The Broncos have been the favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl all season, and they didn’t disappoint, cruising past the Chargers and Patriots in the playoffs without extending themselves too much. A future Hall of Fame quarterback, countless receiving weapons, and a high-energy defense has fueled Denver to this point. Can they finish the job on February 2nd by defeating the upstart Seahawks? Here’s are some keys for the Denver Broncos as they look to earn their third Super Bowl victory in franchise history:

A big performance from Knowshon Moreno

In their dominating win over the Patriots in the AFC Championship game, the Broncos were masterful at sustaining long, clock killing drives. This was mainly due to New England’s inability to defend the pass, something that Seattle does better than anyone. The Broncos will be able to overcome the Seahawks’ elite pass defense by establishing a running game with Moreno. If Seattle has to account for an effective Moreno in addition to Manning’s arm, the Broncos should be in a good position to win.

A Big Game on Special Teams from Trindon Holliday

One of the league’s smallest players could have a huge impact on the game because of his ability to shake loose from the coverage on kick and punt returns. Holliday will have extra motivation to make plays on February 2nd because he is about to become a free agent, and he will be looking to turn in a nice performance on the game’s biggest stage in order to land a juicy contract in the off-season. Especially if the conditions aren’t Peyton Manning-friendly, the Broncos will need Holliday to give the offense as good of field position as possible.

Containing Russell Wilson

Things could get ugly for the Broncos very quickly if Wilson is able to break out of the pocket and pick up big gains with his legs. While Wilson isn’t as effective of a scrambler as Robert Griffin or Colin Kaepernick, he has more athletic ability than most quarterbacks Denver has faced this seasons. If nerves are playing much of a role in Wilson’s game, he may run more than usual, so Denver has to be prepared. The Broncos’ defense is far from top notch as it is; they could have trouble slowing down a quarterback that can cause as much damage on the ground as he can through the air.

A strong first quarter

The Seahawks will be susceptible to a drop in quality of play because they won’t be playing at CenturyLink Field, so Denver must take advantage. Jumping out to a 10-0 or 14-0 lead early in the game would dampen the Seahawks’ energy substantially in the absence of the 12th man. If the Broncos are able to force quick possessions in the first quarter, like they did against the Patriots when Tom Brady went three-and-out on the first drive of the game, Peyton Manning will have the opportunity to engineer long scoring drives and deplete the Seahawks’ energy, and quite frankly, hopes of winning the game.

Production out of Demaryius Thomas

Call him what you like, but there is no denying that Richard Sherman is the top corner in the NFL. It’s more likely than not that Thomas will be lining up across Sherman in the Super Bowl, and the matchup could not be any more crucial. If Thomas is able to pull in big catches and get close to the century mark in receiving yards, the Broncos will be well on their way to victory. Thomas is the catalyst of the Denver passing attack; when he gets going, the other receivers benefit and the offense as a whole is nearly impossible to slow down.

See how the Seahawks’ keys to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII here.

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