It’s no surprise seeing Brady, Manning again

Interceptions for Peyton Manning on Sunday, making the first time since last season’s divisional-round loss to the Colts (10 starts) that he didn’t toss a pick. If you are a Steelers fan reading this, you have to be proud of the fact that despite missing the teams’ two MVPs from the previous season that they came within one possession of the AFC Championship game.

The Broncos overcame an unspectacular outing by Peyton Manning in their gritty 23-16 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers to set up a marquee quarterback matchup in next week’s AFC title game. “We’ll enjoy this one tonight. We come out seven minutes before kickoff and I see a 30 miles per hour crosswind come in over the Rockies”, said McManus.

Scorsese? Eastwood? Let’s go with Spielberg to direct the film about this Broncos season, if it rolls on, through the New England Patriots, into Super Bowl 50.

Brady has long gotten the better of Manning, who is 5-11 lifetime against his counterpart, but 2-2 in the playoffs, including a win two years ago in this stadium.

DENVER (AP) — Peyton Manning gets to face his biggest nemesis for one more shot at glory. And even with a roster depleted by injuries and a quarterback using guts to make up for an injured throwing shoulder, these Steelers were the equal of any other team in the field.

“Couldn’t have it no better way”, ex-Pat Aqib Talib said afterward as Von Miller practiced his new dance across the locker room. Broncos Radio NetworkOnline Streaming: CBS SportsOdds: The early money is going the Patriots’ way, with Tom Brady and company opening as 3-point favorites.

What it meant: The Broncos had not only kept the Steelers out of the end zone, but they pushed them out of field-goal range, taking away yet another scoring opportunity.

Now Manning and Brady are set to square off for the 17th time.

Running back FitzgeraldToussaint, filling in for both Williams and Bell, had the football blasted out of his hands on a run toward the left sideline, and DeMarcus Ware recovered it at the Broncos own 35 yard line.

“I could have protected the ball a little bit more”, said Toussaint, who scored his first career TD in the first half. “They played great all season and were dominant today against a high-powered offence”. “I got to believe the receivers – that factored in to them, as well”.

Then, Manning, who led his 55th career game-winning drive in the fourth-quarter or overtime and second in his playoff career, passed wide receiver to Demaryius Thomas for the two-point conversion and a seven-point Denver advantage.

For all the twists and turns Manning’s age-39 season has taken, here he is, a game away from going to his fourth Super Bowl after a 23-16 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After Denver held Pittsburgh, forcing the ball back to the Broncos on downs, McManus kicked a 45-yard field goal with 53 seconds left to play to make it a two-score lead. “They have led us to this point”.

“Down in the fourth quarter, (we got a) great play by our defence”. “They’re a good defense, playing really well for the past number of weeks”. We had to settle for field goals. We didn’t force anything and we didn’t give them any short fields. Now, with Manning back under center, the Broncos are more of a run-first team (more on that shortly), as Denver relies on a two-back combination of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman more often than not when it comes to moving the chains.

Ben Roethlisberger – 24-37 in the passing game with 339 yards.