Super Bowl Memories

This is my sixth chance to watch the Broncos in the Super Bowl. It is the first time in 15 years that the Broncos are going to playing on Super Sunday, so I am trying to soak everything in and enjoy this week leading up to the game. Once the week began, I started to think about how different my life is since the Broncos last played in the Super Bowl. It got me thinking about my personal memories and thoughts about the other five Super Bowls that I was fortunate enough to watch the Broncos participate in. Let's take a trip down memory lane and look back on those five other Super Bowls that involved my beloved Broncos...

Super Bowl XII: Dallas-27- Denver-10
Personal Memory: I wasn't born until 1979, and this game was played in January of 1978, so I wasn't born for this game. Good thing I wasn't around because Tom Landry's Doomsday Defense smothered and destroyed Craig Morton and the Broncos offense. I've only seen the NFL Films footage of the game, and it always looked like the Broncos had no chance of winning this game.

Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants-39 Denver-20
Personal Memory: I became a Broncos fan in 1985, so I was lucky enough to see Denver reach the Super Bowl following the '86 season. I remember watching this game at my parent's friends house. The Van Gelder's had a big Super Bowl party and this was the first one we went to. I was the only person in the house rooting for the Broncos, and I had my little Elway jersey on and sat in front of the television mesmerized by John Elway. Unfortunately, my excitement turned to tears as Elway and the Broncos were blown out in the second half and the G-Men rolled to the 39-20 win.

Highlight: I would put that first half by John Elway against any other legendary QB in NFL history. He single handedly put the Broncos on his back, and gave them a 10-9 lead over the dominating Giants defense. He made two throws, one to Steve Watson and one to Vance Johnson, that were throws that no one else in the NFL could have made at that time. It was breathtaking to watch him in that half. He killed the Giants with his arm and his legs, and he scored on a QB draw to give Denver an early 10-7 lead. Put that tape on and watch how amazing Elway was in that half.

Lowlight: My dad used some sort of "Italian Horns" to jinx the Broncos and their kicker, Rich Karlis. Karlis missed two of the shortest field goal attempts in Super Bowl history, and Denver was never able to extend their lead from 10-7. A safety on Elway by George Martin in the end zone late in the first half changed the complexion of the game, but those missed field goals really turned the tide.

Super Bowl XXII: Washington-42 Denver-10
Personal Memory: Once again, we headed to the Van Gelders for the Super Bowl party. Once again, I was crying but this time it was by halftime as the Redskins built a 35-10 lead. I remember going home with my parents and my sister, and I was crying the whole way home. I remember laying in bed crying and not wanting to go to school the next day. My mom came up and told me that they just interviewed John Elway after the game, and I asked her what he said. She told me that Denver did their best, lost to a better team, and will be back next year. She also told me he said everyone has to go to bed and get ready for school tomorrow. I don't know how much I believed her, but it worked to get me to sleep and head off to school the next day.

Highlight: The first time John Elway touched the ball he threw a 56 yard touchdown pass to Ricky Nattiel. It was a great moment, and it was really the only highlight for Denver because after they built a 10-0 lead they gave up 42 unanswered points including 35 in the second quarter alone. I will never forget that play by Elway though. A year after losing to the Giants, here he was back in the Super Bowl the next year, and he throws an absolute beautiful pass down the sideline the very first play for the Broncos.

Lowlight: Everything that happened in the 2nd quarter was an absolute nightmare. I couldn't believe how quick that game turned. Up 10-0, I felt pretty good about the Broncos chances, and then like that it was all downhill. Doug Williams and Timmy Smith ripped up the Broncos and the game was over by the halftime. That was about as bad as it gets for the Broncos because they were actually favored in the game, and in a matter of moments it was over.

Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco-55 Denver-10
Personal Memory: Once again, we headed to the Van Gelders for another Super Bowl party. Once again, the Broncos got blown out, but at least Mrs. Van Gelder still put up orange and blue balloons for me. I just remember being at peace with the game because even though I was 11, I was able to understand just how good Joe Montana and that 49ers team was. I didn't cry during the game, and I remember my dad telling me that I should be proud that the Broncos even got the Super Bowl for the third time in four years, but it wasn't enough because once we got home, I began to cry in front of my family. I was able to muster up the strength to wear my Elway jersey to school the next day.

Highlight: There were no highlights to speak of in this debacle. One might have been that the Broncos won the coin toss. Another might have been that some of the Broncos wore black sneakers for the game. Maybe it was the Bud Bowl commercials that took place during the game. Other than that, there was nothing to cheer about during the 55-10 rout.

Lowlight: The whole game was a lowlight. I remember watching the game, and I was astonished that Denver's defense just could not stop that 49ers offense. It was the first time I watched a game and felt helpless as I watched Montana just surgically dissect the Broncos defense. It was a low moment for sure for a Broncos fan, but I don't think any team was beating the Niners on that day.

Super Bowl XXXII: Denver-31 Green Bay-24
Personal Memory: I was a freshman in college at Sacred Heart University, so I watched the game from my dorm room in South Hall Room 343. I watched the game with my childhood friend named Chris Cirri, who was my roommate that year, and a bunch of guys on our floor. That day, I actually went to mass on campus before the game started, and I waited for the priest after mass, and I asked to him say a prayer to God to help the Broncos win the Super Bowl. He took me serious and said he would send my message up to heaven. I wish I wasn't serious about this, but I have to admit that I did that. We watched the game in our dorm room, and it was the most tense game I have ever watched. I will never forget the feeling when Denver won the game. I was crying and jumping up and down for about an hour after the game ended. I fielded phone calls from my family and friends all throughout the night, and I stayed up to watch Sportscenter all night long. I skipped my classes the next day, and I just watched the highlights of the game all day. It was up there as one of the greatest days of my life.

