It took me a long time to finally be able to sit down and write an article about the heart breaking loss by the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.  It took me a long time because I wanted to write something objective and free of anger and sorrow.  Because I'll be honest.  I was mad the Broncos lost.  This was supposed to be our year.  Instead, we are all left just scratching our heads.  

I wondered if I should write about what led to the loss, or what we need to do this offseason.  Then I realized, none of that matters, for two reasons.  For one, we've been here many times before.  This truly was a matter of deja vu for me.  This game completely reminded me of Super Bowl XXIV when Denver was manhandled and blown out by the San Francisco 49ers.  It's nothing new.  I was hoping for something different but Denver was Denver in the Super Bowl...but while that may sound like bashing, eventually Denver always comes back to win it all.  Let's not forget the worry we all felt before Super Bowl XXXII when Denver finally brought home that championship bacon.  

The other reason I'm not concerned about trivializing over every single detail of this loss, is because that too is deja vu.  Let's go back and think back to that loss in Super Bowl XXIV one more time.  Because everyone and their sister had a take on why the Broncos lost that day.  Hell, there was even talk that perhaps John Elway was finished, I recall Denver drafting Quarterback Tommy Maddox as the heir to #7.  

The bottom line is this.  We've been here before.  Heck, we may be here again. The answer to why we lost Super Bowl XLVIII is quite simple, we were outplayed and out coached.  The end.  We lost, and quite frankly, it is time to let it go.  We can continue to analyze an ugly loss or we can start opening our eyes to some simple facts...this team is still pretty damn good.  

Let's not forget a few years ago the Denver Broncos were 4-12 and the laughing stock of the NFL.  They were tarnished with a cheating scandal and if there was a time to not have any hope that was it.  Since then, Elway has returned as the team's top boss and we've enjoyed three consecutive AFC West Division Championships, an AFC Championship, a 34-14 record, three years of playoff appearances and oh yeah...we snagged Peyton Manning as a free agent and we've been to a Super Bowl. That, is an incredible list of accomplishments that some teams in the league have never seen in their entire franchises existence...just ask fans of the Cleveland Browns.  

This is in fact, remarkable success and reasons to celebrate as a Denver Broncos fan.  This team will rebound, this team will figure it out.  There is no one at Dove Valley thinking to themselves "Eh, we can let it ride for a little while."  This organization wants another championship, so do the players, they've had another bitter and crushing loss leave a bad taste in their mouths, and you saw how they bounced back from last year.  We lost, I'm over it, you should be too.  We're Denver Broncos fans, we are United in Orange and holy hell...do we have some great things going for us.  I can't wait until next year.  

This was a not a team that always did it pretty.  Some of their wins were nail biters, some were heartbreaking losses, but in the end this young and plucky squad, led by second year quarterback Russell Wilson always found a win at just the right time.  So what can we expect from the Seattle Seahawks tonight? Here are a few things to look for. 

STRENGTHS - The Seahawks work off of two fundamental football mantras. Crushing defense and run the ball.  They were the number one D for a reason this year, stopping the opposition at just the right time, but more importantly, they were able to run the ball at will.  Marshawn Lynch is a bruiser of a back and chews up not only yards but the clock.  This sets up Quarterback Russell Wilson to make the throws he needs to, and he most certainly had a solid year.  

WEAKNESSES - Their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness.  The Defense has been tested before and can be beat.  Some of their games were extremely close, and if the D starts to fall behind they could see the game slip away.  Second to that, the running game is their lifeblood.  Wilson is a talented quarterback but still learning his craft and if Denver can stop the run, it falls to Wilson to save the day, something he isn't used to and his youth may work against him if he is asked to carry the load. 

KEYS TO SUPER BOWL XLVIII - The Seahawks will have to find a way to shut down Peyton Manning and the high powered offense if they stand a chance. The Defense will have to find ways to neutralize the seemingly endless lines of receivers that Manning has at his disposal and they have to stick with the run game to snag the win.  

This was the team that if we went by the book, should not have been in the Super Bowl.  A top defensive star suspended for six games.  Defensive starter after defensive starter being put on Injured Reserve.  Not to mention, the Head Coach spending four weeks recovering from heart surgery, one would expect the Broncos to be planning for next year, instead they're planning for the biggest game of the year.   So what can we expect from the Broncos tonight?  Here are a few things to look for.  

