New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
Manning was undoubtedly the story of the year for the Broncos, as he continuously dissected defenses for 55 touchdown passes in the regular season.
However, the stakes are now much higher and the pressure is on as a place at Super Bowl XLVIII is on the line, with Brady winning 10 of 14 match-ups against Manning’s teams.
It remains to be seen how many more times these two stars meet, but their first meeting this season was a thriller as New England rallied from a 24-0 half-time deficit to win 34-31 in overtime.
That win ensured Brady makes his eighth AFC title game appearance and third in as many years as the Patriots look to conquer Mile High.
Denver have home field advantage after going 14-3 in the regular season, and it is worth noting that the rushing attacks could be more decisive in Sunday’s outcome.
Knowshon Moreno had a career-high 1,038 rushing yards this season, while LaGarrette Blount will provide the threat on the opposite end of the field.
Wes Welker, Julian Edelman and Julius Thomas will all be expected to have an impact on the game, and as a result it promises to be an intriguing battle between two of the top quarterbacks in the game.
Sumeet Paul: Home advantage has been mixed so far in the post-season, with the 49ers in the NFC proving that he doesn’t matter all that much if you have the more talented line-up. However, I expect it to play a role in this one, as well as Manning’s brilliance with the ball in his hands and the rushing ability of the Broncos. This one will be close, with the Broncos edging it to reach the Super Bowl.
Scott Hazlewood: The running game will determine the winner for the AFC title this season. For me, Denver’s better balance between the pass and running will see them win by just 3.
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