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Seattle's Byron Maxwell reacts to a play in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Byron Maxwell is all over Denver's Demayrius Thomas in a play in the third quarter at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Tackle Russell Okung #76 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after winning Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.The Seahawks beat the Broncos 43-8. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Seattle Seahawk Sea Gals cheer during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll on the sideline during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Percy Harvin, left, celebrates a touchdown with teammates Russell Wilson, center, and Golden Tate, right, in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle Seahawks players holds up Super Bowl Trophy after winning Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Seahawks beat the Broncos 43-8. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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Seattle's Richard Sherman, right, has words for Denver's Demaryius Thomas, left, during the third quarter in Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Wide receiver Percy Harvin #11 of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the ball while being tackled by strong safety Duke Ihenacho #33 of the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Seattle's Golden Tate spins from of Denver's Mike Adams during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Russell Wilson, right, hands off to Marshawn Lynch, left, during the third quarter at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Russell Wilson throw as pass during the third quarter at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, right, celebrates with quarterback Russell Wilson after the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks won 43-8. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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Media surround quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks after their 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
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Denver's Demaryius Thomas, right, makes a catch while defended by Seattle's Bobby Wagner, left, during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) breaks a tackle by Denver Broncos middle linebacker Paris Lenon during the third quarter
in the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, February 2, 2014. (REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)
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Denver Broncos' Demaryius Thomas makes the catch for a touchdown against Seattle Seahawks' Byron Maxwell during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Wide receiver Doug Baldwin #89 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates his touchdown during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Fireworks light up the halftime show at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Doug Baldwin is pursued by Denver's Champ Bailey, at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Russell Wilson, right, scrambles, while pursued by Denver's Danny Trevathan, left, at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Michael Robinson, fends off Denver's Paris Lenon during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Malcolm Smith returns an interception for a touchdown during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Russell WIlson calls a play during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Denver's Nate Irving breaks up a pass intended for Jermaine Kearse during the second quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Denver's Peyton Manning throws a pass during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Doug Baldwin hauls in a pass during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Marshawn Lynch celebrates with Michael Bennet after scoring a touchdown during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's DeShawn Shead celebrates in the end zone during the second quarter at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, gets the Seahawks to within a yard of the goal line during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Golden Tate, left, and Doug Baldwin, right, talk after a play at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Malcolm Smith scores a touchdown on a interception in the second quarter at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Kam Chancellor, #31, and Earl Thomas, #29, celebrate after a tackle at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Doug Baldwin hauls in a pass while covered by Denver's Champ Bailey, at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle's Richard Sherman leaves the field at halftime during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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A Seattle Seahawks fans in the stands at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Denver's Peyton Manning looks to make a hand off to Knowshon Moreno during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle Seahawks' Percy Harvin sprints past Denver Broncos' Steven Johnson after an interception during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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The Seattle Seahawks in a huddle at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle Seahawks fans celebrate after a Marshawn Lynch touchdown at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Outside linebacker Malcolm Smith #53 of the Seattle Seahawks intercepts a pass intended for running back Knowshon Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos to run it 69-yards for a touchdown in the second quarter during Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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Skittles land on the field after Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch scored a touchdown during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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Denver's Knowshon Moreno recovers a Seahawks punk at MetLife Stadium for at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor (31) intercepts a pass intended for Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas (80) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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The Seattle Seahawks Sea Gals take the field before the game at MetLife Stadium for at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll on the sidelines fans during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium for at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks runs with ball during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII against Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Kicker Steven Hauschka (R) #4 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with center Lemuel Jeanpierre #61 of the Seattle Seahawks after kicking a 31 yard field goal during first quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Wide receiver Doug Baldwin #89 of the Seattle Seahawks runs with ball for a 37 yard pass completion during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno (27) recovers the ball in the end zone for a safety in Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)
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Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks dives out of bounds with ball during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII against Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up with teammates before the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looks for a receiver at MetLife Stadium for at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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The Seattle Seahawks enter the field at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)
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Seattle Seahawks fans cheer during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium for at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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The Seattle Seahawks take the field before the game at MetLife Stadium for at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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The Seattle Seahawks get pumped before the game at MetLife Stadium for at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Doug Baldwin, of the Seattle Seahawks takes the field at MetLife Stadium for at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in New Jersey. (Joshua Trujillo, seattlepi.com)
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Wide receiver Ricardo Lockette #83 (C) warms-up with defensive tackle Clinton McDonald #69 (R) and wide receiver Doug Baldwin #89 prior to start of Super Bowl XLVIII against Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks is shown prior to Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Wide receiver Trindon Holliday #11 of the Denver Broncos and teammates take the field prior to the start of Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
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The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions for the first time in team history.
And they are bringing a major national championship back to the Emerald City for the first time in 35 years.
The Seahawks jumped on the Denver Broncos on the first play from scrimmage in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, then never let up. A shocking defensive performance shut down Peyton Manning and the Broncos for a full 60 minutes, and the Hawks dominated MetLife Stadium for a 43-8 victory Sunday.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll celebrates as Percy Harvin returns the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown during Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (Matt Slocum/AP Photo)
They were hungry. They were determined. They were overwhelming.
And now they are Super Bowl champions.
The game was all but over by the time Bruno Mars took the halftime stage and the Red Hot Chili Peppers took off their shirts. Seattle had powered to a 22-0 lead by the break … but with Manning under center for the Broncos, a historic comeback was on the minds of all 82,529 fans at the Meadowlands.
Until the first play of the second half, that is, when Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin — who played in just two games up until Sunday — fielded Matt Prater’s kickoff and took it 87 yards to the opposite end zone.
Seattle had a 29-0 lead. By the middle of the third quarter, they led 36-0 thanks to a touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to wideout Jermaine Kearse. By the end of the fourth quarter, Tarvaris Jackson was playing quarterback.
It wasn’t until the final play of the third quarter that Seattle allowed Denver to score, on a 14-yard pass from Manning to Demaryius Thomas for his 12th catch of the night — a Super Bowl record. But by that point, the Broncos faced an insurmountable deficit.
The game was all Seattle’s. And it was from the very beginning.