The National Football Conference game went right to the wire as the Seahawks held on for a 23-17 triumph over the San Francisco 49ers - only the second time in franchise history they have qualified for the showpiece game.
Seahawks' cornerback Richard Sherman made the crucial play as he got a hand to 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's potential match-winning throw, which was headed for wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the end zone with 20 seconds to play.
Sherman's deflection of the ball allowed Malcolm Smith to intercept the pass and seal the win for the Seahawks.
Kaepernick rushed for 130 yards and threw a touchdown pass as he battled hard to give his team a shot at victory.
But his Seattle counterpart Russell Wilson contributed significantly to the win with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse a on fourth down while trailing 17-13.
The Seahawks have never won a Super Bowl with the one previous appearance resulting in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jermaine Kearse of the Seattle Seahawks is hit by Eric Reid and Donte Whitner of the San Francisco 49ers. Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
In the battle of two of the NFL's best quarterbacks, Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos were too good for Tom Brady's New England Patriots as they clinched the American Football Conference with a 26-16 victory.
Manning threw for 400 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, as the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl in 15 years.
The veteran quarterback orchestrated two seven-minute touchdown drives that earned the Broncos a 20-3 lead in the third quarter.
New England mounted a fightback in the last quarter with Brady throwing for the majority of his 277 yards as the game wore on.
A pair of Denver field goals in the final quarter sealed the victory and will now allow Manning the opportunity to be the first quarterback to win the Super Bowl at two different teams.
Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos celebrates after they defeated the New England Patriots. Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images