2013 Broncos Season: The Super Bowl


Well that was disappointing.

Super Bowl: Seahawks 43, Broncos 8
Season Record: 15-4 (9-1 home)
Key Play: On the first play of the game, center Manny Ramirez snapped the ball over Peyton Manning's head. Manning wasn't ready for the snap, either, which sailed into the end zone and was covered by Knowshon Moreno for a safety. It was a sign of things to come. Seattle grabbed the momentum and the Broncos never recovered.

Recap: This entire season — from mini camps in the spring through last night — has been about one thing for the Broncos, winning a Super Bowl title. In that sense, this season has been a disappointment. I am sure Manning appreciates that he had the greatest season ever by a quarterback, appreciates his two post-season awards, and appreciates that he led a historically proficient offense during the season. But none of that matters compared to Super Bowl titles, and he didn't get one. Ironically, it turns out that the second week of the pre-season was not only a Super Bowl preview, but an accurate one. The Broncos traveled to Seattle and lost to the Seahawks 40-10. At the time it gave me an uneasy feeling, but I figured the team was still finding its way. The Broncos did just that throughout the season, then making it to the big game. That pre-season game seemed a distant, and unrelated, memory. But I thought about that this morning. In that game the Broncos offense couldn't get on track, the Seahawks defense and special teams made the plays, and the game got away from the Broncos early. The same thing happened Sunday. There are certain teams that just match up perfectly and prevent you from playing your best game. Maybe the Seahawks are that team for the Broncos. Either way, the better team won last night. That hurts to say, but it's true. The Broncos didn't look like the team they had most of the season, and their weaknesses were magnified throughout the game. From the opening snap, they were behind and couldn't find a way to recover. There were some great moments this season, but the end was a disaster. The Broncos didn't achieve their goal, and I can't help but wonder if their window is closing.

Game Balls:
* Demaryius Thomas — It was a bad game for the Broncos' offense, but Thomas looked like a dominant receiver. He caught 13 passes for 118 yards and the only touchdown of the game. He was the Broncos best offensive player on Sunday.

* Danny Trevathan — He is an unsung hero on defense. The Broncos defense, despite the score of the game, played well. The rest of the team struggled, though. Trevathan quietly had 12 tackles, seven solo tackles, and a tackle for a loss. He had a solid game.

Lingering Questions:
* Manning's Future — He says he's not retiring, and if he clears his medical exams he'll be back. That's good in some ways, but it's hard not to wonder if he's missed his window. The Broncos have been 13-3 and the No. 1 seed in the AFC for two straight years. How long can that continue?

* Broncos Defense — This team needs to bring in dynamic playmakers in the secondary and up front. Getting Von Miller and Derek Wolfe healthy will help, and I think the Broncos should keep Shaun Phillips. In the secondary, Champ is getting older, but Chris Harris has developed into a solid player. If not Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Broncos need another top flight corner.

* The AFC West — The Broncos have been the best team in the AFC the past two seasons, but they are the old guard with Manning. The Chiefs have come on strong, the Chargers are coming up, and there are plenty of contenders in the AFC. How much longer can the Broncos be at the top of the heap?

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