Tom Brady and Peyton Manning helped set up a 17th career meeting with wins in the AFC divisional playoffs and the New England Patriots visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday in what is the fourth conference championship between the two passers.
The home team has won the previous four playoff games pitting Brady and Manning. Denver also happens to boast the No. 1 defense in the NFL, and Manning said that group is the reason the Broncos are still alive in the postseason.
“We’ve known each other for a long time,” Brady said Monday on WEEI in Boston. “Being in the same profession for all these years and at different events, we’ve developed a good friendship. It will be fun to play another Peyton Manning-led team.”
The Patriots are playing the AFC Championship for the fifth consecutive seasons, something accomplished only by the 1970s Oakland Raiders.
That Broncos defense playing a big role in Denver beating New England in overtime in November, 30-24. Brady had three touchdown passes but the Patriots’ offensive line was under siege, especially in the second half.
Denver led the NFL with 52 sacks and was No. 1 in the league in yards allowed (283.1) and pass defense (199.6). Only one quarterback had 300 yards passing – Ben Roethlisberger, who did it twice, including Sunday’s loss.
“He ain’t scared,” Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib said of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ plan against Talib’s former teammates. “Sometimes defensive coordinators get scared and make their players scared because they call scary coverages. But Wade (goes all out) all the time and makes us stand up, and we do it. The difference between this year and past years is Wade.”
Brady is 5-2 against Phillips’ defenses in his career. He was precise and the offense efficient Saturday, the first game since Nov. 15 in which Brady had his full complement of receivers. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught two scores and wide receiver Julian Edelman played for the first time in nearly two months, catching 10 passes for 100 yards.
“He’s going to call his plays, he’s going to trust his guys and we are going to go out there and make plays for him,” linebacker Von Miller said.