Manning Says Noise Led To Safety At Start Of Super Bowl

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBS4) - Things didn't go the Denver Broncos way right out of the gates in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Peyton Manning said after the 43-8 loss to the Seahawks that the noise inside MetLife Stadium led to the bungled snap that ended up in a safety for the Seahawks. It made history Sunday as the fastest scoring play in Super Bowl history for any team.

The play wound up setting the tone for the game. It was the first play from scrimmage -- 1st and 10 on the Denver 15 -- and center Manny Ramirez snapped the ball when Manning wasn't expecting it. The football sailed past Manning and bounced into the endzone. It wound up as a safety as Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno sprinted back, grabbed the ball and was tackled in the endzone by Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril.

"We were using the snap count on the play and due to the noise no one could hear me," Manning said. "I was walking up to the line of scrimmage to sort of make a change and get us on the same page and then the ball was snapped."

Manning was obviously frustrated when describing the play. He even seemed a little bit at a loss for words.

"So, really just an overall ... nobody's fault. Not Manning's fault. Just a noise issue that really caused that play to happen," he said.

Ramirez told reporters in the locker after the game that he was "shocked" by what happened in the play, and that it was his fault.

"You never expect anything like that to happen. I believe we've had a very good year as far as being able to control the snaps and all that. Of course, I'll take full blame for that," he said. "They capitalized on it and we weren't able to get going for the rest of the game."

CBS4's Vic Lombardi asked Ramirez to clarify if noise was an issue.

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"It was real loud and we're trying to go on a cadence and I thought I heard him. I didn't, you know. He was already walking up to me because he had already said the cadence and I snapped it. But again, I'll take full responsibility for that."

Ramirez said it was the first time the Broncos made such a mistake this season. He said nerves weren't a factor at the start of the game.

"We were backed up to the endzone and they were loud," he said.

The Associated Press reported that in one of the practices leading up to the Super Bowl Broncos coach John Fox may have miscalculated when he decided to turn down the speakers that simulate crowd noise because "it's not an away game."

Receiver Wes Welker said of the play and the crowd noise "We didn't prepare very well for that."

Manning also told reporters after the game that the loss overall was a big disappointment for the team.

"We worked hard to get to this point. Overcame a lot of obstacles to be here. Put in a lot of hard work and did some really good things just to have this opportunity," he said. "Certainly to finish this way is very disappointing."

When asked if he thought the loss was embarrassing, Manning said he wouldn't use that word.

"There are a lot of professional football players in that locker room that put in a lot of hard work into being here and playing in that game. The word embarrassing is an insulting word, to tell you the truth," Manning said.

- Written by Jesse Sarles for CBSDenver.com