The Broncos are to host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game in Denver on Sunday. He doesn’t have to put up Star Wars numbers for his team to win, let alone have a chance, against Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots. They couldn’t run the football when they had Blount in the lineup, they are definitely not running it with that group they have now.
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In most seasons the Panthers would be a runaway favorite to win the Super Bowl, but this year there are two other teams that are surprisingly statistically similar. Brady will have a hard time, fighting the thin air of Mile High and the stingy Denver defense.
Yet somehow this station didn’t bother to check which Manning was playing on Sunday.
The Broncos struggled against a broken Steelers team that was without their top two running backs and top wide receiver, and their quarterback played through a shoulder injury. The Broncos’ defense has 14 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries, 19 forced fumbles and scored five defensive touchdowns.
Reasons to cheer for them • The Broncos have a strong following in Utah and Manning is an exemplary pro athlete, even if his marketing presence becomes overwhelming at times. I don’t really know what he does.
JOSH NEWMAN, Reporter: At one time, this was a fair fight between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, but that is no longer the case with Manning looking his age. At the end of the season, Brady would become a three-time Super Bowl victor, toppling Philadelphia 24-21 at Super Bowl XXXIX.
But the Broncos are where they are because of a suffocating defence that has been the NFL’s best all season. From a purely talent standpoint, many players and media members believe that Manning is ahead of Brady when it comes to legacy, despite two fewer Super Bowl wins. At that point, the percentage of money bet on each team will come closer to evening out. I think the Broncos should be able to do a good job shutting that down.
Meanwhile, Arizona Cardinals take on the Carolina Panthers in the other National Football League match live on Sky Sports on Sunday, and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton insists he is unfazed ahead of his first NFC Championship game. “When we need to line up and run the ball, we find a way to do it”. Secondly, field position is always key in a game like this, especially with the Broncos inept offense on one sideline.
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In an interview last month, I suggested stocks could go up about 12% this year, about 1.5 times the 8% long-term average return for the S&P 500. “I think he’s pompous, and I think he’s spoiled”, said Oliver Gauthier, who grew up near New England but has been a Broncos fan his whole life.
