Super Bowl Kickoff Time 2014: Final Coverage Guide for Seahawks vs. Broncos

Finally, after two weeks of speculation, predictions, conversations about what Peyton Manning and Richard Sherman ate for a late-night snack, meaningless narratives and tired storylines, finally we can settle this thing on the gridiron.

It's time for Super Bowl XLVIII.

Following nearly five grueling months of players smashing each other, all that's left is the Super Bowl, which pits the league's top pass offense against the top pass defense. There are few better ways to decide this year's ultimate NFL champion. 

Here's a look at all the information you need to know so you don't miss a second of the action. 

Date: Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014

Start Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

TV: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Spread: Denver (-2.5), via Vegas Insider

Matchups to Watch

Denver's Pass Protection vs. Seattle's Pass Rush

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

The Legion of Boom—Seattle's physical, explosive secondary led by Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas—is one of the most impressive defensive units we've seen in quite some time.

But as Sherman himself put it in his first-person article on The MMQB, secondary play begins up front:

"

There isn’t a great defensive backfield in the NFL that doesn’t have a great front seven. Everything begins with pressure up front, and that’s what we get from our pass rushers every Sunday.

"

No matter how good a group of defensive backs may be, a receiver will eventually get open if the play lasts long enough. And with Peyton Manning being so adept at working through his progressions, you can bet he'll find whoever gets open. 

So, while Sherman vs. Demaryius Thomas, Byron Maxwell vs. Eric Decker and other potential one-on-one matchups are undeniably captivating, the "best offense vs. best defense" battle will be settled in the trenches. 

That's where things get really interesting, as ESPN Stats & Info points out:

In two postseason games, Manning has thrown the ball 79 times, hasn't been sacked once and has been hit just one time. Denver's offensive line deserves credit, but that also has a lot to do with Manning essentially playing hot potato.

Pro Football Focus noted he gets the ball out of his hands, on average, in just over two seconds:

Bruce Irvin, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Chris Clemons make up one of the most feared pass-rushing units in the league, but they have a difficult job in front of them. 

Marshawn Lynch vs. Broncos' Rush Defense

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

During the regular season, Marshawn Lynch carried the ball 301 times for 1,257 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns. Not bad, right?

Well, it was child's play compared to what he's done in the playoffs—50 carries, 249 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and three scores in two games, including a 109-yard effort against the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN Stats & Info gave a look at just how rare that last feat was:

Pro Football Focus added this impressive stat:

There is no linebacker corps in the NFL better than San Francisco's. If Lynch can break tackles and rack up yards against that unit, he can also do it against a Broncos defense that has been really stingy against the run as of late. 

And it will be crucial that he does so. 

The San Diego Chargers provided the formula to beating Denver in Week 15 when Ryan Mathews carried the ball 29 times for 127 yards, holding the Broncos to just 21 minutes and 11 seconds of possession. As a result, Manning was held on the sideline for much of the game, and Denver scored just 20 points—its lowest total of the entire season. 

If Lynch can continually eat up chunks of yardage, this one is headed for the "under."

And that's exactly what the Seahawks want.