Peyton Manning, the Broncos’ Flickering Star, Glows Just in Time

I love my Broncos, but if they play the way they did yesterday, next Sunday, they will be cleaning out their lockers for the season. If they manage to make it to the big dance, they better bring their A game and then some. The vaunted defense will not be enough alone to stop The Panthers.

I thought Pittsburgh looked like the much better team right up to the disastrous fumble, and Manning a pale shadow of himself even then, but now I think this Denver team could prevail over the Pats.

Here's to hoping the Bronco receivers can hang on to the ball next week...

Undoubtedly, the Broncos are lacking the Patriot's highly efficient (and tedious) dink passing scheme. Remove Edelman and this offensive attack begins to run on its rims. Gronkowski's a mastodon, an easy target for even a high school QB; that said, Edelman's is always Brady's hard "go to" receiver when they MUST keep a drive alive. On the defensive side, the Broncos should focus on LB Ninkovitch . . . and DE Jones.
The Patriot's other soft spot is their offensive line. It's mediocre and can be broken down.

Short, less than a yard, 3rd down or goal line situation for NE ?
Tom loves to take it over center, full arm extension. A Bronco linebacker needs to time it up & LT him . . .

Good game.

Like the codger I am, I pulled for Payton to have a successful day, but clearly he's held together with bailing wire. Brady and Manning are only a year apart but Brady is still at the top of his game. Not so, Payton.

The Broncos barely got by a broken Steelers team. They'll need a much better game against the Patriots. (Be sure to check the pressure on the footballs, Denver!)

Patriots, unfortunately, by at least 10!

The Broncos were badly out coached. The Kubiak "offense" has been one step short of a disaster all year; and is deadly boring. Did Manning suddenly get old, or is Kubiak's concept of the offense just that bad? A good coach recognizes the talent of his players and designs the offense to fit their skills, not the other way around. By contrast Pittsburgh played with surprise and imagination on both sides of the ball. They almost stole the game. They just ran out of players, energy, and time.

Although Manning played well, the real reason that Pittsburgh lost was Demarcus Ware...

Let's not forget the advantage that the Broncos always have on their side --- the altitude. You could see its effect on the Steelers' defense late in the game. They lost a step which enabled Manning to make passes he likely would not have otherwise completed.

Typically, opposing teams come a day or two earlier than usual (Thursday or Friday for a Sunday game) to acclimatize themselves as best they can, but it's really not sufficient for the level of exertion expected of the players, especially the older ones. They should come out early in the week.

None of the renaming teams are "my" team, but it was a no-brainer as to who I would root for in a match up of the class act that is Manning vs the no class Rothlisberger. Glad to see that at least in this instance, the nice guy did indeed win. Hopefully that pattern continues in the Super Bowl. I would love to see Peyton get another ring. If that can't happen, then go Arizona so that Larry can get one.

You probably won't see a lot of comparisons between this year's NFL playoffs and the presidential primaries but I just cannot resist remarking on how much the last two Steelers' games mimic the Republican and Democratic primary fights.
Republicans: Pittsburgh versus Cincinnati. Pre game threats, insults and ugly words that had nothing to do with the actual competition. Late hits, illegal hits - dare I say cheap shots executed with the express intention of injuring mother participant. Fans, their judgment and behavior addled by alcohol (ideology) attacking other fans for no other reason than they support a different team. Even last minute theatrics that ultimately backfired.
Democrats: Pittsburgh versus Denver. Pre-game compliments, respectful praise for the opponent. One team heavily favored before the contest, but the other leading on the score board until the very end. No cheap shots, no illegal hits, no serious injuries and very few fouls accessed. After the game, handshakes and sincere compliments for the other team, the losers wishing the winners luck in the next contest. Each participant taking responsibility for their own shortcomings in the contest.
Maybe that's the answer? Let the Republicans fight it out on the field?
Cruz leads the visiting team - from Canada, obviously. Christie on the line. The undercard on the bench screaming, "Put me in coach!"
And Trump in the owner's luxury box, blaming everyone else and screaming at the coach:
"You're FIRED!"

I've been a fan of the Manning family since Archie played over at Mississippi. I sure would like for Peyton to go out with a win over new england and a win over cam newton.

Manning had to be the sentimental favorite. Rothlisberger will most likely be there again, Manning won't.

