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Saturday, February 1, 2014

Super Bowl XLVIII Preview!


Right after an eternity made longer by the Pro Bowl, press conference after press conference and a snow blizzard, we can finally say that the Super Bowl is here at last!

The 48th edition of the game that stops a nation - and a couple of others around the world - deep in the middle of winter will really feel like the middle of winter this time with the Super Bowl to be held at Metlife Stadium in New York (East Rutherford, New Jersey actually but it is the New York metropolitan region - think Watford to London or Papatoetoe to Auckland).

Normally, the Super Bowl is held indoors or in the warmer climes of Florida to ensure ideal conditions for football. However, the NFL made the historic decision to take the game to New York - just to give the event some variety.


And good on them - I have no doubt Metlife Stadium will be sold out for this game even if weather conditions are appalling (the forecast is improving although it is expected to be -2'C/28'F at kick off time on Sunday).

Furthermore, most playoff football is played in wintry conditions - as we saw with the games in Foxborough, Philadelphia and Green Bay, and the weather in Seattle wasn't exactly summery either.


Thankfully, we have two sides who play much of their season outdoors - the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks should cope alright in the cold outdoors.

However, both have really good defences and if the weather conditions are bad, this could be a more exciting game for the defence rather than the offense - a fair reflection of playoff football to be honest.

It could come down to which quarterback can come up with one moment of brilliance - or rather which quarterback makes the first critical error.


Both Russell Wilson and Peyton Manning have been brilliant this season although Manning has definitely stood out in the Indian summer of his illustrious career, breaking the records for most completed yards in a season. Manning will also be determined to earn at least one more Super Bowl ring to his jewellery box - a surprise really given his greatness and talent.

Manning would join a very small but illustrious club of quarterbacks to win the Super Bowl with two different clubs.

But history has shown that Manning is susceptible to big mistakes in the big game - remember Super Bowl XLIV and that Tracey Porter interception? Against this Seahawks secondary which is the best in the NFL, any interceptions will be very costly.



Both offenses should have their first choice players at their disposal with Seahawks' Percy Harvin fit and ready to play. Harvin will complement the running game of an in-form Marshawn Lynch and offer more dimensions to Russell Wilson's game. Peyton Manning should have Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker too to throw at.

It's a hard one to call at this stage. But I'm gonna go for the Seahawks - but it'll be less than 3 points.

But this is the Super Bowl and there's more to the Super Bowl than just the game. Stay tuned for my favourite ads of the Super Bowl this year. And don't forget Bruno Mars at half-time- if you care.


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