2014 Super Bowl Prediction (Update)

Shockingly, there are just five more weeks of football before the playoffs start; it seems like just yesterday we were covering the major story lines from training camp. Obviously, there have been many surprises in 2013, including the decline of the Texans franchise, Kansas City's incredible year, as well as Peyton Manning's MVP caliber season. With the NFL Playoffs quickly approaching us, we have decided to update our Super Bowl prediction. Originally, we predicted the Broncos to beat the 49ers by a score of 30-27. That prediction has changed. Continue reading to see our new predictions!

AFC Championship Game: Patriots over Broncos: these two teams are in a league of there own in the AFC. Sure, the Chiefs and Colts are both very talented, but their lack of experience hurts by the time they reach the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game should not come as a surprise. Peyton Manning and the passing game lead the league in passing yards per game, passing touchdowns, passer rating, and points per game. Even running back Knowshon Moreno is performing well, as he ranks second in the league in rushing touchdowns with 9. But the New England Patriots, a team that has managed an 8-3 record despite their many injuries and weak receiving corp, have transformed into one of the Super Bowl favorites. Thanks to the return of receivers Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola, as well as cornerback Aquib Talib, the Patriots were able to beat manning and the Broncos for the second straight year. Tom Brady is not having a great year statistically, but his spectacular performance against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football solidified his greatness as a quarterback. Peyton Manning has struggled throughout his career when playing in colder weather, so even if the Broncos are at home in this AFC Championship Game, the advantage goes to Brady and the Patriots.

NFC Championship Game: Seahawks over Saints: The Seattle Seahawks remain perfect at home, but their game this weekend in Seattle against the New Orleans Saints will be a true test. We predict that the game this weekend will be the same two teams in the NFC Championship game later in the season. Following their home game against the Saints, the Seahawks will have a relatively easy schedule (apart from an away game in San Francisco), whereas the Saints will have to play the Panthers twice, and then travel to St. Louis for a game against the Rams. Assuming that Seattle finishes as the number one seed in the playoffs, there is little doubt in my mind that the Seahawks will make the Super Bowl thanks to their home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Seahawks offense is ranked third overall in rushing yards per game (149.7) and second in points per game (27.8). But it is the defense that has carried this team through the regular season. Seattle's defense at home is practically impenetrable, yet the Saints offense will be difficult to detain, even if the game is being played in CenturyLink Field. In the end, the Seahawks will win in a close game over the Saints to earn a trip to the Super Bowl.

11 weeks from today... A champion will rise. #SB48

— Super Bowl XLVIII (@SuperBowl) November 17, 2013

Super Bowl XLVIII: Patriots over Seahawks: This upcoming Super Bowl is not your average Super Bowl. Instead of being played inn a warm environment like Florida or Arizona, Super Bowl XLVIII will be played in the Meadowlands of East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Seattle Seahawks, unfortunately, will not be in the safety of their own stadium, and who knows how they will do with the cold February weather in New Jersey. Tom Brady, on the other hand, tends to struggle in the warm weather, but as we saw against Denver on Sunday Night Football, he thrives in a colder climate. To make things more interesting, the Farmer's Almanac predicts a large snowstorm during the Super Bowl, clearly favoring the New England Patriots. Seattle's franchise has yet to win a Super Bowl, and with just one Super Bowl appearance in 2006, the Patriots are more experienced, considering they have reached the Super Bowl five times in the past 12 years. We predict the Patriots to beat the Seahawks in a dominant fashion.