Best defense in NFL carries Seattle to title

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Richard Sherman waited, and waited and the throws never floated his direction.

Led by its All-Pro cornerback, Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” secondary and the nastiest defense in the NFL proved the strength of the Seahawks was greater than the record-setting arm of Peyton Manning in their stunning 43-8 rout on Sunday night.

Manning carefully tried to avoid throwing at Sherman, leaving the rest of his mates in the secondary to make the plays. Safety Kam Chancellor flattened Demaryius Thomas on Denver’s third offensive play to set a tone. Chancellor later had an interception, cornerback Byron Maxwell forced a fumble and safety Earl Thomas cleaned up everything leftover — which wasn’t much.

Sherman suffered an injury in the fourth quarter and returned to the sideline in time for the celebration in sweats and on crutches.

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