The Super Bowl is more than four quarters of football, outrageous TV commercials and a glitzy halftime show. It’s also about the preceding week of media hype, interviews, logistics, game-planning and practices.
How players deal with the week will factor into who wins the Broncos-Seattle Seahawks showdown. Experience matters, and in that regard, the Broncos hold a slight advantage.
Although neither team is loaded with Super Bowl veterans, the Broncos have four players who have experienced Super Bowl week. Seattle’s experience? Zero.
Denver quarterback Peyton Manning and receiver Wes Welker have been through the wringer twice. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and tight end Jacob Tamme have each played in one Super Bowl.
Also, Broncos coach John Fox led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl in the 2003 season, and John Elway, vice president of football operations, was Denver’s starting quarterback in five Super Bowls, winning his last two.
Fox said he will lean on his most-seasoned players.
“I think there are enough young players in that locker room that can get some information from guys that have been through it before,” Fox said. “There are a lot of things you deal with during these two weeks. “
Jersey boys. Manning’s No. 18 jersey still is the NFL’s most popular among fans, but the Seahawks have three in the top 10: quarterback Russell Wilson (ranked second), running back Marshawn Lynch (sixth) and cornerback Richard Sherman (10th). The rankings come from the league’s official store, NFLShop.com.
Sherman, who has made news for his great play and brash talk, is the only defensive player in the top 10.
Back to work. Fox gave his players Tuesday and Wednesday off to take care of their Super Bowl arrangements for family and friends while his coaching staff put together the game plan for the Seahawks. The idea is to have all off-field, Super Bowl matters addressed before Fox brings the team together Thursday for its first Big Game practice.
The team will also practice Friday and Saturday at the team’s headquarters, then fly Sunday morning to Newark. It will continue preparations next week by practicing at the New York Jets’ facility in New Jersey.
Turnover myth. Last year’s postseason bashed the long-held theory a team needs to play its best ball in December. The Broncos were 5-0 in December of 2012; the Baltimore Ravens were 1-4.
‘Nuff said.
This season, the Broncos are swinging a stick at the piñata that is the importance of turnovers. The Broncos were tied for 13th with a zero turnover margin during the regular season. Yet they tied for the NFL’s best record at 13-3.
In the postseason, the Broncos are minus-2 in turnovers — no defensive takeaways against an interception and a lost fumble in the San Diego game — yet are 2-0.
On the other hand, the Seahawks led the NFL with a plus-20 turnover margin in the regular season. They were plus-3 in their two playoff victories and needed every turnover to beat San Francisco in the NFC championship game.
