Beech Tree News Network

 Sometimes when you do something, and fail miserably at it, you're able to at least learn a bit from it. That's how it's been with me and my miserable attempt to pick 70% off this season's NFL games correctly.

I really did fail miserably. I think my final winning percentage was somewhere south of 65%, and most of what I thought I knew about the NFL fell by the wayside. However I learned some things, and I think I'm a better NFL fan because if it.

Now we head to the Super Bowl, where for the first time in several years, the best two teams from the regular season will meet for the title. Not only that, but this year we also have a matchup of the league's best defense and the most prolific offense in the history of the NFL.

If you still believe some of the things that I did at the start of this season you might think Seattle is going to win this game. After all we've heard for years that defense wins championships, and the Seattle D is active and formidable.

Another time proven gem also says that sometimes the best defense is a good offense. If this is true the Broncos have the best defense in the world, and I think that hot offense will be too much for Seattle's defense to match.

Chances are this game will be close early. You can almost bet that Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman and the defense will slow Denver down early, and they are going to be trying for an early turnover. Don't be surprised if the Seahawks seem to be in control at the end of the first quarter.

But then the game will enter into Manning Time, and the night will begin to get long for Seattle fans. With the help of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Peyton Manning will figure out what the Seattle defense is doing to disrupt the Denver touchdown machine.

Manning and McDaniel will first take Seattle's stout secondary out of the game by running the ball. Knowshon Moreno has turned into one of the league's premier backs, and gets his share of touchdowns despite his quarterback throwing for 55 regular season touchdowns. Manning is a master of picking productive running plays at the line, and getting Moreno active.

Getting the running game going will lead to the opening up of Denver's short passing game. Don't expect a lot of deep shots by the Broncos unless it's in their first series or two. A better bet is that Manning will find underneath receivers and open guys on short out routes. Manning knows that with a defender like Richard Sherman lurking in the secondary that the best wY to avoid him is to keep the ball in front of him.

Finally, I think the triple combo of dodging Sherman, running the ball, and hitting short targets will open up the Denver tight ends and will create opportunities for screen passing. I think it's likely that a victorious Denver team won't be led in receiving by a guy like Wes Welker. Instead a tight end will probably have 100-yards receiving and a touchdown or two. Moreno will probably have a big night if the Broncos win it.

Once Denver figures out the Seattle defense I just don't see a way for Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense to keep up. Denver's defense isn't dominating, but they slow teams down. They probably won't be able to completely eliminate Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle running game, but I think they can counteract Russell Wilson and the passing game.

Indianapolis managed to score 38 points on Seattle in a regular season win. Indy's offense is very similar to Denver's, and Andrew Luck carved up Seattle with screens and shirt passes I til the deep pass finally opened up. I think Denver will do the same thing.

When the dust settles I see Peyton Manning hoisting the MVP trophy, with about 350 yards passing and four touchdowns. Throw in a couple of rushing touchdowns, and a defensive score and I add this one up to be a 49-24 pasting of the Seahawks. And if you don't like Denver then you may need to take a year off, because I think they're about to start a long winning streak.

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Let me know what you think about my columns. I love them all, but I'm slightly biased. Send your remarks to:
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