Wide receiver Percy Harvin #11 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates his 2nd half kickoff return during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014 © Getty Images

A safety and two Steven Hauschka field goals gave the Seahawks an 8-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Touchdowns from Marshawn Lynch and Malcolm Smith then made it 22-0 by half time, during which Bruno Mars collaborated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Bruno Mars performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 © Getty Images

Seattle's unanswered points run went up to 36, as Percy Harvin and Jermaine Kearse both reached the end zone.

However, the Broncos finally got on the board with three seconds of the third quarter remaining when Demaryius Thomas made a great one-handed catch for a 14-yard score, which was followed by a successful two-point conversation.

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos scores on a 14 yard pass during Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 © Getty Images

Thomas's touchdown could not restore Denver's hopes of victory, but it did at least help them to comfortably avoid breaking their own record for the biggest losing margin in Super Bowl history - a 55-10 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers in 1990.

Doug Baldwin later added a 10-yard score and, although Richard Sherman left the field through injury, Seattle cruised to an historic victory.