STRENGTHS - This is an easy one...Offense.  The Denver Broncos set just about every record there is to set when to comes to offense and Super Bowl XLVIII will likely be no different.  Peyton Manning has had the best year of any QB ever in the history of the league and he bolstered by an amazing offensive line and a none too shabby run game.  Add in the fact that all of his primary receivers have over ten touchdowns each this year and you get a Broncos squad that is going to make life difficult for the Seahawks.  

WEAKNESSES - The Defense has been the Broncos' Achilles Heel all year long. While they have certainly stepped up their game since the loss to San Diego, they are still the team's greatest liability.  Seattle is going to try and feast on the secondary and pound the rock. The D will have to step up.  

KEYS TO SUPER BOWL XLVIII - The Defense has to shut down the mighty Seahawks run game and force Russell Wilson to beat them through the air.  It's equally as risky a gambit with the secondary being so heavily depleted for Denver, but it buys time for the D line to force pressure and mistakes.  

John's Take - This is it.  Sixty minutes of football for a shot at glory and the chance to be crowned as the NFL's finest team.  I honestly do think the two best teams in the league are right where they are supposed to be.  I also think the first quarter will be a low scoring affair as the Broncos and Peyton Manning's Super Computer brain begins to dissect the Seattle Defense. But after that, it's going to get ugly for the Hawks.  This Denver squad understands what a loss means. They know how far they have come, they know what's at stake.  It's Denver's time.  It's Manning redemption.  Sorry Seattle.  Winner - The Denver Broncos

Scotty's Take - As the largest stage in the NFL is set, there is only one thing left to watch and that is the Super Bowl.  With the two number one seeds advancing to the game, along with the number one offense facing off against the number one defense, this game should go down in the history books as one of the greatest games ever played.  Although the Seahawks have the best defense in the league this season, they only have two premier players in their secondary and covering the Broncos passing attack will be much more difficult than they can ever expect.  With all of the focus being put on Peyton Manning in this game, it will come down to how well the Broncos will run the ball and Knowshon Moreno has become one of the most consistent running backs in the game.  With both a powerful passing game along with a power run attack, the Broncos should have no problems with putting up enough points to flounder the Seahawks dreams of winning Super Bowl XLVIII.  Winner - The Denver Broncos 

There was a time when being a Denver Broncos fan led to nothing but heartache.  I grew up on this team. They have been in my blood as long as I can remember, but growing up watching them was hard.  There was Super Bowl XXI, when Denver faced off against the Giants, only to lose 39-20.  But, thankfully the Broncos returned to the big show next year, and it looked like this was our year.  They were up 10-0 on the Redskins in Super Bowl XXII early on, but that was as far as they got...losing 42-10.  

It only got worse from there, two years later, the 49ers utterly dismantled the Broncos, beating them 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV and well...that was the darkest hour as a Bronco fan.  There was quite a while there where I wasn't sure this team would ever hoist the Lombardi Trophy.  

That skepticism continued in 1997-1998.  The Broncos were in new uniforms, suddenly good again and back in the big game.  But while I remember unfettered excitement flowing through my veins for the these games before, my family and I were nervous and cautiously optimistic this time around.  Super Bowl XXXII was looking to be a tough game, it was the Super Bowl XXI Champion Green Bay Packers after all, and well...our track record wasn't so good.  

But wow, this was and still is to me at least, one of the finest Super Bowls of all time.  A back and forth, knock down drag it out brawl ensued on every play and it had  on the edge of our seat.  In fact, I remember my father and I pacing in front of the television in those final two minutes, wondering if Favre would take this game into overtime or not.  That is until that final play when the ball sailed from his hands and eventually landed in the grass and there it was...The Denver Broncos were Super Bowl XXXII Champions.  There was shouting in our home, shouting in the streets all over the fact that the long nightmare was over, we were elite, we were champions.  It is a memory I will never forget and certainly my fondest memory from the many Super Bowl games I have watched in my life and it looks like Peyton Manning is ready to add some new ones to the history books when the Denver Broncos take the field for Super Bowl XLVIII.