Among the many storylines that have been and will be drummed up as Super Bowl XLVIII approaches, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning vs. Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman will be the most interesting. Manning can throw to other receivers however, so the real matchup to watch is Sherman vs. Demaryius Thomas.
Sherman infamously called San Francisco pass-catcher Michael Crabtree "sorry" and "mediocre" following Seattle's NFC Championship win over the 49ers in Seattle, but has been respectful of Thomas so far. He even called Manning's No. 1 receiver "top five" in the league.
Watch Richard Sherman discuss Demaryius Thomas here!
"I definitely think he's top five," Sherman said. "He put together the type of year and done everything in his power to put himself in that conversation. He's made big catches, he's got a lot of run after the catches, he turns some small plays into huge plays, and I think that he's a great receiver. He's a great competitor, and I'm sure it's going to be a fun night for both of us because we're both intense competitors and good players."
While Sherman's status as the absolute best cornerback in the NFL could be debatable, statistics would agree with his assessment. During the 2013 season Sherman collected a league-high eight interceptions while deflecting another 17 passes. He also had 56 total tackles and two fumble recoveries, to go with one interception touchdown.
Thomas poses a big threat to him on Sunday however. Thomas is a large receiver, standing six feet, three inches and weighing 230 lbs. With Manning slinging he had his best season ever, reeling in 92 passes for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns. He caught a tick under six passes per game, and averaged nearly 90 yards per week.
"He's a great player," Thomas said of Sherman. "I'd love to have that matchup to show what kind of player I am."
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