Peyton Manning moves one step closer to storybook finish

“We got to the point in the game where we had to take some calculated risks and that is, I’m sure, why they started him, because he’s capable of not only doing things in the passing game, but things in the running game – he got us with some good checks, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t compliment him in terms of what they were able to do in the run game”.

The NFL’s only five-time MVP earned one more and possibly final game against his rival by leading the Denver Broncos to a come-from-behind 23-16 win over Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers on a blustery Sunday.

Veteran quarterback Manning will face off against New England Patriots opposite number Brady in the AFC championship game next week for the fifth time in National Football League play-off history after getting the better of Pittsburgh an attritional battle in Denver. You could feel it in the throwing.

His best pass of the game against Pittsburgh came when the Broncos needed it most. “We’re playing a team we beat earlier this year”.

In the fourth quarter, Steelers offense found its rhythm and was effectively moving the ball when cornerback Roby forced a Steeler fumble which was recovered by Demarcus Ware.

Denver’s formula for success: protect the ball and protect the QB.

But it looks like, in the eyes of so many, it’s up to whether or not you win or lose. “And it cost us today”. It seemed like the now darkened stadium would host one more game, but a costly fumble opened the door for a Broncos win. Manning slipped to the turf, then popped back up to his feet and fired a pass to Emmanuel Sanders for a 34-yard pass, the Broncos’ longest play of the game to that point. The Broncos turned that into an eventual game-winning touchdown.

“I thought it was really ours until the end there”, offensive lineman David DeCastro said.

“It’s good that we have a veteran secondary and we’ve played against Brady tons of times”, Harris said.

After the day’s only turnover, the Broncos put together their only touchdown drive – 13 plays, 65 yards over 6:52, capped by a 1-yard run by C.J. Anderson.

A 43-yard field goal from Chris Boswell extended Pittsburgh’s lead before McManus added his third three-pointer of the afternoon to make it 10-9 at the half. “It’s emotional for everybody because everybody appreciates everybody else’s effort”.

The Broncos were expected to have little trouble with the Steelers, who lost star wide-receiver Antonio Brown and running back DeAngelo Williams to injuries earlier in the week. No other quarterback reached 300 against Denver this season.

The Steelers will dress only two quarterbacks for their AFC divisional round game against the Denver Broncos this afternoon at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver’s drive stalled in part when Linebacker James Harrison set back the Broncos with a sack of Manning.

Brandon McManus then kicked his fifth field goal of the game from 45 yards with 53 seconds left for the final score. Though the offense couldn’t get a first down, McManus kicked another field goal to go up 6-0.

On its first two scoring drives, Denver started out at Pittsburgh’s 30 and 31 yard line, following a 42-yard punt return by Omar Bolden and the first of two 27-yard punts shanked by Pittsburgh’s Jordan Berry. He went 21-for-37 for 222 yards. “It was a field goal football game, turnover was the difference in the game”.

The 17th chapter was slated for November before Manning went out with a foot injury that pushed longtime backup Brock Osweiler into the starting and starring role.