However, the Steelers started to pound on the pressure and held the Broncos scoreless in the second half of the game while they scored on three separate occasions – all touchdown passes by Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown (twice) and Markus Wheaton to complete the comeback and win 34-27.
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Both teams traded solo field goals for the second consecutive quarter as the Steelers clung to a 13-12 lead against Denver heading into the final quarter of today’s playoff game.
While Manning played steadily enough to keep backup Brock Osweiler on the sideline wearing a jacket, it was not the type of highlight-filled performance that has heralded past Manning-Brady matchups.
TOM BRADY AND Peyton Manning will renew one of the NFL’s most celebrated quarterback rivalries in the AFC Championship game next Sunday.
For the Denver Broncos, meanwhile, veteran quarterback Peyton Manning will be starting for the first time since Week 10.
“We’ll enjoy this one tonight”. I think you knew that answer was coming.
“To kind of quote Bill Belichick, we’ll be on to New England”, Manning told Wolfson. “But I’ll be talking about them on Wednesday”.
Football fans certainly won’t wait that long.
Perhaps only fitting these two storied QBs meet in the AFC title game next weekend, since Manning didn’t get to suit up against New England on November 29, because of a foot injury. After a short completion to Cody Latimer, Manning would not be able to convert the third and 11 as the wind caused Manning’s pass to sail on him. Fitz Toussaint apparently had gained first down yardage around the Denver 30-yard line when the ball was popped out by Bradley Roby and recovered by DeMarcus Ware at the Broncos 35-yard line.
It was a close first half, with neither team playing great but with no serious mistakes, either. “It’s on all of us”.
-Broncos kicker Brandon McManus made five field goals Sunday to tie the National Football League postseason record for a single game. Chris Boswell’s 47-yard field goal with 24 seconds left allowed them to try an onside kick, but it failed and those among the 76,877 in attendance who weren’t holding Terrible Towels roared. That makes sense from a coaching standpoint, it will certainly look better for Gary Kubiak and the Broncos if Manning comes out and loses as the starter compared to Osweiler having a bad game. So real credit to them.
“We had some good field position early and had to settle for field goals”, Manning said. I give them credit for that.
“That’s unfortunate for A.B.”, Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib said. “We just keep fighting”. In that one, Roethlisberger threw for 380 yards and 3 touchdowns. Martavis Bryant had nine catches for 154 yards.
Manning threw for 222 yards against the Steelers, with his receivers dropping no fewer than seven passes.
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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.
