What more could a football fan ask for than a conference championship between two star-studded teams lead by two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks? Not much if you ask me!
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots took to the field to face off against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in Mile High Stadium this afternoon. Past matchups between these two quarterbacks and their teams have been thrillers and this time was no exception. The Patriots received the ball to start the game off and punted it within a handful of plays. The Broncos responded by driving the field 83 yards and starting the scoring off on a 20 yard connection between Peyton Manning and tight-end Owen Daniels.
Four possessions later New England challenged an incomplete pass from Manning to Hillman arguing that it was a backwards pass and a Patriots’ fumble recovery. The call on the field was overturned giving New England the ball just outside of the Redzone at the Denver 22. Brady completed a 20 yard pass to Brandon Bolden before Steven Jackson punched it in for the score. Stephen Gostkowski went on to miss the extra point. An extra point that would prove to have a strong impact on the outcome of this game.
Denver 7, New England 6.
Owen Daniels, Getty Images
The legendary quarterbacks had some great plays down the stretch, but this game really came down to a battle of the defenses. Two plays into the 2nd half Brady threw a short pass to the right intended for Rob Gronkowski that was picked off by Von Miller at the New England 20 and returned 4 yards to the 16 yard line. Three plays later Manning and Daniels connected again, this time on a 12 yard pass and catch that moved the Broncos up to 13 points. Brandon McManus put the extra point through the posts to make it 14 points to New England’s 6.
The Patriots answered 13 plays later on a 46 yard field goal by Gostkowski, bringing the Patriots to within 5 points of the Broncos. The Broncos failed to respond going 3-and-out on the next drive; however, 3 plays later Darian Stewart picked Tom Brady off on a pass intended for James White at the Denver 36. The Broncos weren’t able to capitalize on the interception going 3-and-out again. The Patriots wouldn’t do any better. The defenses were here to play.
Denver would finish off the first half scoring with a booming 52 yard field goal courtesy of McManus.
Halftime: Denver 17, New England 9.
The Broncos received to start the second half. Two runs and a 13 yard sack later and the Broncos were punting to the Pats. New England came out of the locker room with a new fire amongst them. Two plays into their first possession of the half Brady hit a triple covered Gronkowski for 31 yards down to the Denver 36. The Patriots would eventually settle for a 38 yard field goal attempt for Gostkowski, which he would make with ease.
Denver 17, New England 12.
Five short possessions later, Denver produced a 10 play, 48 yard drive that ended in a 31 yard field goal by McManus. This would be the Broncos last scoring play of the game.
Denver 20, New England 12.
The Patriots looked ready to answer, driving the field 64 yards to the Denver 16 before turning it over on downs on a failed 1 yard 4th down conversion. The Broncos followed with a quick 3-and-out before handing the ball back to the Patriots to try again. New England looked set to shrink the score difference driving the field 57 yards in 8 plays before once again turning the ball over on downs within the Denver Redzone. The Broncos put together another 3-and-out performance this time totaling 3 yards. The Patriots received the ball at the 50 with 1:52 left on the game clock.
Still down by 8, the Patriots knew what they had to do to win. Brady started the drive off throwing 3 incomplete passes and bringing up 4th down. Not quite the start they were hoping for. The Patriots weren’t ready to give up yet though. On 4th down and 10, Brady dropped back and hit Gronkowski for a massive 40 yard catch and run bringing the ball to the Denver 10 yard line.
1st and Goal at the Denver 10, incomplete pass.
2nd and Goal at the Denver 10, Brady completes a pass to Julian Edelman on the left for 6 yards.
3rd and Goal at the Denver 4, incomplete pass.
4th and Goal at the Denver 4, game on the line! Brady passes 4 yards to find Gronkowski in the back of the end zone! Touchdown!
Denver 20, New England 18.
Timeout Patriots.
Two-point Conversion Attempt: Tom Brady drops back to pass and finds Bradley Roby…..of Denver! Interception!
12 seconds left in the game and the Patriots move to an onside kick formation. Gostkowski kicks it off with the Patriots last hopes hanging on his foot and the ability of the hands team. Shiloh Keo of the Denver Broncos recovered the kick and with it sealed Denver’s American Football Conference Championship victory!
Next stop: Superbowl 50!
Peyton Manning becomes the oldest quarterback to lead his team to the Superbowl at 39 years old, surpassing Broncos great, John Elway. The Broncos will play the winner of the NFC Championship game being played later tonight between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals. Manning’s win also ensures that this will be the first Superbowl played between two past #1 overall picks regardless of the resulting NFC winner as both Cam Newton and Carson Palmer held that spot as well.
Featured Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
