I think things could go sideways for Denvers offense. I think we have as much chance as seeing the Manning face on the sidelines as we do the Star Wars offense. Here is how I could potentially see how the wheels on the bus fall off. The TLDR Cliff Notes: Seattle will mug Denvers receivers (see: Patriots vs. Rams 2002) and pressure Manning (see: Giants vs. Patroits 2007). All-Everything offenses have been halted before, and Seattle is every bit as good as those Patriot (2002) and Giant defenses (2007).
#1 Weather. The cold will slow Manning some. The wind will make the ducks a little less accurate.
#2 Deep Balls. The weather, in conjunction with Mannings arm, would result in floaters off target. You dont throw those with Earl Thomas back there.
#3 Rhythm. Seattle corners are going to press, jam, and ::cough::hold::hold:: at the line and disrupt Denver timing routes.
#4 Time. Manning usually has a lot of time to throw. Seattle has a very good 4 man pass rush. Typically Manning can defuse this with his quick passes and hot reads. The quick passes are going to be gummed up by press coverage. The hot reads will be less enticing as Seattle doesnt have mismatches and doesnt need to blitz to get to Manning. Him throwing 0.5 seconds slow could result in more pressure and mistakes.
#5. Matchups. Unlike most opponents where Denver has a massive edge in offensive personnel Seattle throws out 3 All-Pro defensive backs in Thomas, Sherman, and Chancelor. Maxwell, Thurmond, and Lane are all excellent corners who would be one of the two starting corners on ANY other NFL squad. And their linebackersWright, Wagner, Irvin, and backup Malcum Smith (who had a INT returned for a TD and was the dude who picked Kaepernick on the Sherman deflection)are the best pass covering linebackers unit in the league. Denver doesnt have a matchup advantage against this pass defense. And some of the cute stuff, like rubs/picks, wont work well against Seattles big defenders.
#6 Mind games. Manning is a nice guy, great story, but above all else is a Jedi Master of picking apart teams with his mind. But Seattle is going to neutralize this by turning the table. Seattle wont even try to out-scheme Manning at the line by being cute. They are going to line up and dictate to Denver: We are playing 3 Deep. We are playing Cover 1 Press. Bring it on! Manning is going to line up prepared to holler OMAHA! fifty times every play only to be frustrated by Seattles vanilla defense daring him to beat them straight up. This is a classic example of a finesse, cerebral offense used to making defenses into proverbial pretzels matching up against a young, athletic, fast, and big defenders with swagger & smarts (see: Patriots vs. the Greatest Show on Turfharken back to the crying about how the Patriots were too physical). They are going to disrupt the finesse game and they are neutralizing Mannings genius by playing straight up ball, forcing Denver to beat them with execution at each level and at every matchup, not trickery and adjustments at the line.
#7 Safety valves. Manning wont have Julius Thomas as a standout miss match. Chancelor and KJ Wright can out Thomas just like they did to Vernon twice, Jimmy twice, and even the respectable Gonzo. Try to be tricky with a mismatch pairing Thomas against a corner by using formations with him as the widest player to a side?that doesnt work so well when you have a fast 63 Sherman more than happy to take on the mismatch. So will Denver try screens? New Orleans is a good screen team and Seattle backers ate these plays alive, young and all.
#8 Run against Nickel. Denver is used to abusing teams with 6 in the box or 7 (the last being a small slot DB type). This wont be so simple against Seattle. When Seattle goes to Nickel personnel Manning will call a run; unfortunately Seattles Nickel players are great against the rush. The backs that gave Seattle problems where gashing, explosive small backs, and that was when Wagner was out/hurt. Seattle has large DBs (Chancelor, Sherman, Maxwell) who can tackle, smallish safety Thomas is a tackling machine, and Middle Linebacker Bobby Wagner is fast, athletic, and was a big part why Seattle stuffed San Francisco rushing attack.
#9 Dink-and-Dunk. Manning will resort to dink-and-dunk but Seattle is the best and preventing YAC which will prevent Denver from those long 12 play drives.
#10 Manning face. Manning has a long history of pressing in big games. He continues to evolve and mature but Seattle has all the tools to frustrate him. If Seattle can get a lead on Denver and hits Manning early and often and can do some of the above things Manning will feel pressured. If he feels pressured he will make mistakes. If Seattle can get that Manning to appear the wheels on the Star Wars offense will fall off and Seattle will have their first Lombardi.