It's going to be a Broncos-Seahawks Super Bowl

I'm typing this post not long after the conclusion of the 2013-14 NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks intercepted a 49ers touchdown attempt during the final moments en route to a 23-17 win. They are now on their way to their second Super Bowl and their first since 2006 (2005 season), when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL (that's 40 in Roman numerals). The 49ers were appearing in their third straight conference championship game; they lost to the New York Giants in the 2011-12 NFC title game and then beat the Atlanta Falcons in last year's game.

Earlier today at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, the Denver Broncos took on the Boston, Massachusetts area-based New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game and won 26-16. The Broncos are now headed to their seventh Super Bowl and their first since 1999 (1998 season), when they defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII (33) for their second Super Bowl victory in a row. Like the 49ers, the Patriots were making their third conference title game appearance in a row. They beat the Baltimore Ravens in the 2011-12 AFC title game and then lost to the Ravens (who eventually won the Super Bowl) in last year's game.

This makes Super Bowl XLVIII (48) a showdown between the Broncos and Seahawks. They both play on the western side of the United States, unlike last year's Super Bowl teams (Ravens and 49ers) who are on opposite sides of the country. The Broncos and Seahawks will face each other on Sunday, February 2 at MetLife Stadium in the New York City suburb of East Rutherford, New Jersey, home of the Giants and their AFC counterpart the Jets.

The Seahawks have been on their way to this Super Bowl appearance almost since their first appearance in the game eight years ago. They have been one of the league's most consistent teams in the time period since then. They have shown that by beating my Washington Redskins in the playoffs in the Redskins' last three playoff appearances (divisional in 2005-06, and wild card in 2007-08 and last year, when the Redskins won their first NFC East title since 1999). Three years ago (2010), the Seahawks became the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record (they won the NFC West with a 7-9 record because their three rivals were even worse).

On the other hand, the Broncos have experienced their current wave of success much more suddenly. They had tying records (8-8) in three of the four seasons between 2008 and 2011, which they won the AFC West title with in 2011, two years ago. They finished the 2010 season with a 4-12 record, so to be contenders again this quickly for them is a bit surprising. Coincidentally, their last really successful season, 2005-06, saw them come within one win of going to the Super Bowl with the Seahawks (which is now happening this year).

I don't care who wins the Super Bowl two weeks from now. The Broncos and the Seahawks are both very good teams at this moment, as they've show over the past couple of seasons. This should make for a very great game!