It started with a two point safety and was never close, not even for a second, after that.
Super Bowl 48 is officially in the books from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, tonight (Sun., Feb. 2, 2014) and the Seattle Seahawks have defeated the Denver Broncos to hoist the Lombardi Trophy as the champions of the football world.
The final score? A stunning 43-8 blowout.
This was without question, one of the most thorough beatings in the history of the NFL Championship Game, right up there with San Francisco's 55-10 shellacking of Denver back in 1990, or Chicago's 46-10 smashing of New England in 1986. The Seahawks had their way with the Broncos, winning nearly every match-up across the field.
That includes the vaunted secondary -- the so-called "Legion of Boom" -- besting Denver QB Peyton Manning. Sure, he completed 34/49 passes for 280 yards and 1 touchdown but he was intercepted 2 times, fumbled twice more and spent almost the entire game in comeback mode.
The evening started with a safety after Denver screwed up its first snap of the day and Seattle never looked back. They forced four turnovers, running back an interception for a touchdown. Percy Harvin took the second half kickoff to the house for an 87 yard score (he added 45 yards rushing on the day). Russell Wilson was efficient, completing 18 of his 25 passes for 206 yards and 2 TDs.
Demaryius Thomas posted a strong stat line in a losing effort with 13 catches for 118 yards and 1 touchdown. Wes Welker managed 8 catches for 84 yards. But Denver ran for just 27 yards to 135 for the Seahawks.
In case you're wondering, no, Richard Sherman did not finish with an interception (though he came close). He was injured on two separate occasions, actually, and spent much of the final quarter in the locker room tending to an ankle ailment.
That's all she wrote, folks. The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions.
There's always next year, Broncos fans!