Russell Wilson: The Biggest's Factor

Tomorrow, we'll see this years best defensive team verses the best offensive team. It should be a great game.

Who's going to win?  Think the biggest factor will be the guy that has flown under the radar these two weeks.

There's been a lot of talk about Denver's offense vs Seattle's defense. Richard Sherman vs Peyton Manning. But I don't think the biggest factor will come from the Seattle defense or the Denver offense.

Russell Wilson has done everything he's needed to this post season. He's been smart and efficient. He has looked very comfortable and made few mistakes.

However, no game Wilson has ever played is anything like this game tomorrow. This is Wilson's second year. He is young and inexperienced, and I wonder it this Superbowl will be too big for Wilson this year.

We all know Peyton will be comfortable and handle the pressure well. This is his 13th playoff appearance, 23rd playoff game, and 3rd Superbowl. Wilson, however, will be way out of his comfort zone. How will he perform?

Let's look at Wilson's 4 playoff games.
2013
1 - at Washington. This is Wilson's only road playoff win, against a Redskins team that lost RGIII early in the game. Washington was not a good team without RGIII and Seattle would have won that game despite Wilson.

2 - at Atlanta. This was Wilson's biggest game of his career to that point. He and his team fell down by a lot of points early. Wilson and the Seahawks did rallied at the end but it wasn't enough to win.
2014

3 - vs New Orleans - This was at home. Home field advantage really helps calm down the nerves and helps you feel comfortable. Also, the Seahawks had already played the Saints at home this year, and destroyed them. Wilson knew they could beat them because they already done it. The stress and pressure was not very much.

4 - vs San Francisco. Again, this game was at home, against a team Wilson is very familiar with. Again, they had already KILLED the 49ers in Seattle so they knew they could do it again. Wilson was again comfortable and under little pressure.

Russell Wilson's 5th playoff game will be a most different story. This is his first Superbowl game. This will not be in Seattle but at a neutral (at best) field. Wilson is not as familiar with the Broncos. The only times Wilson has ever played the Broncos was in the early Preseasons. Wilson is going to be out of his comfort zone and under a lot of pressure in the biggest game of his career on the biggest stage in American sports.

If Wilson plays scared or if he tries to force things, the Seahawks are done for. If you give this Broncos team a lead like they gave Atlanta last year, they will lose. The Broncos are too good. If you throw picks or have too many 3 and outs (like the Bears did in 2007), you'll give this loaded offence lead by Peyton Manning short fields and tons of possessions (again, like 2007). Now, I don't care if you have the number one defense (like the Bears did of the Seahawks do); you're going to lose is you do this. I don't care if you have the NFC all-star defense coached by the Ryan brothers. You're still going to lose to this Broncos offensive if you give them tons of possessions and short fields.

Now I'm not saying Wilson can't do this. He's a smart and talented player. I'm saying there is more pressure on Wilson in this game than he's ever had before (and possibly more than he will ever have again). Every quarterback's dream is to get to and win the Superbowl. He doesn't know if he'll ever get another chance to play in the Superbowl. He's not playing at home. He's playing a team that he's never played against in the regular or post season. His counter part is Peyton Manning. 

I don't think the Broncos are the clear favorite. But If I were a betting man, I'm not putting my faith in the inexperienced Seahawks lead by their sophomore QB. I'm putting all my money on that loaded offensive lead by one of the most playoff experienced QB of all time.