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The long-awaited rematch of last year’s Super Bowl is set to take place this weekend (Sunday at 4:25 p.m. Eastern on CBS). For the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, Sunday’s Week 3 tilt is both just another regular season game and something more personal.
The long-awaited rematch of last year’s Super Bowl is set to take place this weekend (Sunday at 4:25 p.m. Eastern on CBS). For the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, Sunday’s Week 3 tilt is both just another regular season game and something more personal.
The Broncos’ blowout defeat in the Super Bowl resonated with the team throughout the spring and summer, and it’s something that Seahawks coach Pete Carroll also noticed.
“I’m sure this is a really important game to them again. As it is to us,” Carroll said.
Backstories aside, this game also has great meaning to Seattle for more practical purposes. After suffering a defeat last week in San Diego, where the Seahawks’ defense struggled mightily, the players don’t want to lose again and go under .500 early in the season.
“They’re quiet. They’re quiet and serious,” Carroll admitted about his team. “We don’t take these easily. There are very high expectations that we live with here and everybody knows that. The main thing is everybody took to heart the changes and adjustments and the things that we can fix.”
Denver’s quest for revenge will be bolstered by the return of star receiver Wes Welker, whose four-game suspension was reduced. Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and the emergent Emmanuel Sanders will test Seattle’s secondary, which is easily the best in the league but is fresh off a subpar performance against the Chargers.
The Broncos also have left tackle Ryan Clady this time around. Clady missed most of last season, including the Super Bowl, due to injury. His presence is enormous because of his ability to protect quarterback Peyton Manning’s blindside from the Seahawks feared pass rush.
All in all, this will be an exciting game to watch. “This is what we’ve been waiting for,” said Broncos receiver Andre Caldwell.
The home Seahawks are the current favorite at -4.5. The over/under stands at 49.