Seeing Peyton Manning take a huge shot between the shoulder blades, head whiplashing back, with his history of neck issues, coupled with his, at best, creaky performance yesterday, increases my admiration for Jim Brown and Sandy Koufax. Both men got out at the top, with Sandy realizing his health was paramount. Peyton is risking his health and doing nothing for his legacy. It's not admirable.

Great game - the Steelers played admirably and were it not for one mistake I think could have won.

Like the Pat chances on getting to the Super Bowl. Sorry America.

Neither team would have been a match for the Patriots or the Chiefs based on this game. If Denver does not play a better game Manning's final bitter defeat will have only been delayed a week.

This is a bit of an aside but Pats fans are a bit sick of the entire NFL management coming down hard as nails on Brady and kissing Manning' derrière all the time. Could you imagine the Watergate style investigation of there were allegations that Gisele was reviving suspicious packages all over the place for her husband? People don't typically make those sorts of allegations in this age of lawsuits if there is not some truth.
I hope NE crushes Denver.
The NFL suspended Brady based on a flimsy report that basically boiled down to "um, we think he might have done it. We have no proof but let's ruined the guys career anyway." Meanwhile, it would be a lot easier to investigate packages sent to Mrs. Manning. Apparently the NFL has never ordered a package online. They all have tracking numbers.

Omaha? Does it ALWAYS have to be Omaha?

I thought Manning played well. Three dropped passes in four downs is not so great when the passes were all spot on. It is not the Manning of old but he is still one of the top QB's in the game. If their receivers can't hold onto the ball, I am not sure they can get past New England again. Manning should be rested and healthy so who knows. Maybe New England will get caught cheating before the week is over.

Nothing about the 8 drops? Really? So Peyton is still responsible for everything on the filed, the missed tackles, the missed blocks, etc. He has won the last 3 conference title games he played in. Not worth a mention?

The headline on this story is ignorant. The reason Pittsburgh lost is that their running back fumbled as they were driving to increase their lead. Manning had nothing to do with the Broncos' victory. He was throwing wounded ducks all day, either short-arming or over throwing. Manning almost cost Denver the game; even the NFL & ESPN analyst said that.

Good sportswriting on this game - like one used to read in Sports Illustrated many years ago. Thanks, Ben Shpigel!

Well i was 1/2 right in my prediction, i predicted month ago New England & Pittsburgh would play in AFC Title game....The Steelers haven't had this many significant injuries in a playoff game probably since the 76 AFC Championship when both Franco Harris & Rocky Blier had to sit out....And Pittsburgh could have beaten Denver Sunday if not for the one costly turnover...

Go Patriots!..

The Steelers showed a lot of class and heart, it should have a Denver blowout. The top Steeler offensive players mostly out, Antonio Brown out, Roethlisberger wounded, both, by the criminal conduct of the main thug on the Bengals, Vontaze Burfict.
Was good to see the good sportsmanship of both teams, postgame.

Broncos won despite Manning, not because of him. It wasn't the outcome I wanted, but it was a great game.

The Broncos certainly didn't look like they can the Patriots next week.

While I'm glad that Peyton has another shot at getting to the Super Bowl, this whole game was played under the specter of the cheap shot that put Antonio Brown out of commission. Vontaze Burfect's 2 game suspension, at the beginning of next season, is cold comfort to Steeler fans. A better penalty would be to ban him from post-season play for the next two years.

There will be a lot of hype over Brady-Manning. But this time it is justified. There will be a 30 for 30 someday on their intense rivalry/mutual respect/ friendship.

"Battered Steelers"? Please, are we putting excuses in the headlines now? Both teams have played their seasons.

Patriots fans were probably hoping for a Steelers win here, but they can't have seen too much to frighten them in Peyton's Broncos tonight.

Elsewhere in the universe, exciting things are happening; somewhere in the distance, the sun is shining bright.
But in professional football, there is no hope. The horrible deadweight of the New England Patriots are returning to the "Super" Bowl again.

Brady and Manning next Sunday for the right to lose to Carolina in the Super Bowl.

The two class acts of the playoffs thus far: Peyton saying the defense, not he, had guided the Broncos this far; and Larry putting aside the thrill of winning in order to wish Chris Mortensen well in his battle with cancer.

Peyton Manning looked very mortal out there, not like the QB who terrified defenses for 15 years.

That the Steelers were so beaten up in the disgraceful game of last week, made this game almost impossible for them to play properly. The Steelers played hard, but the athletic loss was too much to persist the entire game. The NFL has to work hard, hard, hard on player safety.

As for the Broncos, they played as hard as they could for the whole game and won.