Super Bowl 2014: Quick facts from Seahawks vs. Broncos
By Josh Sanchez
While we look back at the Seattle Seahawks dominant performance over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, we may see some statistics that we were previously unaware of. This year’s game may not have been the best, but there were plenty of records set and interesting tidbits that you can now enjoy while you attempte to recover from your Super Bowl hangover.
Here are a handful facts and notes that we will need to remember as we look back on the Seahawks dominant performance:
1. The opening safety after 12 seconds of play marked the fastest score in Super Bowl history. Peyton Manning was also on the opposing team of the previous fastest score. The 92-yard return of the opening kickoff by Devin Hester of the Bears took 14 seconds in Super Bowl XLI against Indianapolis (won by the Colts, 29-17).
2. The Seahawks also scored after exactly 12 seconds had elapsed in the second half. Percy Harvin’s 87-yard kickoff return, the 10th in Super Bowl history, took that long.
3. At 49 degrees Fahrenheit, this was the third-coldest outdoor Super Bowl in history.
4. With their win, the Seattle Seahawks are now the 19th NFL franchise to win a Super Bowl title.
5. At age 62, Pete Carroll is now the third-oldest coach to win a Super Bowl.
6. Linebacker Malcolm Smith is the first defensive player to win Super Bowl MVP honors since Dexter Jackson of the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII, ending a streak of 10 straight quarterbacks or wide receivers.
7. It is the eighth time the defense has produced the Super Bowl MVP.
8. Malcolm Smith joins Chuck Howley (Dallas in Super Bowl V) and Ray Lewis (Baltimore in Super Bowl XXXV) as the only linebackers to win Super Bowl MVP honors.
9. Russell Wilson of the Seahawks is 25 years and 65 days old today. He is the third-youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Only Ben Roethlisberger in Super Bowl XL and Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVI were younger.
10. Super Bowl XLVIII marked the first time any NFL game (regular season or postseason) had ended with a score of 43-8.
11. Super Bowl XLVIII ended a streak of six Super Bowl decided by six points or less and a streak of 10 Super Bowls decided by 12 points or less.
12. With 280 passing yards in Super Bowl XLVIII, Manning now has 6,589 in his postseason career – and has moved past Tom Brady (6,424) into first place on the NFL’s all-time list.
13. In Super Bowls between a starting QB with previous Super Bowl experience and one with no Super Bowl experience, the QB without experience has won the last four.
14. The Seahawks set a Super Bowl record with 36 consecutive points to start a game.
15. Super Bowl XLVIII marked the first time Peyton Manning had trailed by 29-plus points in a game since the 2002 Wild Card loss at the Jets which ended with Indianapolis losing, 41-0.
16. The Broncos entered Super Bowl XLVIII having scored at least 20 points in 24 consecutive games dating back to a 17-9 win over Kansas City on November 25, 2012. They had scored at least 17 points in all 35 games since Peyton Manning joined the team at the start of 2012.
17. The Seahawks needed only 18 completions to tie the Super Bowl record with nine different players making at least one reception.
18. The Seahawks are the 20th team to score first and never lose the lead en route to winning the Super Bowl. The Ravens also did so in Super Bowl XLVII.
19. The 27 rushing yards by the Broncos were the fifth-fewest in Super Bowl history.
20. The Seahawks won twice at MetLife Stadium this season, beating the Giants and Broncos by a combined score of 66-8.
21. With the win by the Seahawks, teams wearing white jerseys have won 9 of the last 11 Super Bowls.
22. The Broncos are now 0-4 while wearing orange jerseys in the Super Bowl.
23. Record set for Most Playing Time In The Lead, Game, Team – 59 minutes, 48 seconds, Seattle
24. Record set for Most Completions, Game – 34, Peyton Manning
25. Record set for Most Receptions, Game – 13, Demaryius Thomas
26. Record set for Most Super Bowls Lost, Team – 5, Denver
27. Record tied for Most Receptions, First Half – 7, Demaryius Thomas
28. Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith is fourth youngest player to win Super Bowl, at 24 years, 212 days.