Not next Sunday, though. Bolden returned after missing four games because of a hamstring injury and set up the Broncos’ first points with a 42-yard punt return, but fell to the ground with the knee injury while covering a punt later in the quarter. A win, and he’ll make his seventh appearance in the Super Bowl.
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Manning is more the “cerebral” style of quarterback-the kind who is normally overlooked and has to constantly overcome doubts about his physical abilities. It’s unfair to call him a game manager, though, because he’s intelligent and he’s seen more than any other quarterback out there. Brady passed the ball so much last week to avoid the Chiefs pass rush, but the Broncos pass rush will get after Von Miller as they account for four sacks total on the game to go along with two unlikely interceptions thrown by Brady.
Manning didn’t want to start reflecting on the rivalry with Brady right away.
It is an wonderful accomplishment for both men that 16 and 18 years into their respective Hall of Fame careers, fans and media are still bearing witness to the two of them meeting in the playoffs, with the victor going on to the Super Bowl.
Of the 22 players that the Patriots put on the field, 17 were either drafted by New England or signed as undrafted free agents. “We stayed patient tonight”. The challenge doesn’t get any easier.
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half in an NFL football divisional playoff game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Denver.
Manning’s experience proved crucial against Pittsburgh, as Denver mounted a late, time-consuming fourth quarter drive to score the game’s decisive touchdown through running back CJ Anderson. He doesn’t rely on his arm almost as much as his ability to decipher schemes. But there also were subtler signs that he has his own game dialing up. Denver recognizes that, and also found it can provide it with a multi-dimension defense.
“Our defense is guiding us”.
Brown did not make the trip to Denver because he was never cleared to be removed from concussion protocol. He engineered one touchdown drive on Sunday, gifted to him by a Steelers fumble and a freaky play where he gave himself up but got a second chance when no one on the banged up Pittsburgh team was around to lay a hand on him. I told them it would take them all today. Denver’s defense is the main reason I like this match up for them, but Manning must step up and play better and I believe he will as he throws for two touchdowns.
Seattle Seahawks 24-31 Carolina Panthers: The way this game’s first half went, it looked as if the Seahawks were in for a very long day.
Manning might be the greatest player of all time, but right now he’s probably not more valuable than Chris Harris, the Broncos’ No. 1 cornerback and arguably a top-five corner in the NFL.
While it doesn’t seem like they intentionally meant to fake a sack, Manning had the awareness to know that if he falls and goes down, it doesn’t mean necessarily that he’s been touched and that the play is over. “It sure did. It will continue to take all of us as we move forward”.
Brady has one of his security blankets back in Julian Edelman, who returned from a broken foot on Saturday to help the Patriots beat Kansas City.
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Going up against a passing attack featuring Brady, Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, and Danny Amendola, the Broncos need to bring their A-game in the secondary and that usually includes Harris.
