Despite a putrid first half by the New England Patriots quarterback, Brady recovered in the second and nearly forced overtime, finding tight end Rob Gronkowski in the back of the end zone with 12 seconds remaining. After giving it up twice on downs inside the Denver 20 late in the fourth quarter, Brady lobbed a 40-yard pass to a double-covered Gronkowski to keep a desperation drive going on fourth-and-10.
Advertisement
Daniels, a 2001 Naperville Central alumnus, will become the first Redskin or Redhawk alumnus to play in a Super Bowl when the Broncos meet either the Cardinals or Panthers on February 7.
This is breaking news; updates will be added.
Coincidentally, Manning’s only other touchdown pass in the Mile High city this season went to Daniels as well.
Until the Patriots lost to the Seahawks in last year’s Super Bowl, there was a clear pattern of superior defensive teams prevailing.
“For him to take off and make that play, I can’t tell you how he’s led the team the last three weeks”, Kubiak said. Once he was the very best at his position, but, beset by injuries, he came into this game off the worst season of his career. Brady may be better than Manning, but Von Miller and Wade Phillips got the best of Josh McDaniels.
The victories mean conference titles for the Panthers and the Broncos – and, more importantly, a trip to the Super Bowl for both teams. They have returned six of those turnovers for touchdowns, but many of them also set up Newton and Carolina’s offense with a short field.
We have a rivalry of our own on social media with our sister stations from New England and the Colorado area on who has the most spirited fans.
Peyton Manning: For an “old man” he sure did look spry on that 11-yard scramble for a first down.
But the Patriots challenged and the call was overturned, giving them the ball on the Denver 22.
The Broncos’ Phillips Screwdriver defense is No. 1 in the league for a reason. “But that works when you can run the ball for four or five yards a pop. If we can get them for no gains and losses, get some long throwing situations, then you can really pass rush”.
The New England Patriots quarterback was beat up behind a porous offensive line this season.
This will be Newton’s fifth playoff game and he’s already won a national championship at Auburn, so he doesn’t expect nerves to be a problem – especially playing in the comfort of home where the Panthers have won 12 straight games. The Broncos harassed Brady all day.
“We’ve just got to try to get some pressure on (Manning)”, Kuechly said.
That play helped flip the field early in the second half for the Broncos (14-4).
Advertisement
“Defensively, we were just tremendous”, said Denver’s Gary Kubiak, the seventh coach in National Football League history to get to the Super Bowl in his first year with a team. Patriots QB Tom Brady threw a pair of first-half interceptions for just the second time in his playoff career.
