Seahawks secondary vs Peyton Manning & Company

[seahawksfan234]

For me this is one of the most interesting aspects of the Superbowl this year and even if I was not a Seahawks fan I think I'd be intrigued by this matchup.

Over the past two years it has been generally accepted that the Seahawks have had the NFL's best secondary as well as the NFL's best pass D. Is that enough going up against one of the best offenses in NFL history?

I'm sort of torn on the topic. The Seahawk fan in me says "If anyone can stop Manning, it is us." but the unbiased me says "Manning is just having too incredible of a season to be stopped by anyone. If he wins this game it would possibly crown him the greatest of all time"

The following list consists of performances against the Seattle defense over the past two years of QBs who have ever been elected to a Pro-Bowl in their career. I figure by using players to be selected to a Pro-Bowl is a decent way of weeding out the mediocre players Seattle dominated and getting an idea of how well the Seahawks defense has performed against top tier QBs these past two years:

2012:
Week 2: Tony Romo: 23/40 (57%) 251 yards (6.3 AVG) 1 TD 1 INT 74.1 QB RTG
Week 3: Aaron Rodgers: 26/39 (67%) 223 yards (5.7 AVG) 0 TD 0 INT 81.5 QB RTG
Week 5: Cam Newton: 12/29 (41%) 141 yards (4.9 AVG) 0 TD 0 INT 56.8 QB RTG
Week 6: Tom Brady: 36/58 (62%) 395 yards (6.8 AVG) 2 TD 2 INT 79.3 QB RTG
Week 7: Alex Smith: 14/23 (60%) 140 yards (6.1 AVG) 1 TD 1 INT 74.5 QB RTG
Week 13: Jay Cutler: 17/26 (65%) 233 yards (9.0 AVG) 2 TD 0 INT 119.6 QB RTG
Wild Card Round: Robert Griffin: 10/19 (52%) 84 yards (4.4 AVG) 2 TD 1 INT 77.5 QB RTG
Divisional Round: Matt Ryan: 24/35 (69%) 250 yards (7.1 AVG) 3 TD 2 INT 93.8 QB RTG
2012 total including playoffs (8 games): 162-269 (60%) 1,717 yards (6.4 AVG) 11 TD 7 INT 81.6 QB RTG

2013:
Week 1: Cam Newton: 16/23 (69%) 125 yards (5.6 AVG) 1 TD 0 INT 97.2 QB RTG
Week 4: Matt Schaub: 31/49 (63%) 355 yards (7.2 AVG) 2 TD 2 INT 81.6 QB RTG
Week 5: Andrew Luck: 16/29 (55%) 229 yards (7.9 AVG) 2 TD 0 INT 104 QB RTG
Week 7: Carson Palmer: 30/45 (67%) 258 yards (5.7 AVG) 1 TD 2 INT 70.4 QB RTG
Week 10: Matt Ryan: 23/36 (72%) 172 yards (4.8 AVG) 1 TD 0 INT 84.5 QB RTG
Week 13: Drew Brees: 23/38 (60%) 147 yards (3.9 AVG) 1 TD 0 INT 77.4 QB RTG
Week 15: Eli Manning: 18/31 (58%) 158 yards (5.0 AVG) 0 TD 5 INT 31.9 QB RTG
Week 16: Carson Palmer: 13/25 (52%) 178 yards (7.1 AVG) 1 TD 4 INT 48.8 QB RTG
Division Round: Drew Brees: 24/43 (55%) 309 yards (7.2 AVG) 1 TD 0 INT 86.3 QB RTG
2013 total including playoffs (9 games): 194-319 (61%) 1,931 yards (6.1 AVG) 10 TD 13 INT 71.4 QB RTG

2012 + 2013 total:
17 games: 356-588 (60.5%) 3,648 yards (6.2 AVG) 21 TD 20 INT 76.1 QB RTG
Per game average: 21/35 214.5 yards 1.24 TD 1.18 INT

Will Manning be able to pull it off? We shall see.

 

[CaptainStubing]

You are correct. This will be one of the more important aspects of this game.

If any secondary can mess up peytons timing, it should be the Seahawks. They are fast, strong, and aggressive.

The broncos, however, counter with one of the fastest and strongest group of receivers in the league.

If the hawks can defend all of their short slant and crossing rub routes, this game should go easily in favor of the hawks.

The other important match up i will be watching is the hawks running game against the broncos front 7. The broncos run defense has been underrated all season. If they can limit lynch running all over them, it will improve their chances greatly.

 

[packerzrule]

irresistible force against an immovable object

looking forward to this classic matchup

 

[ATL96Steeler]

A lot of work there OP...I wouldn't put much stock into the '12 season but it helps the sample size I guess...I think the most recent games is what you want to draw on the most.

The real battle will be the SEA DL + 1 (maybe) vs the DEN OL...I just don't see the DEN OL being dominated all game...imo the SEA DL has to makes enough plays to cause some turnovers on the back end.

On the other side of the ball...I really think if SEA breaks tendency early in the game and pass more on the early downs...if they're successful, Lynch will have a big day...trying impose their will and pound him early might not be the way to win this one.

