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Brady and Manning first faced each other in the third game of the 2001 season. The Patriots won 44-13 in Brady's first career start.
There were plenty of close games in subsequent regular-season matchups with six of the previous seven decided by seven points or less.
But, Manning said, "this is not a team you want to fall behind to."
The Patriots led 17-7 at halftime and 31-7 after three quarters. Brady and his runners kept slicing through the Denver defense with a balanced attack. They went ahead to stay, 14-7, midway through the second quarter on a 14-play drive (seven pass plays and seven runs) capped by Shane Vereen's 1-yard run.
Ridley had his third 100-yard rushing game of his career, all this season. Wes Welker, the NFL's leading receiver last year with 122 catches, had 13 for 104 yards.
"There were a few times where I didn't get open," he said, "but for the most part I feel like I got open a lot and was able to make some plays."
The Broncos wasted an excellent opportunity on their first series. Manning hit Thomas with a 43-yard completion to the Patriots 10-yard line, but Sterling Moore stripped the ball and recovered the fumble. The Patriots went four-and-out on the ensuing possession then the Patriots scored on their next three possessions -- 84 yards to Brady's 8-yard pass to Welker, 80 yards to Vereen's touchdown and 93 yards to Stephen Gostkowski's 23-yard field goal.
Denver did tie the game 7-7 on Manning's 1-yard pass to Joel Dreessen but didn't reach the end zone again until Manning hit Decker to end a 90-yard march, cutting the lead to 31-14 with 1:08 left in the third.
But Manning couldn't bring the Broncos all the way back.
"A week ago, we put it all together," Fox said. "I would have expected us to put it all together more this week."
But Brady and his offense is a lot tougher than the Raiders.
"You have to be balanced and I think we were doing a very good job when we're calling the runs," Brady said.
Notes: McGahee rushed for just 51 yards on 14 carries after gaining more than 100 in two of his previous three games. ... The Patriots rushed for more than 200 yards in consecutive games for the first time since 1978. ... New England outgained Denver 444 yards to 402.
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