Manning’s Broncos to face Newton’s Panthers in Super Bowl
Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes to tight end Owen Daniels and Denver’s defense came up with three critical stops late in the fourth quarter as the Broncos beat the New England Patriots 20-18 Sunday to advance to their second Super Bowl in three years.
Rob Gronkowski nearly single-handedly saved the New England Patriots season against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game Sunday.
He has his defence to thank.
Brady was under fire from Denver’s defense the entire game, so it was no surprise they pressured him on the 2-point conversion that essentially decided the contest with 12 seconds left. The Super Bowl on February 7 at Levi’s Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, will be the first for Newton and the second for the Panthers, who lost to New England 12 years ago. That’s one more than Ohio State has and two more than Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Rutgers and Tennessee have.
Then, with the game on the line yet again, Gronkowski made yet another incredible grab, snaring the potentially game-tying touchdown despite being double-covered by two Broncos defenders.
“We wanted to start fast”, Newtown said.
91 percent of the money bet in this AFC Championship game was bet on the New England Patriots. He was constantly hounded by Denver’s top-ranked defense, especially Von Miller as the linebacker finished with an interception and 2 ½ sacks.
“For it to come down to a two-point conversion obviously is a tough way to finish the season”, offered a dejected Brady after the game.
Gostkowski didn’t miss an extra point all season.
“It’s a great honor to be going back to the Super Bowl – playing Super Bowl 50”, Manning said.
This has hardly been a record-setting season for Manning – or, until now, one worth remembering. Super Bowl 50 will air on WVLT/CBS.
DOWN & OUT: Belichick gambled twice in the fourth quarter by going for it on fourth down even though the Patriots were in field goal range.
But the Broncos barely held on, and the franchise is now headed to its eighth Super Bowl. Brady had a sub-100 passer rating between those games, but the Patriots came away with two victories anyway. Manning, who has faced criticism throughout his career for not being willing to sacrifice his body, did just that, desperately scrambling for a first down in the third quarter to keep the Denver drive alive and flip field position. Not only was the decision to go for it questionable (their touchdown later in the game would have won it), but the play call was also a head-scratcher.
Manning was sacked three times and completed 17 of 32 attempts for 176 yards.
“Asked why he eschewed field goals, Belichick simply said: “‘Cause of the scoring situation in the game”. Manning’s numbers have dropped (he threw nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 10 games during the regular season, a far cry from his hall-of-fame worthy career stats), and his health and arm strength have been concerns. The Patriots drove to the Denver 16, only to be stopped on a fourth-and-1 when Julian Edelman was tackled short of the first line after catching a floating pass.
“It’ll only be solved if we have children, and they chose my side”, said Flieger, her boyfriend looking the other way, tight-lipped and unwilling to comment.