Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots NFL AFC Championship

The two veterans are the leaders of their respective units, and figure to play a big role in Denver’s success, whether it be on the field with big plays or simply helping to keep teammates focused in the games ahead.

Normally, it’s better to avoid the popular public side, and the betting public is heavily on the New England Patriots’ side in the AFC Championship Game.

The Patriots play the Broncos for the AFC championship at Denver’s Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Motivated by the mandible muscles of the chatty Broncos, Patriots QB Tom Brady puts on a vintage effort against the NFL’s leading defense and a late Denver rally comes up short. I wondered if Manning made it as far as the AFC Championship, how would the refs call the game? Danny Trevathan was the Broncos leading tackler with 109, Brandon Marshall had 102, Von Miller had 11.5 sacks, and DeMarcus Ware had 7.5 sacks. His left foot damaged, his right arm diminished, his shoulders no longer haul the hopes of a franchise and its fans.

For Manning this year has been a season of more downs than ups.

“Peyton’s mind has always been at the forefront of this game”.

“We have to run the ball for us to stay balanced and for us to be successful this week”, said their running back Ronnie Hillman. “That’s the difference in these two guys”. Third-year RB C.J. Anderson rushed for a career-high 113 yards in that game and has averaged 80 yards per game on the ground in Denver’s past three contests. The Broncos also beat the Patriots earlier this season, overcoming a 14-point deficit in Week 12 on their way to a 30-24 victory in overtime. He threw nearly twice as many interceptions as he did touchdown passes during the regular season and his passer rating was a career-low. His successful cameo against the Chargers secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and he was both methodical and mistake-free in Denver’s 23-17 win over Pittsburgh last week.

“Oh, I don’t know”, Manning told the media on Wednesday. It’s never really been broken down. We have to really just sit back and see what these guys do and go out and prepare for that instead of saying something. The New England defense ranks as the best in the league in picking off passes per drive. By keeping the Patriots’ offense one dimensional, the Broncos number one defense in the National Football League should be able to take control of this game. Sending Brady to his seventh loss in nine trips to Denver would give them that chance.

The top two teams in terms of scoring differential collide in Charlotte, where the Panthers haven’t lost since the 2014 regular season.

They ran from one sideline to the other catching rapid-fire passes from their left and right, a staple of the NFL’s scouting combine every February where prospective pass-catchers show off their good hands.

The Broncos acquired Davis from San Francisco on November 2 in a move that was viewed as a strong addition for Peyton Manning. Their 10 wins by seven points or fewer are tied with the 1978 Houston Oilers for most ever.

Manning and Brady have been a blast to watch over the years, but the 17th installment of one of pro football’s greatest rivalries will look nothing like their shootouts of old. Manning not having turnovers is a start, but it has to come with a defense that disturbs and slows down the Patriots. His release time is the problem, so leaving him those medium length throws wide open is simply giving the game to the Patriots.

It’s about the team Manning has around him.

“I just say, ‘We’ll fix it. We’ll be fine, ‘” Thomas said.