The New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos will clash on Sunday in the AFC Conference Championships, with the winner progressing to Super Bowl 2016. The game has a scheduled start time of 3.05 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the CBS network or online through live stream via the link below.
Today's huge game sees another installment in the Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning saga, as two of the best quarterbacks of their generation, and perhaps all time, prepare to face off once again for the chance of a Super Bowl appearance.
The pair have split their four postseason meetings to date and many are predicting today's AFC Championship game could be the final Playoffs meeting between the pair.
Overall Brady has the edge over his greatest rival, ahead in the overall series 11-5, but with Manning turning 40 in March it is only a matter of time until Manning hangs up his helmet and calls it a day. He would love nothing more than to take down the Patriots today and gain another win over Brady on the way to another Super Bowl appearance.
Broncos fans will also point out that Manning is on a roll against Brady in the postseason - Manning has won the last two times the pair faced off in the Playoffs. The most recent meeting between the pair came two years ago as the Broncos won 26-16 in Denver with Manning demolishing the Patriots' defense, throwing for 400 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. In response the Patriots could only manage 320 total yards.
However, Brady has been immense this season, and threw more than 4,000 yards for a fifth straight season. The New England Patriots quarterback led the NFL with an amazing 36 touchdown passes.
Speaking of Brady, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has said, "Doing the things that you've done to get yourself in this position are really important. His preparation, his rest and treatment and getting his body ready and his mind right. He does a lot of the things every day to prepare for the next day."
He added, "Even though these games have finality to them that some games in the regular season or preseason don't have, he approaches it the same way."
Manning has had to contend with injuries this season, playing 10 games while dealing with various knocks at different points, including a partially torn plantar fascia.
That meant Brock Osweiler was called upon to cover for a stretch of the season, but Manning was called upon to replace Osweiler in a 27-20 win over San Diego in Week 17.
However, as he has gotten back to full strength, Manning showed why he has become a legend at Denver, as well as Indianapolis before that. Last week the Broncos were trailing 13-12 in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Up stepped Manning to lead the Broncos to a 13 play, 65 yard drive, which led to C.J. Anderson's 1 yard touchdown with three minutes remaining in the game. Manning also helped Demaryius Thomas add the two point conversion, as the Broncos went on to win the game 23-16.
Denver cornerback and ex-Patriot Aqib Talib said, "Our confidence is perfect. We're good. We're playing a team who we beat earlier this year, we're at home, we're healthy. So, let's get it."
Today's massive NFL Playoffs 2016 AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos has a scheduled start time of 3.05 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the CBS network or online through live stream by clicking here.
