Here is the NFL 2013-2014 AFC Title Game Wrapup
http://www.commdiginews.com/sports/nfl-2013-2014-afc-title-game-recap-3340/
While Manning and Brady were expected to put on a pinball machine game, early on it was a puntfest. Late in the first quarter Matt Prater hit a 27 yard field goal to give the Broncos the 3-0 lead. In the second quarter Manning led a backbreaking 15 play, 93 yard drive that consumed 7 minutes off the clock. A one yard touchdown pass to Jacob Tamme had the Broncos up 10-0 midway through the second quarter. With 3 minutes left in the half the Patriots finally got on the board with a 47 yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal. Manning led the Broncos back and with 30 seconds in the half Denver faced 4th and 1 at the New England 17. John Fox took no chances as Prater hit the 35 yarder to give the Broncos a 13-3 lead heading into the locker rooms. Manning had 214 yards passing in the first half.
Manning kept firing in the third quarter. With Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib on the sideline injured, Manning picked the New England defense apart. Another 7 minute drive took 13 plays and moved the Broncos 80 yards as Manning hit Denarius Thomas for the 3 yard touchdown. Midway through the third quarter saw the Broncos in command with a 20-3 lead. Brady moved the Patriots to a critical 4th and 2 at the Denver 28 late in the third quarter. Bill Bellichick opted to go for it. Brady was sacked.
Manning kept slicing and dicing the helpless New England defense, although on 4th and goal at the 2, the same question was answered the same way. It was not what would the Fox say, but what would the Fox do? Coach Fox opted for the field goal and Prater made it 23-3 Broncos with 12 minutes left in regulation.
New England finally cracked the end zone as Brady hit Julian Edelman for the 9 yard score, but the Patriots still trailed 23-10 with only 9 1/2 minutes left in their season.
The New England defense needed a stop, and for the sixth straight drive, none was coming. Midway through the fourth quarter, Fox trusted Prater with a 54 yard field goal knowing a miss would give the Patriots golden field position. Not on this day. Prater drilled it through the Mile High air for a commanding 26-10 Broncos lead.
Brady kept fighting, scoring himself with three minutes to play. The two-point conversion could have made it a one-score game, but a handoff saw Jack Del Rio’s defense stop the try cold. The onside kick never had a chance, and it this point, neither did the Patriots.
When the dust settled, Bellichick and and Brady saw a ninth straight season end without a Vince Lombardi Trophy. The myth of Brady collecting trophies while Manning racked up statistics was shattered. On the twelfth anniversary of the infamous Tuck Rule game, there was nobody to bail Brady out. He tucked his head down and ran off the field, barely managing a quick post-game handshake with Manning. Brady remains as ungracious in victory as in defeat, although Bellichick surprised everyone and gave Fox a lengthy hug after the game.
In this game Manning dominated statistically, racked up the win, and gave college students one more opportunity to imitate Manning’s cadences at the line of scrimmage by playing the “Omaha” drinking game. Manning finished 32 of 43 with exactly 400 yards passing, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Denver President John Elway also saw history repeat itself. After his agonizing playoff loss as the favorite in 1996, he led the Broncos to the big game one year later. Last year his finest free agent acquisition Manning saw Denver suffer a gut-wrenching home playoff loss as the favorite. This year was sweet vindication as Manning has his second Lamar Hunt Trophy and a chance to earn another Vince Lombardi Trophy. 26-16 Broncos
eric