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The countdown to Super Bowl XLVIII continues: there are only two days standing in-between now and the biggest day of the NFL season. Yesterday, BGN asked who you were rooting for. Today, the Bleeding Green Nation staff and company predicts the outcome of the big game itself. Without further ado, here are the staff picks:
Winner: Broncos
Score: 34-30
Explanation: It's the year of Peyton Manning. The best QB in the NFL kicked off the NFL with a brilliant seven touchdown performance. No disrespect to Seattle, but I expect Peyton to end the season with a dominant showing.
Super Bowl MVP: Peyton Manning
Josh Collacchi
Winner: Denver Broncos
Score: 34-27
Explanation: Peyton Manning is too much for even the Seahawks defense. Look for the Denver defense to stop the Seahawks rushing attack, forcing a shootout between Russell Wilson and Peyton Manning. Will Peyton ride into the sunset with his second ring? Or is this just the beginning of Denver's run?
Super Bowl MVP: Peyton Manning: 28-40 329 yards 3 TD 1 INT
Mike Ebenezer Kaye
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
Score: 23-20
Explanation: The best way to beat Peyton Manning is to keep him off the field. Luckily for Seattle, the Seahawks have a pounding back in Marshawn Lynch, who has looked like a caged animal this week. He will tote the rock and eat up clock like they are Skittles and the Seahawks defense will force some short drives for the Broncos offense. I think it is close, but in this type of matchup, I always take defense.
Super Bowl MVP: Marshawn Lynch: 26 carries for 122 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown along wit three catches for 17 receiving yards.
Mark Saltveit
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
Score: 31-17
Explanation: Defensive scoring breaks open an otherwise tight game for the Seahawks.
Super Bowl MVP: Marshawn Lynch
Jim Keane
Winner: Denver Broncos
Score: 27-24, OT
Explanation: I think we're in for an exciting Super Bowl, a game that will feature a bit of everything (drama, comedy, love). In the end, Peyton Manning proves to be too cunning for Seattle's defense. His play late in the game will bring the Lombardi trophy to Denver.
Super Bowl MVP: Peyton Manning, doing Archie proud, making Eli the Meg Griffin of the family.
Dave Mangels
Winner: Denver Broncos
Score: 24-17
Explanation: Of course Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense against the Seahawks defense is a fantastic matchup. I'm inclined to give the edge to the Broncos. The difference between winning and losing could be how well their counterparts play though: Russell Wilson has been inconsistent in December and January, while the Broncos defense has been playing really well lately, and is good against the run.
Super Bowl MVP: Peyton Manning, and it won't be a lifetime achievement award like it was in '06 when Dominic Rhodes should have won it.
Danta Klaus
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
Score: 27-21
Explanation: I'm a sucker for symmetry, so I see the game playing out similarly to Peyton's last Super Bowl appearance -- but with Byron Maxwell, not the ballyhooed Richard Sherman, playing the part of Tracy Porter. With the Seahawks clinging to a 20-14 lead with under 5 minutes left in the game and the Broncos driving for the go-ahead touchdown, Manning drops back to pass and looks to attack the Seahawks' third-year pro and secondary neophyte. However, he and Eric Decker miscommunicate on the route, and Decker goes for the double move instead of the dig route. Manning throws the ball and Maxwell, sitting on the dig, picks it off and returns it 70 yards for a touchdown to put the Seahawks up 27-14 with 2:30 left on the clock. Manning then drives the Broncos down the field for a touchdown with 40 seconds left to make the score 27-21, but the Seahawks recover the ensuing onside kick to seal the franchise's first Super Bowl victory.
Super Bowl MVP: Russell Wilson (18-27, 217 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; 6 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD)
Matt Harkenreader
Winner: Denver Broncos
Score: 31 - 26
Explanation: This is tough to pick, and you can have me on the record as saying that if the Seahawks can keep Denver under twenty points for three quarters, they will probably win it in the fourth. However, if there is anyone who can conjure an answer for Seattle's 'D' out of thin air, it's Peyton Manning. He will be vintage Peyton and throw an awful pick in there somewhere, but in the end it won't cost the Broncos the game. Additionally, I think Denver's defense plays just good enough to slow down the Seahawks' physical running game. A bonus out of this is that Eli won't have the most rings out of the Manning brothers anymore.
Super Bowl MVP: Peyton Manning (29-44, 366 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT)
Brent Cohen
Winner: Denver Broncos
Score: 27 -21
Explanation: Peyton Manning puts to rest all of this "clutch" nonsense and the Seahawks' training staff forgets to bring its syringes. Richard Sherman gets targeted once, but it turns out the Broncos have several very dangerous receivers. Seahawks offense just can't keep up, and the NFL gets the visual it wants, Peyton and Elway holding the Lombardi trophy together. Buzz immediately begins for whether Manning can do as Elway did and win back-to-back SBs before retiring. Meanwhile, Bill Belichick drinks alone in his living room, wrapped in a foul-smelling hoody, wondering how he could resume videotaping signals without getting caught...he's sad.
Super Bowl MVP: Peyton Manning
Jimmy's Daughter
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That's "Seagles".
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Cumulative Predictions
Winner: Broncos (6), Seahawks (3)
Score: Broncos (26.1), Seahawks (25.1)
Super Bowl MVP: Peyton Manning (6), Marshawn Lynch (2), Russell Wilson (1), Knowshon Moreno (0)
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Now that you've heard our predictions, let's hear yours. Format as follows:
Winner:
Score:
Explanation:
Super Bowl MVP:
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