Wes Welker the key for Denver Broncos in Super Bowl

If the Denver Broncos are any chance of beating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII this weekend, Wes Welker needs to take his game to the next level and step up when it matters.

Welker is chasing what all players strive for in the NFL – a Super Bowl ring – after he has failed twice with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.

After his relationship with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots deteriorated, he signed a two year, $12 million free agent deal with Denver this past off-season to pursue that ring.

This season Wes Welker has posted his lowest career numbers since his days with the Miami Dolphins in 2006, with 73 receptions for 778 yards.

Even though he is down on those statistics, the one number stat which is important to Denver is his tally of hauling in a career-high 10 touchdown passes this season.

His post-season numbers this year are somewhat disappointing, with only 76 yards on 10 receptions with one touchdown in two games against the Chargers and Patriots.

Super Bowl XLVIII is going to be the first time in 23 years the league’s best offense goes head-to-head with the number one ranked defence.

There is no denying Seattle has a group of very talented and physical core of defensive backs and this will certainly be on show in New Jersey.

But Denver has their own arsenal of firepower on offence, which will provide the Seahawks defence with major headaches too.

Denver number one receiver Demaryius Thomas will most likely be wearing outspoken cornerback Richard Sherman as a glove and Kam Chancellor will be assigned impressive tight end Julius Thomas.

This is where Wes Welker fits into this intense game of chess and can be Denver’s ace up their sleeve.

He is a master of sucking in passes in the slot and creating space all over the field, not to mention the quickness off the line and height ‘disadvantage’ which allow him to be a major threat.

The Broncos will be hoping – and Peyton Manning will be well aware – if the Seahawks’ defence focuses too much attention on any of wide receivers Thomas and Eric Decker as well as tight end Julius Thomas, he will target little boy wonder Welker.

And if somehow Welker finds himself standing face-to-face with Richard Sherman or any Seahawk defender at the line of scrimmage, that will prove to be no problem.

“Yeah, any time,” Welker said. “I want anybody one-on-one in the slot. Any time.”

The one lingering question is whether Welker has fully recovered from the concussion he suffered late in the regular season which ultimately forced him to sit out the final three games.

Through two post-season games he has looked like he has regained full fitness and is the Welker of old who was Tom Brady’s favourite target during their six productive seasons together.

He is building towards breaking the shackles and exploding for a huge game and will hopefully have the dropped pass from Super Bowl XLVI against the Giants out of his mind.

If the cold, the snow and the ‘elements’ don’t affect Manning and his passing game, Welker should be targeted seven to ten times with a touchdown, but only if Welker himself brings his a-game.

And by all accounts he is be setting himself for a tough battle, because even he knows chances to play in the Super Bowl do not come around very often.

“I definitely feel very blessed to have this opportunity, and to be in this situation is very rare,” Welker said.

“You really can’t take it for granted. You really just want to make the most of it.”