Broncos beat Patriots, 20-18, to make Super Bowl 50
Broncos beat Patriots, 20-18, to make Super Bowl 50
[...] thanks to his defense, that will be Manning — the 39-year-old quarterback who was supposed to be on his way to a retirement party — and the Denver Broncos, not Tom Brady and the champion New England Patriots, playing in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7.
Ol’ No. 18 engineered Denver’s 20-18 victory — not settled until Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby picked off Brady’s pass on a two-point attempt that would have tied it with 12 seconds left.
The Broncos (14-4) recovered the onside kick and the celebration began.
The Broncos will play Arizona or Carolina, who met later in the NFC title game.
The Patriots lost their last two regular season games to squander home-field advantage.
Whether it has been Manning lining up under center this season, or Brock Osweiler, who took snaps while Manning was injured for six weeks toward the end of the season, the Broncos have depended on a defense that gave up the fewest yards and came up with game-saving plays time and again.
[...] 17 completions were enough, and it was Daniels, the tight end who has played his whole career with Kubiak, who caught both of Manning’s touchdown passes.
Faced with the new title of “Game Manager,” Manning made the best playoff scramble by a Denver quarterback since Elway helicoptered his way to a first down in the Super Bowl 18 years back to help the Broncos finally prevail.
More fresh in the minds of Broncos fans was Manning’s decision to pull up and throw in the playoff game against the Colts last season when he had as much or more open space in front of him as he did Sunday.
Though Brady has dominated the regular season, Manning is 3-2 in the playoffs and 3-1 in the AFC Championship Game.
Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara will be the Broncos’ eighth appearance in the championship game, tying the Steelers, Cowboys and Patriots for most ever.