1. Brady outduels Manning
Every time Tom Brady and Peyton Manning meet up, whether it’s in the regular season or the playoffs, we’re bound for a classic bout. Well, their 16th meeting may have been the exemption.
Both teams entered the game having won their previous four games, but it was the Patriots in the friendly confines of Foxborough that raced out to a 27-7 lead before halftime. The Broncos had not allowed 27 points in any game so far this season.
The Pats have now won five straight, 14 at home in the regular season and 34 in a row at home against AFC teams, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Brady threw for 353 yards and four touchdowns, his 22nd game with four touchdowns, which is fourth all-time. No. 1, not surprisingly, was the man playing quarterback for the other team, who has 33.
Since we pronounced Brady washed up after the first month of the season, he has completed 63 percent of his passes 15 yards down field, the highest percentage of any NFL quarterback. That improvement is largely due to the resurgence of a healthy Rob Gronkowski, who had nine catches for 105 yards while exploiting the Denver D.
