Jackson Free Press

This is a Super Bowl of opposites: The awe-shucks Peyton Manning and the Broncos against the young, brash and trash-talking Seahawks.

The top-ranked scoring offense will face off against the top-ranked scoring defense—the fifth time that has happened, and the first time since 1990. The defense has won three of previous four (1990 Giants, 1984 49ers, and 1978 Cowboys). This is also the second time in the last 20 seasons that both top seeds reached the big game.

All eyes will be on Manning as his career is nearing the end, and he still has just one ring. Manning led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns—but, the three previous quarterbacks to reach the Super Bowl after doing the same all lost (Dan Marino, Kurt Warner, Tom Brady).

Manning is also trying to become the first quarterback to lead two different teams to a Super Bowl victory. The other two (Kurt Warner and Craig Morton) who got close both lost with their second team.

On the other side, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson will try to join a club that includes Brady, Warner and Ben Roethlisberger as the only quarterbacks to win the Super Bowl in their first or second year as a starter. Wilson is also vying to be the second black quarterback to win the Super Bowl.

What do all these stats and numbers mean? Nothing really. The team that can exert its game plan will win this game.

Seattle has the secondary to play the Denver wide receivers man-to-man. The Broncos have no receiver that the Seahawks can't cover one-on-one.

Playing man-to-man will allow the Seahawks to try putting pressure on Manning without having to worry about getting burned in their secondary. Seattle also doesn't have to worry about Manning running—he has never been much of a runner and is even more stationary at this late stage in his career. That doesn't mean he can't move in the pocket, slide from the rush or run bootleg plays, but it does mean Manning is not running away from defenders.

Look for Denver to throw quick passes and run pick plays to get receivers open.

The Seahawks aren't going to change who they are just because they are in the Super Bowl. That means giving the ball to running back Marshawn Lynch.

Lynch just keeps pounding the ball all game long and, eventually, he seems to go into "Beast Mode" and break a big run or score a big touchdown. Stopping Lynch will be the number-one priority for the Broncos.

The biggest thing for the Seahawks is to keep the game close. Seattle will be in big trouble if they try to win a shootout with Peyton Manning.

Seattle has two key factors in quarterback Russell Wilson and do-everything player Percy Harvin.

Wilson has been one of the biggest surprises since he came into the league as a third-round pick two years ago, but the quarterback struggled late in the season.

If Harvin is on the field and healthy, it will help Wilson and Seattle. If healthy from a concussion, Harvin is a threat to score from anywhere he lines up. Seattle can put even more pressure on Denver by using Harvin on special teams. Doug Baldwin Jr. and Harvin returning kickoffs together and taking turns on punts should put some fear in the Broncos kicking game.

Paul "Bear" Bryant used to say, "Offense wins games, but defense wins championships." This game is certainly set up to test this old phrase.

Seattle is an old-school team. It plays a tough, run-oriented offense and an even tougher, physical, smash-mouth defense.

I'll take the Seahawks to win.

Bryan's Prediction:

Seattle 28

Denver 24