Super Bowl XLVIII: Opposites attract for a classic showdown

Romilly Evans
26 January 2014

Denver's clashing colours won't be the only contrast on show

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Romilly Evans examines the clash of styles and personalities engaged for a gripping Super Bowl Sunday...

"There are no brakes on the car that Manning drives, crashing through the scenery of rival Ds without so much as a dent in the fender."

The best tales hinge on conflict and contrast, highs and lows, life and death. Themes which go straight to the heart of the human struggle. This Super Bowl Sunday is the absolute embodiment of such yin-and-yang symbolism. In fact, you'll probably get tired of hearing about it.

Before you do, though, let me demonstrate my flair for the glaringly obvious. This is the first time in league annals that the number-one ranked offense (most yards, most points gained) has squared up to the number-one ranked defense (fewest yards, fewest points conceded).

Fans of the "irresistible force meets the immovable object" paradox will be beside themselves with curiosity. Rarely do you get the chance to observe an experiment in studying what happens when two inherently indestructible powers collide.

However, the colourful clashes between the Broncos and Hawks don't end there. This is the fable of the private, professional Denver outfit facing off against the brash brawn of Seattle. The understated experience of coach John Fox versus the unbridled energy of the Seahawks' Pete Carroll. A master quarterback in Peyton Manning looking for a glorious send-off into retirement up against Russell Wilson - a raw recruit in only his second year.

Still, for all the disparity on show, these two sides do converge in one key criterion: they are the best teams in the league, accordingly ranked as top seeds in the AFC and NFC. They even share the same record (15-3). Something's gotta give.

There are no brakes on the car that Manning drives. His Broncos offense goes crashing through the scenery of rival defences without so much as a dent in the fender. Or at least it did until this weekend. But now the Kwik-Fit fitters - more commonly referred to as the Seahawks secondary - are on hand for DVLA-enforced fixer-upper duties. New pedals, handbrakes, reserve fluid, passenger-side airbags... they're threatening to put reduce-speed-now signs out of business.

Back in the day, the old mantra of "defenses win Super Bowls" would have been trooped out by hacks and pundits alike. Yet in recent years, the league's progressive proclivity to reward offenses and punish swarming Ds has amended the time-honoured tenet. The Vegas line also agrees, making Denver marginal favourites for the Vince Lombardi Trophy at 1.865/6 to back.

Nevertheless, considering the Hawks own the best secondary in the league, no-one is better-placed to neutralise Manning's premier passing. Deep downfield strikes to the likes of Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas will never run a greater risk of interception. The Manning of Steel may yet uncover some kryptonite behind the lead casing.

You can't have life without loss, day without night, strength without weakness. And it could actually be these sides' respective weaknesses that make the difference. Seattle possess the worst pass attack in the NFL, while the much-maligned Denver D (without the services of playmakers Von Miller and Chris Harris) also need to step up. But step up they have, restricting opponents to under 280 yards in total offense in five of their last six games. A weakness becoming a strength perhaps?

When all's said and done, though, the compelling storyline of this Super Bowl presents a dichotomy as simple as good versus evil. We will witness the contrast between the genius offense which does what it must and a supremely gifted defense which does what it can within a revised rulebook.

Whichever contrary force wins out, it promises to be a story worth retelling for years to come.