2014 Super Bowl, daily briefing: Early favorites

If championship Sunday in the NFL was any indication, Super Bowl XLVIII should have plenty of viewers.

Ratings for both the AFC Championship Game and the NFC Championship were up from a year ago, according to Showbuzz Daily. The compelling matchups obviously helped. The Seahawks and 49ers are two of the most exciting teams in football, and another chapter of Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning was a big ratings draw.

But there's one person who has already decided to not watch the Super Bowl. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told the Boston Herald he has not interest in watching the game after his team was eliminated from the game. There's just under two weeks until the big game, but the story lines are already pouring in.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman scared Eric Andrews, entertained viewers and nearly shut down the Internet with his post game interview. In the brief interview, Sherman called out 49ers receiving Michael Crabtree and called himself the best cornerback in the game. He's since apologized for taking attention away from his teammates and for attacking an individual. Still, we probably haven't heard the last from Sherman, and he should be interesting at media day leading up to the Super Bowl.

The AFC team has been designated as the home team for the Super Bowl this season, and that means the Broncos got their choice of jersey for the game against the Seahawks. Denver has elected to go with their home orange jerseys, according to the Denver Post. Interestingly enough, the Broncos are 0-3 all time in the Super Bowl when they wear the orange jerseys.

• Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin is expected to be on the field when the Seahawks resume practice on Wednesday, according to the Seattle Times. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said the team is counting on him to be ready.
• Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin is expected to be limited in practice this week. Baldwin suffered a hip injury against the 49ers but played through it and posted some of his best numbers as a pro. Carroll said he should be ready for the Super Bowl.
• Broncos cornerback Tony Carter did not suffer a concussion on Sunday, according to the Denver Post. The Broncos have lucked out with injuries in the postseason.