This year's Super Bowl may be one of the more difficult tohandicap in recent memories. Whether Peyton Manning canoutmaneuver the smothering Seattle defense remains to beseen. One thing is certain: the matchup should provide one ofthe more entertaining big games in recent memory.

Of course, there are lessons that we should take away, aswell. These are two teams that have earned their place inhistory. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was all butwritten off a couple years ago after neck surgery. Hisresilience has stunned even his most ardent supporters. Thisfuture hall of famer will undoubtedly go down in history as one ofthe best, if not the best, quarterbacks inhistory.

On the other side of the line is the smothering Seahawksdefense. While they may not be the 1976 Steelers or 1985Bears, they are darn good! Just look at thestatistics: fewest yards allowed, fewest yards per game,fewest points allowed, and the most interceptions. Given theclaims industry's penchant for benchmarking to specific metrics,there are a lot of lessons that can be learned about measuringthe right things and holding people accountable. This is thesurest recipe for optimal results.

What are some of the lessons that we, as claims leaders, cantake off the field and into our own organizations? First, itis that people matter. Of all the rosters inthe NFL, the two facing off in this year's Super Bowl are arguablythe best two teams. It is an epic showdown between the number oneoffense and the number one defense. These teams earned theseranks because their people consistently executed basicfundamentals.

As we've discussed before, people are the foundation of everyorganization. The right ones will give you a competitive edgebecause they will consistently execute. That said, the wrongpeople will leave your organization at a competitive disadvantage,largely the result of inconsistent performance. Just asthe NFL isn't for everyone, neither is a career in claims. Itis incumbent upon business leaders to ensure they have the mosttalented people in every position, be it an executive, claimsmanager, adjuster or assistant.

Beyond the people, there is theattitude. The Broncos bring years of experience andan air of positivity. This is what every organizationneeds. Imagine the success of any organization with leadersand visionaries who could execute in the trenches and theboardroom. Counter that with a more physical approach that ishands on, high intensity, every step of the way. Just asclaims organizations can have different philosophies on how toattain success, so too can NFL franchises. The key to successis having the winning attitude and a will to succeed 24/7. AsVince Lombardi said, “The difference between a successful personand others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, butrather in a lack of will.”

Think of the potential in not only a claims organization, butany organization, if it were stacked with positive attitudes and awill to succeed. This translates to victory both on the fieldand off the field. Rather than focusing on points scored andgames won, perhaps we are looking at effective investigations andaccurate claims resolutions. Instead of a stadium full of cheeringfans, we are looking to win adoring customers who are delighted inoutcomes and eager to renew their loyalty for anotherseason.

There are insurance carriers who have adopted this mantra, andthey are growing exponentially. There are others who have not,often stuck in the status quo simply because it works. It is adifference in paradigm of what will get me to the Super Bowl versuscan I get by with another .500 season.

Whatever the outcome on Sunday, these are two outstandingteams. They have taken tremendous steps to get from prettydarn ordinary to extraordinary. Typically, I would put mymoney on a defense to win championships, but I do have somereservations given the chess master on the other side. TheSeattle defense plays a lot of single high safety and presses theoutside. They have gotten away with it because of the strengthof their pass rush. This could be their downfall againstDenver, which has the ability to block, giving Manning some time toengage in his aerial circus.

It could actually be Seattle's offense that determines theoutcome, if they execute on sustained drives thus keeping theBroncos' offense on the sidelines. If that happens, look forthe Seahawks to win. If not, look for a Mile Highcelebration. If I must make the call, it will be Seahawks 27,Broncos 24.

Christopher Tidball is a claims consultant and the author ofmultiple books, including Blocking & Tackling: The Playbook forthe Winning Claims Organization. He is a claims veteran, withmore than 20 years of adjusting, management and executiveleadership experience. To learn more, please visit www.christidball.com.