The only good news Sunday night for the most prolific offense in NFL history came on the final play of the third quarter.
That's when Denver avoided the ignominious fate of being the first team ever to get shut out in a Super Bowl.
Mind you, this is nothing to brag about. But what was considered unthinkable entering Super Bowl 48 had actually become plausible by the time Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
Such was Seattle's dominance in a 43-8 whipping that matched the NFL's top offense (Denver) and top defense (Seahawks).
"All those people who like to say defense wins championships can gloat about that," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said. "It certainly proved true today."
The rout was well underway by the time Manning and Thomas finally connected in the end zone. The Broncos were burned on special teams by an 87-yard Percy Harvin kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half. Denver's defense also struggled getting off the field, with the Seahawks frequently converting on third downs.
"I don't want to use the word embarrassed," Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said after his unit's four-turnover performance. "But this shows what happens when you don't execute."
The game's first offensive snap proved a harbinger of what was to come. Manning approached the line of scrimmage to shout signals when center Manny Ramirez fired a snap that bounced off the quarterback's helmet and into the end zone. The miscommunication -- Ramirez said Manning shouldn't have stepped forward after making the final offensive adjustment -- led to a Seahawks safety only 12 seconds into the first quarter.
"We weren't sharp offensively from the get-go," Manning admitted. "For whatever reason, we couldn't get much going after that."
Denver's future possessions weren't any prettier. A three-and-out series was followed by a Manning overthrow on the next possession that was intercepted by Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor.
The Broncos were already behind, 15-0, by the time Knowshon Moreno rushed for the team's initial first down -- almost five minutes into the second quarter. But just when the Broncos were pressing to get on the MetLife Stadium scoreboard, the two best aspects of Seattle's defense -- smothering coverage and fierce pass rush -- came shining through.
An offensive line that had done an excellent job in protection throughout the playoffs sprung a leak. On third-and-13 from Seattle's 35-yard line, Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril overcame a 60-pound weight disadvantage to bull right tackle Orlando Franklin back toward Manning. Avril then hit the quarterback's arm, forcing one of the Manning "ducks" that Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman alluded to during a pre-Super Bowl news conference.
Moreno then made a mistake by not trying harder to catch or bat down the errant, wobbly throw. Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith charged for the interception and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown that extended Seattle's lead to 22-0.
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