Superbowl XLVIII Will Be an Old School AFC West Showdown

Aug 17, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) speak following a 40-10 preseason victory by the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

In case you just started watching football in the last few years, or only have been following the Kansas City Chiefs since Alex Smith came in from San Francisco this season, you may not know that there used to be five teams in the AFC West. Those teams were the Chiefs, the Denver Broncos, the San Diego Chargers, the Oakland Raiders and…the Seattle Seahawks.

Between the 2001 and 2002 seasons, the NFL went under a realignment that created four divisions in each conference and forced the Seahawks from AFC West to the NFC West.

Thus, for the first time ever, two former division rivals will face each other in the Superbowl.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has all but said that he won’t be retiring after this season, so there’s no need to root for the Mile High team in the hopes that their record breaking QB will ride off into the sunset with a Lombardi Trophy.

That leaves us Addicts — at least this Addict — rooting for the Seattle Seahawks, because there will be some satisfaction in the record breaking season that was the 2013 Denver Broncos come to a screeching halt at the hands of the upstart Seahawks, their young quarterback Russell Wilson and their potentially overrated “Legion of Boom.”

What do you think, Addicts? Who are you cheering for this year?