If anyone is surprised that the Broncos are playing for the Lombardi Trophy, he or she must not have paid close enough attention this season. Statistically, Denver had the best offense of all time. Their 606 points scored (37.9 points per game) was enough to overthrow the previous leader, the 2011 New England Patriots, by 17 points.

We are two years removed from quarterback Peyton Manning’s return to football, after missing the entire 2011 season with a neck injury, and when he signed with the Broncos there wasn’t a general consensus on whether or not Manning would be his old self. Well, turns out, Manning—now 37 years old—was better than his old self.

Manning set NFL single-season records with 55 touchdown passes and 5,477 passing yards, which was just one yard more than Drew Brees had in 2011. Manning threw for over 300 yards in all but three games, two of which were games that the Broncos lost. Not to take anything away from Peyton’s record setting season, but he was helped immensely by his wide receiver corps.

The Broncos had four players who caught 10 or more touchdown passes, becoming the first team in NFL history to do so. The quartet of wide receivers’ Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Demarius Thomas, and tight end Julius Thomas combined for 4,284 receiving yards and 47 touchdowns.

The Seahawks are a confusing bunch. They seem like a team one either loves or only sorta-kinda roots for. It’s so hard to dislike them, yet if you moved them to New York they’d be hated at an Andrea Bargnani-esque rate. Sure, Richard Sherman rubs some people the wrong way with his on-field character, but he’s almost universally respected off it.

The “Legion of Boom” is somehow unbelievably annoying and wildly entertaining at the same time. Pete Carroll fists pumps his way up and down the sideline the way only Pete Carroll knows how to do, and the city loves him for it. They throw Skittles at their players when they play well. The crowd lives up to the “best crowd” hype by causing legitimate earthquakes while also living up to the “most annoying crowd” hype by bringing the Guinness World Book of Records to officially record it every week.

You’ve heard the noise about Seattle’s defense. Best in the league, first in points against, yards against and turnovers. The way they basically commit pass interference on every play in order to get away with it is fascinating unless it’s against your team. They’ll certainly have their hands full with Manning come Sunday, but there’s no reason to think they couldn’t actually have the upper hand.

Sherman and Kam Chancellor, two of the Seahawks starting corners, are both 6-3. If anyone can stop the Broncos’ arsenal of talented wideouts, it’s a secondary of hard-hitting cornerbacks who just happen to be taller than a lot of Denver’s receivers.

The weather, as much as you may be sick of hearing this, is going to be a major factor. If they play the game in freezing rain or snow, wouldn’t Seattle be at an advantage over the Broncos? Peyton may have shed the “can’t win a cold game” reputation with their divisional round win over San Diego, but an argument can still be made that he struggles to grip and throw the ball as well in the cold. It just doesn’t seem to come out of his hand as well in bad weather. Imagine that!

Speaking of quarterbacks, Seattle’s got a pretty good one. Russell Wilson has won more games in his first 2 years than any QB in the history of the NFL. He completes a lot of passes (63.6% career) throws a lot of touchdowns (52 over 2 years). He cut down on his interceptions this year, albeit only by 1 (10 in ’12, 9 this year).

His composure on the field is arguably more impressive than any statistic. He’s also a little boring. But hey, if you’re going to be a little boring, you might as well be a franchise quarterback and carry the hopes of an entire city that hasn’t had a good sports moment in a couple decades while you’re at it.  

The Super Bowl has one of the most intriguing matchups in recent memory. One might argue that last year’s Harbaugh Bowl was fascinating, but that was more a product of the two coaches and less a product of the two teams. This year is different. This year it’s about the two teams.

The Broncos’ offense vs. the Seahawks’ defense. It’s a football matchup that people dream of, but never think will actually happen. A matchup like this is one that is divisive in nature. It splits people based on his or her football ideologies. That is, how you watch football will largely determine who you want to see win. If you like low-scoring, defensive games, Seattle is probably for you. But if you enjoy fast-paced, high-scoring, offensive games, Denver is the best bet. 

Denver has an under-valued aspect of their success this season. The Broncos’ run defense finished the regular season seventh in rushing yards allowed per game. If Denver wins, it will have to be due to a successful job of stopping Seattle’s rushing attack, which ranked second in rushing attempts and fourth in rushing yards.

Running back Marshawn Lynch anchored Seattle’s rushing attack, running for 1,257 yards and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Russell Wilson has the ability to beat teams with his legs, and his 539 rushing yards are nothing to scoff at.

Denver has two ways that they could win this game. The first would be for Peyton Manning to pick apart Seattle’s secondary (which, as Richard Sherman instructed us the other week, we aren’t allowed to talk about). The second would be to limit Marshawn Lynch, forcing Russell Wilson to make plays with both his arm and his legs.

The Broncos have the chance to challenge the myth that defense wins championships, and it’s not far-fetched to think that they will do exactly that. Peyton Manning needs a Super Bowl victory more than anyone—not to solidify his place in football history; he’s already done that. Peyton needs this because it would give him the same amount of rings (two) as his younger brother Eli.

If the Broncos win, we can only hope that Peyton Manning, or any of the other Broncos, give a postgame interview of Richard Sherman quality.