By Charles Jay
Any Vietbet customer who watched last year’s Super Bowl had to be in awe of the job the Seattle Seahawks did in dispatching the Denver Broncos, who had gone through the 2013 season scoring more points and more touchdowns than any other team in history. In the 43-8 rout, the Seahawks didn’t allow any “meaningful” points to the Broncos, because they were already up 36-0 before Denver even got on the board. And Peyton Manning, renowned for stretching the field, averaged only 5.5 yards per attempt.
Is the same defensive unit that did all that damage going to show up on Sunday when they go after their second consecutive title against the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium? Well, they have the same core of personnel, although perhaps the team is missing a couple of parts on the defensive line. On an overall basis, however, coordinator Dan Quinn (being mentioned for plenty of head coaching positions) has the same group to work with.
So how did their performance in the 2014 season compare to that of the awesome 2013 campaign? Well, that is what we are going to take a look at. In the Super Bowl betting odds that have been established at Vietbet on this game, it is a pick’em affair:
Super Bowl Betting Preview
New England Patriots vs Seattle Seahawks – pick ’em
Over 47.5 points -110
Under 47.5 points -110
First of all, no one should make any mistake about the fact that Seattle was arguably the best defense in the NFL, although the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills could also make a pretty good argument. But as we will illustrate, for the most part their numbers were down over what they produced in the 2013 season:
- Last year, the Seahawks allowed 14.4 points a game. This year, it was 15.9.
- In 2013, the Seahawks gave up just 1.17 points on a per-drive basis. This year that figure was 1.39, which was second best in the NFL.
- This year Seattle surrendered 3.4 yards per rushing attempt, and that is actually better than last year’s 3.9 yards allowed.
- With regard to the “yards per play” allowed category, the Seahawks are about the same this year (4.6) as last year (4.4).
- Last year the Seattle defense forced 39 turnovers, and that was literally a game-changer on many occasions. This season, Vietbet customers might be surprised to see that the Seahawks have not been quite as opportunistic, forcing just 24 turnovers, and that ranks just 20th in the league.
- Maybe the biggest difference, if you are looking for one, between last year’s Seattle defense and this year’s is the ratio of touchdown passes to interceptions. In 2013 this team allowed 16 touchdowns through the air and picked off 28 passes. This year they permitted 17 TD’s through the air, which is outstanding, but they made only 13 interceptions.
The Seahawks allowed just 39 points over their last six regular season games, and looked virtually impenetrable. But Vietbet patrons should note that they gave up 39 points in the two post-season games they had, against Carolina and Green Bay, and teams were able to move the ball on the ground against them, rolling up 267 rushing yards in those games.
Also, understand that on balance, the numbers Seattle has compiled this season have come against more capable foes, as the schedule was tougher in 2014.
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