Both Teams Ready

The Broncos practiced outdoors while the Seahawks worked inside.  With temperatures set to plummet, yesterday may have been the last opportunity for players to assimilate to the environment.  With game plans   installed before the teams arrived in Newark on Sunday practice is just a matter of staying sharp.

The Broncos would like to keep doing what they have all season long, put up points.  The NFL’s number one offense scored a record 606 points this season.  Getting an early lead would put pressure on Seattle to keep pace and possibly force them into errors.  Peyton Manning and company will go strength against strength and test the Seahawks' defense early in the game.  He will rely upon a variety of crossing patterns in an attempt to confuse the Seattle defenders.  The Seahawks secondary, known as the ‘Legion of Boom’, boast to be the best in the league. Manning will rely upon underappreciated running back Knowshon Moreno to mix in the run and keep Seattle’s defense off balance opening up the play action passing game.

The Seahawks will try to intimidate the Denver wide receivers using a variety of coverages.  You can expect to see some big hits on the Broncos pass catchers in an effort to deter them from running freely throughout the secondary.  More importantly, the key to a Seahawks victory may be how well they can put pressure on Manning.  It is imperative that they disrupt his timing by getting a push up the middle and force him off his spot.  Getting some turnovers could give the Seahawks offense the field position they may need to keep pace.  Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson likes to scramble around and make big plays therefore Denver’s defense must contain his movement and keep in the pocket.

Of course there remains a third factor involved in the game’s outcome, the weather.  While everyone expects it to be cold, snow or more likely wind could change the way each team attacks the other.  Just five days remain before kick off and then it will be time to get it on…