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 During the buildup to the AFC championship game in the Mile High
City, the spotlight was fixed on Manning and Brady, the two future
Hall of Fame quarterbacks who were meeting for the 17th, and perhaps
final time on the gridiron.
But it was the Denver defense that stole the show, intercepting
Brady twice in the opening half and making two crucial fourth down
stops late in the fourth quarter to snuff out potentially game tying
scoring drives, including one with just 2:18 on the clock.
The Patriots, however, would not quit and with 12 seconds left Brady
hit Rob Gronkowski with a four-yard touchdown pass.
Needing a two-point convert to force overtime, the Denver defense
again dug in, with Bradley Roby stepping in front of Brady's pass
attempt to preserve the victory and a spot in their record-equalling
eighth Super Bowl.
Manning, who had been plagued by injury and questionable form all
season, turned in a performance worthy of a five-times NFL Most
valuable player, tossing a pair of first half touchdowns to Owen
Daniels.
"To be going to our second Super Bowl in four years is very special
and just an awesome effort by our entire team," Manning, who will
become the oldest quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, told the
Denver crowd. "And what an incredible effort by the Patriots, for us
to beat that team today, a very special win."
"It's been a special rivalry (with Brady) over the course of our
career ... I just wanted to take the time to share with Tom (Brady)
and Bill (Belichick) how much respect I have for them and just what
special coaches and players they are."
Added Denver coach Gary Kubiak: "Defensively we played our tails off
all year long and found a way to win another close one."
Denver's pass rush that led the league in sacks kept Brady under
pressure the entire game, forcing the Patriots quarterback to hurry
passes and miss targets.
Brady completed 27 of 56 pass attempts for 310 yards but was sacked
four times, intercepted twice and picked off again on a two-point
attempt as New England's Super Bowl defense ended.
"For it to come down to a two-point conversion obviously is a tough
way to finish the season," offered a dejected Brady after the game.
"You make some, you're not going to make them all."
"It was a tough day. Hard fought football game. (The Broncos) put a
lot of pressure on you.
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"We had some tough plays we just didn’t make them. Just came up one
play short."
Denver got the game off to a flying start, as Manning marched the
Broncos 83 yards on their opening possession, completing the drive
with a 21-yard dart to Daniels.
Brady, meanwhile, was unable to do much against Denver's top ranked
defense until Jonathan Freeny alertly scooped up a Manning backward
pass giving New England the ball on the Broncos 22.
Two plays later Steven Jackson powered over from the one.
Denver, however, maintained a 7-6 lead when Stephen Gostkowski
missed his first extra point in 10 years.
The Broncos also capitalized on a turnover, Von Miller intercepting
Brady at the New England 20 and Manning quickly arching a 12-yard
touchdown strike to Daniels.
The half ended with the Broncos and Patriots hitting on long field
goals to send Denver into the break up 17-9.
The Patriots began the second half chipping away at the Denver lead
with Gostkowski connecting on a 38-yard field for the only score of
the quarter.
Denver's Brandon McManus answered with a 31-yarder field goal in the
fourth quarter to restore the Broncos' eight point cushion before
Brady mounted a last ditch Patriots rally.
(Editing by Andrew Both. Additonal reporting Jahmal Corner, Larry
Fine, Mark Lamport-Stokes.)
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