The Broncos were completely destroyed in the Super Bowl Sunday. They came in as the number one offense in the NFL on a season long hot streak with an MVP quarterback setting NFL records. Does any of that sound familiar? It should. The Raiders went through the same thing 12 years ago.
Back in 2002, the Raiders were had the top offense in the NFL. Rich Gannon was a savvy veteran in the final years of his NFL career, had his best season, setting several records, and was named league MVP. Exactly what Peyton Manning did this season.
Rich Gannon was 37-years old at the time. Peyton Manning is 37-years old.
That '02 Raiders number one offense would face off against the Buccaneers who had the league's number one defense. Just as the Broncos number one offense faced the Seahawks number one defense.
The Broncos offense couldn't get going from the start of this game and Peyton Manning threw two interceptions in the first half to head to the locker room down 22-0.
Rich Gannon threw two interceptions in the first half of Super Bowl XXXVII and the Raiders went into half time down 20-3.
Both these Seahawks and the 2002 Buccaneers scored on their opening possession of the third quarter as the route was officially on.
Both the 2002 Raiders and these Broncos had five turnovers with two of them resulting in defensive scores.
Rich Gannon threw two interceptions returned for touchdowns vs the Bucs. Peyton Manning would throw one interception returned for a touchdown.
The Raiders scored their first touchdown at the end of the third quarter with a two point conversion attempt (failed) and a 34-9 deficit. The Broncos scored their first touchdown at the end of the third quarter with a two point conversion attempt (successful) for a 36-8 deficit.
Seahawks Super Bowl MVP was linebacker Malcom Smith. He was the first defensive Super Bowl MVP since... wait for it... Buccaneers safety Dexter Jackson in Super Bowl XXXVII.
There are a great number of similarities between these two games, as you can see. The differences all favor the Raiders.
The Raiders scored four times against the Buccaneers (field goal, 3 touchdowns), while the Broncos scored just once (TD with 2-point conversion). The Raiders also had several factors working against them such as losing their starting Pro Bowl center the night before the game and facing their former head coach using the same offense he installed. The Broncos were full strength with no excuses. They simply got owned in every facet of the game.
The Broncos gave up touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams. They gave up a rushing touchdown, two passing touchdowns, an interception return touchdown, a kick return touchdown, two field goals, and a safety.
They didn't even have a first down until 10:31 left in the second quarter. At that point the Seahawks had 15 points and the Broncos had 11 yards.
The Broncos have now lost most Super Bowls (5) than any team in NFL history and they did it in historic fashion. This is even worse than their last Super Bowl loss - a 55-10 beat down at the hands of the 49ers in 1989.
So, despite the similarities, this one stings just a little more. When it happened to the Raiders, it sent them on a decade of futility. We'll see how it affects the Broncos. With Peyton Manning on their team, they will never be out of it, but that's what the Raiders though too when they had Rich Gannon. And that didn't work out so well either.
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