 

[wazzu31]

I'm not sure if the secondary is as important as how the LB's play. Everyone keeps talking rub routes and the best way to stop that is have those speedy LB's drop

 

[CaptainStubing]

I'm not sure if the secondary is as important as how the LB's play. Everyone keeps talking rub routes and the best way to stop that is have those speedy LB's drop

well, yes, that is one of the less-discussed aspects of the seahawks great pass coverage. sure, they have great corners and safeties but they also have some of the better cover LB's in the league. That's what makes them so good defending the pass.

putting one of those fast and strong LB's on JT, for example, may be the best option since they match up better size-wise. In addition, even though you will see CB's bumping decker and DT on the l.o.s., keeping those speedy LB's in the middle of the field, as you say, will create a lot of traffic for Peyton to read through and could disrupt those routes and their timing.

 

[Midnightangel]

What may shock you is that both of these defenses, when it comes to passing in the playoffs, are just about dead even.

People talk about Sherman but they forget that Denver has a couple CB's themselves that are great as well.

 

[Money]

Peyton is going to slice them up just like Luck did.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Peyton is going to slice them up just like Luck did.

If Peyton slices them up it most certainly won't be just like how Luck did it. T.Y. Hilton's big game against Seattle was mostly due to him beating Brandon Browner who struggles against small quick WRs. Browner is not playing in this game. I believe one big reception was blown coverage due to miscommunication between a couple members of the secondary however.

 

[SonnyCID]

What may shock you is that both of these defenses, when it comes to passing in the playoffs, are just about dead even.

People talk about Sherman but they forget that Denver has a couple CB's themselves that are great as well.

What may shock you is that both of these offenses, when it comes to scoring in the playoffs, are just about dead even. So midnight, does that mean they're equal? Let me guess... No? This logic only works against Seattle?

 

[Midnightangel]

What may shock you is that both of these offenses, when it comes to scoring in the playoffs, are just about dead even. So midnight, does that mean they're equal?

I'd say that the Seattle running game is just as deadly as the Denver passing game. Both defenses are going to have to take away the primary weapon of the other team.

 

[SonnyCID]

I'd say that the Seattle running game is just as deadly as the Denver passing game. Both defenses are going to have to take away the primary weapon of the other team.

Fair enough.

 

[Midnightangel]

Fair enough.

Now you've done it.....we've agreed.

Que the apocalypse.

 

[CaptainStubing]

People talk about Sherman but they forget that Denver has a couple CB's themselves that are great as well.

huh? cromartie is 'ok' but harris was their only other decent DB and he's not playing in this one. and their safeties blow. hard.

the broncos secondary is not good. at all. especially now that harris is out. the only question will be if wilson and his receivers can take advantage of it. they aren't exactly a prolific passing attack.

 

[NCChiFan]

irresistible force against an immovable object

looking forward to this classic matchup

Unless of course, it is 10 degrees with a 30 mph wind gusting to 50. Then Defense is Irresistible force and the offense is run happy.

 

[Midnightangel]

huh? cromartie is 'ok' but harris was their only other decent DB and he's not playing in this one. and their safeties blow. hard.

the broncos secondary is not good. at all. especially now that harris is out. the only question will be if wilson and his receivers can take advantage of it. they aren't exactly a prolific passing attack.

Did a pretty nice job of shutting down Tom Brady, don't you think? They've picked it up on the post season.

 

[Money]

If Peyton slices them up it most certainly won't be just like how Luck did it. T.Y. Hilton's big game against Seattle was mostly due to him beating Brandon Browner who struggles against small quick WRs. Browner is not playing in this game. I believe one big reception was blown coverage due to miscommunication between a couple members of the secondary however.

No way. They went after Sherman just as much as Browner. Hilton torched Sherman for a 70-some yard TD. Afterwards Sherman just yelled at Earl Thomas like it was his fault. Hilton and Wayne's stats would have been much better had it not been for the constant holding by Browner and Sherman.

 

[CaptainStubing]

Did a pretty nice job of shutting down Tom Brady, don't you think? .

most defenses were able to shut down brady and the pats receivers this season, especially when gronk was not playing. the pats were a running team for the most part this season. i'm still not impressed with the broncos secondary. they are a weakness.

now, having said that, i'm not entirely sold that wilson and his receivers can exploit that weakness because they aren't exactly a juggernaut.

 

[cdumler7]

huh? cromartie is 'ok' but harris was their only other decent DB and he's not playing in this one. and their safeties blow. hard.

the broncos secondary is not good. at all. especially now that harris is out. the only question will be if wilson and his receivers can take advantage of it. they aren't exactly a prolific passing attack.

I guess a future HOF cornerback named Champ Bailey means very little to you. Also you calling DRC "Ok" is pretty funny considering he actually graded out as a top 5 corner in the NFL this season. I will agree the Safety play has not been great.

 

[SonnyCID]

No way. They went after Sherman just as much as Browner. Hilton torched Sherman for a 70-some yard TD. Afterwards Sherman just yelled at Earl Thomas like it was his fault. Hilton and Wayne's stats would have been much better had it not been for the constant holding by Browner and Sherman.

Well if were boiling everything down to one game....

In one game against the chargers, the broncos were held to 17, so that means that will happen again.