Behold: Superbowl XLVIII

The irresistible force—that being the Bronco offense—meets the immovable object of the Seahawk defense, Usually, such matchups are won by the defense, which would augur for picking the Seahawks in tonight’s matchup.

However, Seattle’s style of defense sort of plays right into Peyton Manning’s hands.

Seattle plays a lot of one-high, two-high and cover two zone defensive schemes, schemes that Manning has long been known for recognizing and exploiting. But the Legion of Boom is also well known for putting enormous pressure on the quarterback and while Manning is arguably the most prolific signal-caller in recent history, he can’t make plays if he’s running for his life. Add to that the fact that Manning is about as gifted at scrambling as Dan Marino was, and Seattle has a chance to wreak havoc.

Seattle also has one of the most prolific running games in the 2013 season. Marshawn Lynch—in beast mode—is extraordinarily hard to stop.

There has been a lot of media hype on Manning’s legacy and what tonight’s Superbowl means as far as establishing him as one of the game’s greatest ever. While Russell Wilson is no Peyton Manning, he has the ability to make plays on his own. I’d look for some exciting plays where Wilson makes something out of nothing and moves the chains.

This could be one of the most exciting Superbowls in history.

The weather is not going to be a factor. Both teams come from cold weather cities and are used to chilly, breezy conditions. It should be a chilly 50-ish field with a light breeze and almost no chance of rain. If this were a matchup between a dome team (Hey, New Orleans) and a tundra team, I’d take the tundra team in a rout.

Manning has a chance to make history, and given the Seahawks’ propensity to align in zone coverage, I think the Broncos have a slight edge. If the Seahawks can somehow manage to get off the field on third downs, they have a shot at winning tonight.

I don’t think that happens often enough tonight. While I also have deep respect for Lynch and Seattle’s ground game, I think Denver puts enough points on the board to win a thriller, 31-27.

Peyton Manning reported to be interested in Texans

Video report from KTRK in Houston says there is strong interest between Peyton Manning and the Houston Texans, an AFC south franchise that the star QB is familiar with and which he believes has a shot at making a Super Bowl.

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Bob Allen, Sports Director at KTRK, doesn’t name his sources but drops these two little nuggets for fan and viewer consideration:

I'm told the relationship between him and Colts owner Robert Irsay now is strictly business. And don't underplay the competitiveness between Peyton and Eli -- it "does" matter that Eli has two Super Bowl rings to his one.

The Texans routed the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs before losing 20-13 to the Baltimore Ravens. Could a healthy Peyton Manning have made the difference and gotten the Texans farther?

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“Perfect Storm” threatens to end Peyton Manning’s run with Colts

In the modern lexicon, a “perfect storm” is a confluence of conditions or events that radically alters a situation in ways that would have been unimaginable without that confluence.

Peyton Manning is soon likely to face a maelstrom unlike any we’ve ever witnessed.

Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to play in the NFL, a league in which the quarterback has increasingly become the make-or-break position in the game. But Manning is 35 years old and quickly aging into geezer status.

In September, the old fella had the third of three surgical procedures to heal an injured neck. The latest surgery—called a single-level anterior fusion—isn’t really as scary as its name implies. In fact, quarterbacks typically fare well after this procedure and there is very little risk of a catastrophic injury resulting from it. But still, it’s neck surgery, man.

Despite the team’s early season rallying cry that “we’re not a one man team,” the Colts’ record says otherwise. As in, winless. The Colts are realistically looking at an 0-16 season, with the odds heavily favoring it. The organization’s reliance on one guy is also having an impact on front office thought processes. Despite being one of only five rookie head coaches to take his team to a Super Bowl (2009, lost to Saints), head coach Jim Caldwell is likely going to be dismissed at the end of the 2011 season. Perhaps no other team in NFL history has staked as much of its fortunes on the health and play of a single player. How much of a stake did the Colts have riding on Manning? They have a $28 million option to keep him on the roster in 2012. That’s a lot of coin that could be used to sign supporting role players in free agency and the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft.

Therein lies the last of conditions making up the Perfect Storm. The 2012 Draft features Stanford’s Andrew Luck. The two-time Heisman runner-up is by far the best quarterback prospect to enter the league since Heisman runner-up Manning signed with the Colts in 1998. Sitting at 0-16 (or even 1-15, should they avoid the goose egg season), the Colts will have the No. 1 pick and would be brain dead not to take him. With the No. 1 pick comes No. 1 money, meaning the Colts may be looking at spending tens of millions to keep an aging, ailing Peyton Manning on the roster with their new burgeoning superstar.

Talking heads in the media are divided over the issue. Do they keep both hoping that Luck is willing to be understudy, protégée and clipboard carrier for Manning for a year or two? Do they convince Manning to restructure his contract to make room for Luck and more supporting cast members? Or they pick Luck and release one of the most beloved players in Colts franchise history?

Aging superstar with health issues. Likely 0-16 with a new coaching staff. The need to beef up in free agency and the draft with (somewhat) limited resources. The No. 1 draft pick and the perfect fit in a league dominated by quarterbacks.

Welcome to the Perfect Storm.

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