Administrative Note: The longish piece I’ve been working on will debut next week, after the Super Bowl. It is about the NFL, gambling and their hypocritical approach to “fantasy sports”.

Before we bother with silly football analysis, here is the…

QUINTESSENTIAL NJ SPORTS COMMERCIAL

PERCY HARVIN FACTOR

Folks might think it’s an odd way to start analyzing this Super Bowl but what is Denver looking at tape-wise to prepare for Percy Harvin? What did he play, two games? Did he finish either one? Harvin is WITHOUT QUESTION the most dynamic pass-catching weapon on the Seahawks roster and the Broncos defensive coaching staff (which happens to include a couple really terrific minds) will essentially be guessing how he’ll be used. People think I’m crazy but I think this is Seattle’s most significant advantage heading into Sunday.

YE OLD STYLE SIX PACK

• Peyton Manning is too smart to approach Seattle’s secondary with a “challenge them” mindset. His goal Sunday night is going to be to use Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball to get the dynamic Seahawks safeties cheating up towards the line of scrimmage. Once those fellas start thinking run, Peyton will attack the middle of the field.
• I see a pass rusher emerging in this game with a major effort and get the sense it’ll be Martellus Bennett’s brother, Michael. Would a multi-sack Super Bowl price him out of Chicago? (My backup selection is Jeremy Mincey, another player who might be able to cash in on a spotlight performance.)
• Watch out for special teams in this game. (1) I think the Broncos have a significant advantage in the return game and the return game can throw these Super Bowls on their heads. (2) If the wind’s howling in the Meadowlands Matt Prater is going to struggle getting the ball through the end zone. Will Percy Harvin become a factor here too?
• When someone says out loud, with a straight face, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is the best member of your secondary, you’re in a bit of trouble. If I were Seattle offensive coordinator (and Bears HC finalist) Darrell Bevell I’d spread the Broncos secondary out and attack. Most expect the Seahawks to want this game played in a phone booth. I’d play it in a parking garage.
• Seattle’s defense does not camouflage a lot of their alignments. They don’t try to confuse opponents by bunching linebackers at the line or disguising coverages. They line up. They beat you. But this approach rarely works against Peyton Manning, who’ll have studied every snap every rotational defender on Seattle has ever played. Can it be successful Sunday night?
• Denver can’t let Russell Wilson extend drives with his legs. If he completes passes to move the chains, fine. But when the play breaks down Phillips, Ayers, Jackson and Mincey have to keep contain and get the defense off the field.

A NOTE ON RICHARD SHERMAN

He better get as much publicity as possible this week because Peyton Manning won’t bother throwing in his direction if he doesn’t have to. That’s the problem with being a shutdown corner. You’re invisible to the general public during the actual football games.

QUICK QUESTION…

How much do the folks who run Roman numerals pay the NFL? Roman numerals are used in literally no other walk of life anymore but the NFL keeps them in business each year by tossing them on the Super Bowl.

WHERE IS DEXTER JACKSON NOW?

Per Wikipedia:

On September 19, 2011, Dexter Jackson and former World Boxing Organizationcruiserweight world champion Tyrone Booze began a new radio show called “All Sports” with Randy Harris on Clearwater, Florida‘s WTAN AM 1340.^[2] The show is also aired on WDCF, WZHR and online on the Talking Sports Network.^[3]

Jackson currently works for the children’s crisis center of Mental Health Care, Inc., a non-profit organization in Tampa.^[5]

Here’s a profile piece I’d like to read on Super Bowl week. Maybe I should write one. Seems the guy is doing pretty damn well for himself.

WHO IS GOING TO WIN MVP?

WRAPPING GAME UP IN TWO SENTENCES

Peyton Manning stays away from the physical Seahawks corners and attacks the middle of the field with Julius Thomas, Wes Welker and a few pivotal catches from Jacob Tamme. Denver’s underrated rush defense forces the game onto Russell Wilson’s shoulders and the kid isn’t ready.

FINAL SCORE

Denver Broncos 29, Seattle Seahawks 20