It's no secret that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league; the team with the better quarterback will usually come out on top. But what happens when two of the best QBs in the history of the game play each other? Welcome to Manning - Brady XIV. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady played 13 times against each other throughout their careers.
Their match ups history includes 3 post-season games:
AFC Championship Game (2003 Season)
AFC Divisional Round (2004 Season)
AFC Championship Game (2006 Season)
Both Manning and Brady are going into this game with the need to win from a playoff perspective:
New England currently has a 7-3 record, leading the AFC East 2 games ahead of the New York Jets. If they want to virtually clinch their playoff spot they need a win on Sunday, but most of all they need it to gain home court advantage in the playoffs. The AFC standings see the Patriots tied for second place with the Colts, only 0.5 game ahead of the Bengals that are currently 7-4. With 5 games left in the season, they can't afford to lose especially when 3 of them are on the road in Baltimore, Miami and Houston.
The Broncos are 9-1 in the season, but they're currently tied for the lead of the AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs. Denver is going to Arrowhead Stadium next week, where the Chiefs are undefeated, so they are desperately in need of a win this week if they want to have a first round bye.
While the Broncos are coming into this game as favourites, the trends have the Patriots to win the game:
Brady currently leads the all-time series 9-4, with a 7-2 record at home. Manning is 0-1 as a Bronco against New England. The Broncos lead the all time series 25-18 but they're only 9-9 against the Pats on the road.
Can Manning beat the trends and establish himself as an MVP contender even more? Or is Brady going to protect his home field? Find out on November 24th when the Broncos take on the Patriots at Gilette Stadium at 8.30pm EST.