Denver survives Patriots comeback

 
Bradley’s pick and Denver recovered an onside kick to setup a trip to Santa Clara, California
 
Peyton Manning watched counterpart Tom Brady and the Patriots spring off the threads of life support on three consecutive fourth-quarter drives.
Despite New England’s late rally, the Broncos clung to a 20-18 win after cornerback Roby Bradley picked off Brady’s pass in the end zone with 12 seconds left on Sunday to seal the AFC Championship game.
Denver (14-4) will face the winner of the Arizona Cardinals/Carolina game in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California on February 7.
Denver led 20-12 as the Patriots started a drive from the 50-yard line with 1:52 left in the game. Brady, who was battered, bruised and pressured all evening by Denver’s defense, took his final shot at the Broncos.
“I’m sure everyone can look at different plays throughout the game when it’s that close and say, ‘Man I wish I had made that play,’” Brady said. “But I’m proud of the way we fought and we certainly fought to the end.”
Facing fourth and goal from the four-yard line, Brady found tight end Rob Gronkowski in the back of the end zone to pull New England within two points, 20-18.
However, Bradley pulled the plug on the Patriots when cornerback Aqib Talib deflected Brady’s pass which was intercepted by Bradley with 12 seconds left to eliminate a two-point conversion which might have taken the game to overtime.
Brady ended the season 27-of-56 with 310 passing yards and two interceptions.
Manning, who finished on 17-of-32 passing attempts for 176 yards and two touchdowns,  took a knee as time expired after the Broncos recovered an onside kick. It was the 17th meeting between Brady and Manning in which Brady holds the edge, 11-6.
“He’s going to do what he has to do to win,” coach Gary Kubiak explained. “He’s one of the greatest competitors ever in this league.”
Viewing the opportunities on hand, made it difficult for the Patriots to argue. With 10:02 left, New England (13-5) took possession of the ball at its 20-yard line. Under not so favorable conditions, Brady used passes to receiver Danny Amendola, running back Brandon Bolden, and Julian Edelman to gain Denver’s territory at the 16 before stumbling on fourth and one as cornerback Chris Harris, Jr. stopped Edelman two yards shy of the first down marker. But credit the Broncos defense which got significant support from, outside linebackers Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, defensive ends Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe. All factored into Brady’s horrible evening.
Again Denver’s defense came up with two more key stops as New England ran out of downs when Brady’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete after Jackson and Miller disrupted the Patriots rhythm.
Even before New England turned the ball over on downs, facing third down and six from the 14, receiver Danny Amendola dropped a Brady pass which would have given the Patriots a first down inside the five-yard line with under three minutes left.
The Broncos offensive line gave Manning time to find tight end Owen Daniels, who ran an excellent route to break open on a 21-yard touchdown reception, which gave Denver a lead, 7-0 it would never lose with 7:32 left in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the combo of Manning and Daniels hooked up for a 12-yard score, giving the Broncos a 14-6 lead with 13:46 to go.
Tom Brady struggled in the first half of play but managed to get the Patriots on the scoreboard after running back Steven Jackson rushed in from the one-yard line with 1:49 to go in the first quarter. Stephen Gostkowski’s extra point kick sailed wide right.
Brady was never comfortable in the pocket with Denver’s talented front seven consistently beating New England’s offensive line off the ball. And yet four sacks and two interceptions wasn’t enough to sink Brady and the Patriots until the final 12 seconds of the game arrived.
Manning did enough to guide the Broncos on three first-half scoring drives as it built a 17-9 lead.
New England’s linebacker Jamie Collins led by two sacks of Manning, helped turn the third quarter into a defensive battle. Although the Patriots managed to tack on 38-yard field goal by Gostkowski.
On second and ten during Denver’s first series of the third quarter, Collins sacked Manning at the seven for a 13-yard loss. That put the Broncos in a punting situation after running back CJ Anderson gained seven yards on third and 23.
Cornerback Malcolm Butler and linebacker Dont’a Hightower helped halt Denver’s next drive when both combine to stop running back Ronnie Hillman on third and six at the 46.
Collins sacked Manning on its last possession of the third quarter. The play was almost identical of Collins’ first sack.  It was second down and seven when Collins chased Manning backward and dropped him for a 12-yard loss.