exception: a Super Bowl Championship. Will Welker finally achieve the one goal that has eluded him?
Percy Harvin has been snake-bitten this season. A plethora of injuries have limited him to what amounts to a game and a half this season, and the ‘Hawks haven’t seen any return on their substantial investment in him. He has been cleared for the Super Bowl, and figures to play a key role in the outcome of this game. One of the most versatile players in the game, he can contribute in a litany of ways.
Champ Bailey is one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. His fifteen years of elite play at one of the game’s most challenging positions is incredible, and he’s finally being rewarded with his first trip to the Super Bowl. Although his season has been derailed by injuries at various points, he is in a position to make a big impact on the biggest stage imaginable. After all these productive years, very few men deserve to be called “Super Bowl Champ” than Champ himself.
If Champ Bailey’s career is the benchmark for greatness, then Richard Sherman may very well be on his way to a Hall of Fame career of his own. Sherman has gotten more attention for his words than his play over the last few weeks, which is unfortunate because his on-field performance has been remarkable. Opposing quarterbacks just don’t throw at him very much, and that sign of respect in and of itself is indicative of his physical play and ability in coverage. Sherman and his “Legion of Boom” will certainly have their hands full on Sunday. How they respond to such a diverse array of pass-catchers will define their season.
These are but a few names and a few stories to consider as Super Bowl XLVIII approaches. This is as even a contest as one could possibly imagine. Each team is laden with elite players on either side of the football. Each team understands the enormity of what is at stake.
The NFL is at its core a story-telling medium. Tales of improbable victory and agonizing defeat, of underdogs and comebacks, of last-second heroics and legendary moments. None of these stories can be told without people; without human faces to tie to the unfolding saga we are about to witness. At the conclusion of Super Bowl XLVIII some of these human faces will be shining with ebullience while others while have bitter disappointment etched on them.
On Sunday night, we will witness exactly which faces will show these emotions. It doesn’t get any bigger and better than this in the world of sports. An entire season of hard work and dedication is about to pay off for one franchise. On Sunday night, we will close the book on the 2013-2014 season. It should be a sensational conclusion to a remarkable story.
Thanks for reading everyone. Enjoy the biggest game of the year.
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