Seven months after their fateful Super Bowl clash, the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos renew their budding rivalry in Week 3 of the new NFL season. Although much of the headlines will center around quarterback Peyton Manning and how he will handle the vaunted Seattle defense, his showdown with Seahawks QB Russell Wilson will be fascinating to watch as well.
Ahead of their clash this coming Sunday, the question on everybody’s minds after Wilson outplayed Manning on football’s biggest stage is: can he repeat that feat? Or will the five-time league MVP teach Wilson a lesson on his home field?
Read on as we discuss this quarterback battle and while you’re at it you can check out our preview of the much-anticipated rematch between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks.
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Peyton Manning vs. Russell Wilson
Passing
[sc:NFL240banner ]Future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning exceeded everyone’s expectations when he posted career-high numbers in passing yards (5,477), pass completions (450) and pass attempts (659) in 2013. After he was stifled by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII however, many were questioning whether Manning will be able to recover and still put monster numbers this season. And indeed, the Seahawks are -4.5 point favorites in this game according to our sportsbook.
So far, Manning has looked strong. Through two games against the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs – both playoff teams last year – Manning has been able to complete 43 of his 62 passes for an impressive 69.4 percent clip. He has six touchdowns and no interceptions so far this season and his passer rating of 126.5 is the best in the entire league.
So what about Russell Wilson then? Surprisingly enough, he is holding his own against Peyton Manning in the passing department, passer-rating wise. His passer rating of 114.7 is third-best among starting quarterbacks this season, just behind Manning and Texans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
He has completed 36 of 53 passes so far this year with four touchdowns and no interceptions. With the Seahawks offense still built around the running game however, he still is among the worst quarterbacks in terms of average passing yards. He has a 196.5 average through two games this season which is good for 29th in the league.
Advantage: Manning
Rushing
If passing is Manning’s forte, Wilson has the advantage in the running game. In his first two seasons with Seattle, he has compiled a total of 1,028 rushing yards. If you add his output in the postseason the last two years, he has a grand total of 1,197 rushing yards in his first two years in the league.
Through two games this season, Wilson has carried the ball nine times for a total of 47 rushing yards. Over his 3 NFL seasons, he has ran for a total of 5 career rushing touchdowns.
Now compare those marks to Peyton Manning’s. In his entire career, Manning has compiled a total of 693 rushing yards, less than a quarter of the production per game Wilson has put up so far. And those statistics won’t improve anytime soon. This year, Manning has a -4 rushing yard mark on five carries.
Advantage: Wilson
Adaptability
With the return of wide receiver Wes Welker this week, the Broncos’ potent offense became much more dangerous. Last season, Welker was Manning’s favorite target, recording 73 receptions, 778 yards and 10 touchdowns, so there were concerns that Welker’s suspension would affect the Broncos. Not so with Manning at the helm.
Five of Peyton’a six touchdown passes this season have gone to the team’s tight ends – four to Julius Thomas and one to Jacob Tamme. Most of those plays have come in a two-tight-end set with Welker out of the lineup. With Welker back, it will be interesting to see how Manning will incorporate him back into the Broncos’ attack. But as he has proven before, he will surely find a way. Great quarterbacks do.
Russell Wilson, on the other hand, is maybe a Super Bowl winner already but he is still only in his third year in the league. With the Seahawks’ offense still built around the running game, there is only so much he can do. But with more experience, expect the Seahawks to trust Wilson more with his playmaking.
Advantage: Manning
While our assessment here might favor Manning, there are many more factors in this game that could create another Seattle victory, not the least of which is their defense and the most impactful NFL crowd in the league. Create a betting account now and make your pick on this huge Week 3 matchup.
