Seahawks beat Broncos, capture first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history

Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll gets gatorade dump on him by quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the second half against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time in the history of the franchise, the Lombardi Trophy is coming to Seattle.

The Seahawks dominated the Denver Broncos, 43-8, on a chilly night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Seahawks top-ranked defense forced four turnovers against the No. 1 offense and proved that defense wins championships.

It was all Seahawks from the very first play of the game.

The Broncos fumbled the snap into the end zone where it was recovered for a Seahawks safety. The score happened 12 seconds into the game and was the fastest score in Super Bowl history.

With an early 2-0 lead, the Seahawks offense stepped onto the field and drove 51 yards to set up a field goal from Steven Hauschka that made it a 5-0 game. In the drive, Percy Harvin rushed for a 30-yard gain, the 2nd-longest run by a wide receiver in Super Bowl history.

The Seahawks defense forced a 3-and-out on the Broncos next possession and Seattle’s offense responded with another field goal.

The 8-0 lead the Seahawks held after 15 minutes did not tell the whole story of how dominant Seattle was.

Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (53) scores a touchdown on an interception in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

The Seahawks had 148 total yards to Denver’s 11, the fewest first quarter yards the Broncos had all season. Seattle held possession for 11:41 of the 15 minutes in the quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Marshawn Lynch rushed for a 1-yard score to make it a 15-0 game. On the Broncos next possession, Malcolm Smith picked off a Peyton Manning pass and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown. It was Manning’s second interception of the half, the first of which went to Kam Chancellor.

Seattle took a 22-0 lead into the half, which represented the first time a team had been shutout in a Super Bowl half in 13 years.

It was also the 3rd-largest halftime lead in Super Bowl history.

In the second half, the Seahawks did not let up.

Harvin returned the opening kickoff of the second half 87 yards for a touchdown, to give Seattle a 29-0 lead.

That return also gave the Seahawks a new Super Bowl record — they became the first team in Super Bowl history with a safety, interception return for a touchdown and kickoff return for a touchdown in the same game.

The Seahawks offense scored again at the end of the third quarter, a 23-yard strike from Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse to give the Seahawks a 36-0 advantage. Kearse finished the game with four catches for 65 yards and the TD.

The Broncos responded by scoring their first points of the game, a 14-yard touchdown pass that went from Manning to Demaryius Thomas. Thomas had a Super Bowl-record 13 catches, which went for 118 yards and the touchdown.

Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) celebrates his touchdown with teammates against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Seahawks next possession was the dagger, if there wasn’t one already.

A 5-play, 48-yard drive ended in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Doug Baldwin, who made a nice move into the end zone to secure six more points for Seattle. Baldwin led the Seahawks receivers with five catches for 66 yards.

They were the last points of the game.

Manning finished with a Super Bowl record 34 completions that went for 280 yards.

The Seahawks No. 1 defense was simply too much, however.

Wilson finished 18-for-25 for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Lynch finished with 39 rushing yards and a touchdown.

For the first time ever, the Seattle Seahawks are the champions of football.