Who has the edge in the Superbowl?

Quarterback: Denver
Both Russell Wilson and Peyton Manning are among the upper echelon of signal-callers in the NFL. However, one is in the early stages of his career, while the other is reaching the final stages of his football life. Russell Wilson is a great player, but Peyton Manning just set the record for most touchdowns and yards in a single season

Running Back: Seattle
Knowshon Moreno has had a great 2013-2014 season, but this really isn’t close. Beast Mode (Marshawn Lynch) is one of the best at his position in the NFL.

Wide Receiver and Tight End: Denver
Denver has the best pass-catching core in the NFL. Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and Julius Thomas all caught more than ten touchdowns this season. The biggest weakness for the Seattle offense is their depth at wide receiver. When Percy Harvin is injured, they do not have a true stud on the outside

Offensive Line: Denver
Manning wasn’t sacked in the AFC Championship Game, and one of the most underrated signings of the past offseason was their acquisition of Louis Vasquez. Seattle’s isn’t far behind, but Denver clearly has the edge at keeping their quarterback upright.

Defensive Line: Seattle
Seattle has built a dominating defensive core around their ability to rush the passer. Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, and Chris Clemons form one of the most imposing defensive lines in the NFL. Their ability to pressure Peyton Manning will play a huge factor in the Superbowl.

Linebacker: Seattle
Although both teams have solid linebackers, Seattle’s Bobby Wagner and Bruce Irvin put them over the top. Their ability to stuff the running game will be very important, because it will force Peyton to attack the best secondary in the NFL through the air.

Defensive Back: Seattle
This is the best secondary in the NFL. Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Byron Maxwell, and Earl Thomas form a unit that is a force to be reckoned with. Their front seven often puts pressure on opposing quarterbacks, who then make errant throws which are swallowed up by these four players.

Kicker: Denver
Matt Prater missed one field goal in the regular season, and set the NFL record for the longest field goal ever (64 yards). Even with the thin air that he kicks in for half of his games, that is a huge accomplishment. In a game that might come down to a field goal, Matt Prater gives his team the advantage with his booming leg.

Punter: Tie
Both Jon Ryan and Britton Colquitt had excellent seasons. Both had more than 20 kicks that landed inside the opponent’s 20 yard line. If it comes down to punting and field position, I don’t see an edge on either side

Kick and Punt Returning: Tie
Denver’s Trindon Holliday and Seattle’s Golden Tate are both threats to take one all the way to the house. If I were punting in this game, I’d do my best to get a lot of hang time on my kick so that the returner is forced to call for a fair catch.

By these numbers, each team claimed four of the ten categories and tied at two of them. Both of these teams are stacked, so expect to see one of the best Superbowls ever in New Jersey in February.