Broncos using point deficit in Super Bowl loss to Seahawks – 35 – as rally call
Apr 29, 2014, 11:02 AM | Updated: 11:30 am
Denver Broncos players are using their point deficit in their Super Bowl loss to Seattle as motivation this season. (AP Photo/Denver Broncos, Eric Lars Bakke)
(AP Photo/Denver Broncos, Eric Lars Bakke)
The big deficit that made them the losers in last season’s Super Bowl has become a strong motivator for the Denver Broncos.
“Whenever somebody gets tired, you just say ’35’ and they start picking it up again,” said Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson in a press conference.
Thirty-five was the point margin between the Broncos and the Seahawks as Seattle defeated Denver 43-8 for the third-largest blowout in Super Bowl history.
“We lost by 35, so that’s our motivation,” said Jackson.
Seattle’s famed 12th Man crossed up the highest-scoring team in history when they took the earliest lead ever in a Super Bowl game. A mere 12 seconds in, Seattle led 2-0 on a safety.
After the safety, Denver’s defense forced Seattle to settle for 31- and 33-yard field goals by Steven Hauschka to make it 8-0. Then, the Seahawks began scoring touchdowns.
Marshawn Lynch scored to make it 15-0. Then MVP Malcom Smith picked off a fluttering pass after Cliff Avril hit Manning’s arm, returning it 69 yards to make it 22-0 with 3:21 left in the half. Percy Harvin then took the second-half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and that was that.
Manning couldn’t bring the bumbling Broncos back and they were walloped.
“We had a disappointing loss, but that is last season,” said Denver’s Jackson. “We know we’ve got to come back strong this year.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
