Enter the Legion of Boom.

Among all defenses from the past 10 NFL seasons, the 2013 Seahawks rank in the top 10 in both points and yards allowed per game, as well as total takeaways.

Seattle had forced multiple turnovers in 12 regular season games. Four members of their secondary – the self-proclaimed Legion of Boom – combined for 20 interceptions.

The Seahawks made a point of boosting their pass rush in the offseason prior to 2013 and it paid off, with newcomers Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril combining for 16.5 sacks during their first year as Seahawks. With the pass rush disrupting opposing quarterbacks and the Legion of Boom lurking downfield, Seattle gave up 200 or more passing yards only five times all season.

In a test of the league’s best defense versus the league’s best offense, Seattle met the Denver Broncos -- whose 248.90 Adjusted NEP is the third best value in the NFL since we started tracking NEP in 2000 -- in the Super Bowl. Proving that defense truly does win championships, the Seahawks breezed to a 43-8 victory, forcing 4 turnovers and holding the Broncos to just 27 rushing yards along the way. It was the first time all year that Denver had been held under 20 points.