Broncos, Patriots Talk Trash Ahead of AFC Title Game

The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots will duke it out for the AFC spot in Super Bowl 50.

The Patriots have been the buzzkill in the Manning narrative.

With the goal posts swaying wildly from gusts nearly the entire game, McManus converted field goals of 28, 41, 51, 41 and 45 yards, joking that it was such a tricky task that he just kept aiming “at the guy holding the beer in the top left corner”. Usually we see Belichick defer the opening coin toss away to the opposing team, but he should be careful doing that this weekend.

Best player • Brady is the traditional answer, but tight end Rob Gronkowski is an AP All-Pro first-team selection.

Gronkowski caught two touchdown passes Saturday in the Patriots’ AFC divisional round win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Edelman is the one who moves the chains, but Gronkowski is the unstoppable force who gets in the end zone. What about a 2nd Super Bowl ring for Peyton Manning? But because of Belichick and Brady, there is debate and it usually drops Manning to the ranks as “one of” the best. Last week he led a comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers with zero turnovers. The Panthers were still able to win their 12th straight game at home. He was 4-3; Brady is 6-3 heading into Sunday’s game in Denver against the Broncos and longtime nemesis Peyton Manning. They’ve averaged eight points in the final quarter this season. You can’t let Manning sit comfortably in the pocket or he will pick you apart. That will be something to keep an eye on because you talk to media folks out here and they all think the biggest problem the Broncos have going into the game is Brady vs the secondary. The Broncos have great wide receivers, so the more time Manning gets, the more time Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas have to get open. This game has a whole different set of implications that have not been apart of the previous 16 match ups, declining play. The play that changed that game was a trick play on offense by Josh McDaniels. I’m going with either Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders this week, possibly coupled with Larry Fitzgerald, playing in the slot for Arizona. That was something, wasn’t it? Now’s the time to use it. Maybe a fake punt, fake field goal or even an onside kick.

A sixth-round draft pick who spent his rookie year as the No. 4 quarterback on the Patriots’ depth chart, Brady has grown into a four-time National Football League champion and a three-time Super Bowl MVP.