In a game against the Arizona Cardinals or Carolina Panthers, they would be on point favorites while the Broncos would be three-point underdogs in a Super Bowl against either one of those teams, if they win on Sunday.
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Before winter weather rolls into the Northeast, the Patriots are rolling out to Denver for the AFC Championship game on Sunday. So special teams is going to play a huge role in this game, on a multitude of levels.
Brady has more championship rings, but Manning has almost all the passing records. Their hot streak continued right into the playoffs, as they led 31-0 against the Seahawks in the first half and held on in the second half for the win. “It’s what’s at stake that makes this one more interesting”. “We’ve had tremendous battles against him through the years”, said Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
That’s not because Brady has any plans to hang ’em up, but it’s apparent to anybody who’s watched Manning play this season that he’s not even close to the player he once was. Manning’s ability to keep pace with Brady is the key.
Weather: The forecast is projecting a 50 percent chance of rain, not snow, with light winds blowing from the north. Game time temperatures are expected to be in the mid-forties. Those 13 wins include the 10 victories of this regular season, and of course the three playoff wins from past year.
The Patriots managed a 27-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last Saturday.
Slot receiver Julian Edelman, who missed the Week 12 game in Denver, returned from a two-month injury related absence and sparked the New England’s offense with 10 receptions for 100 yards. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught two touchdowns for the Patriots. New England had just seven rushing attempts from its running backs. He sustained a hip injury during practice, but Kubiak said he didn’t think it would affect Roby’s status for Sunday.
SB Nation‘s panel of “experts” favors the Patriots, with five of the eight predicting a Patriots win (and the same number predicting the Panthers to represent the NFC). This is the 17th time that Brady and Manning will face off, and Brady has won 11 of those games. The Broncos signal-caller finished 21-of-37 for 222 yards against the Steelers defense.
The Broncos struggled with the run game early in the year, averaging just 86 yards through the first nine games, but have found a rhythm lately. It was at that time the deepest Manning had ever been in the playoffs. There have been many quarterback rivalries in National Football League history such as Roger Staubach and Terry Bradshaw or Jim Kelly and John Elway, but Brady and Manning may be the best.
Outside of those two, the Broncos are looking rather healthy for Sunday’s game.
Cornerback Bradley Roby was the only player that was limited in any practice session this past week. I feel the Pats will win and Brady and Belichick will be off to their seventh Super Bowl. “I think it’s a good call starting Manning”.
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While they have not been flawless, the Patriots’ rush defense shined for most of the season, finished as the ninth-ranked run defense in the entire NFL.