Highlight: There are so many great moments in this classic Super Bowl, but the two that stands out were the Elway dive play and John Mobley's knock down of Brett Favre's 4th down pass to win the game. The Elway play was amazing because it was a 3rd down play late in the 3rd quarter and Elway put his body on the line to dive headfirst into three Packer defenders to get the first down. That play setup a Denver touchdown to give them a 24-17 lead late in the quarter. Mobley's play stopped Favre and the Packers in Denver territory on a 4th down play to clinch the game for Denver. It was a great play, and the feeling of seeing him knock down that pass was something that I can even describe in words.

Lowlight: With Denver up 24-17 late in the 3rd quarter, the Broncos recovered an Antonio Freeman fumble on the ensuing kickoff deep in Green Bay territory. Elway went for the killshot and threw a ball in the endzone that got picked off by Eugene Robinson. I just remember thinking how much of a game changer that play was, and I remember thinking that maybe Elway was just not destined to win a Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver-34 Atlanta-19
Personal Memory: I was a sophomore at Sacred Heart, and this time I watched the game from my dorm room in West Hall on campus. I was very confident going into the game. I just didn't see anyway that the Broncos were going to lose to the Falcons in this Super Bowl. I was more nervous for the AFC Championship Game against the Jets two weeks earlier. I was confident, and I fully expected a Denver win.

Highlight: Watching John Elway take a knee, and come out of the game for the final time of his career was a special moment. Elway was announced as the game MVP, and Mike Shanahan decided to pay tribute to Elway and take him out of the game so the crowd could honor him with a standing ovation. It was the perfect final chapter for Elway and his career. He left the field the final time as a Super Bowl champion, and it stamped his career as one of the five greatest QBs to ever live.

Lowlight: I passed up on some opportunities to go back to Long Island and watch the game with my family or friends, and I wish I watched the game with them. I ended up watching the game with only one of my roommates, and it just wasn't the same because I watched that whole Broncos playoff run at home on Winter break with my family.

Storylines for Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII

The Broncos touched down in Jersey City, New Jersey on Sunday to begin Super Bowl week here in the tri-state area. The Broncos went through a light practice on Monday and participated in Tuesday.
Forget about reading all of the garbage that beat writers and the so-called experts/analysts are going to say are the keys to the game. I figured I would look at the big storylines for the game from the Broncos perspective. These storylines are the ones to watch if you are rooting for the Broncos as we gear up for Super Bowl XLVIII. Keep an eye on these when the game kicks off on Sunday night.

I) Winter Wonderland- The weather is the key storyline for this game. As of this writing (Tuesday night) the weather is supposed to be in the mid 30s by kickoff and it is supposed to drop down to the 20s by the end of the game. The wind shouldn't be a factor, and it looks like there really won't be much precipitation. We shall see if the weather changes at all, but it looks like the weather issue won't really be that much of a factor in this game.

II) Seattle's Best: The Seahawks come into this game with the best defense in the NFL. They led the league in yards allowed, points allowed, and turnovers. There is a case that this Seattle defense can be ranked historically as one of the best ever in the annals of NFL history. Can this Seattle defense throttle the high-powered Denver offense? The #1 defense gets a chance to strut it stuff against the #1 offense. It will be the matchup to watch in this game.

III) Orange Crush: The Broncos defense has defied expectations so far this postseason. Without Von Miller and Chris Harris-after the Divisional Playoff- Denver's defense stepped up and played really well in wins over the Chargers and the Patriots. Denver gave up 17 and 16 points respectively in these two games, but they shut down those teams and gave up only 3 points in the first three quarters of each of those games. Can the Broncos defense step up and play solid for one more game? Can players like Terrence Knighton, Malik Jackson, and Shaun Phillips continue to make big plays on this unit?

IV) Special Teams at Sea Level: The Broncos and Matt Prater have benefitted from the ability to play at home in the altitude of Denver. Prater can kick from any distance and he almost always puts the ball out of the end zone on every kickoff. Can Prater handle the elements and the cold weather? Can he handle kicking in Metlife Stadium? I have trouble trusting Prater in a big spot, so I would be a little concerned about his field goal attempts and kickoffs in this game. Also, with the lack of touchbacks expected, the Broncos coverage units need to limit returns in the Seattle return game. If Denver's Trindon Holliday gets a chance to take a kick back, then he could be a factor in this game. Watch out for Holliday if he gets a chance.

V) Mile High Manning: We all know how this game revolves around Peyton Manning. Manning got his team here with two great performances. We all know about how Manning can cement his legacy with one more Super Bowl ring. I don't want to beat a dead horse, but to see Manning in this game with another shot at a ring is the main story of this game. Can Manning put a stamp on his career with a signature MVP performance in this Super Bowl? What if Manning fails in this game again? Make no mistake this game is about Manning.

A Perspective on the Broncos AFC Championship

As the Broncos clinched the AFC Championship on Sunday, I have to admit that I was very emotional. Tears began to well up in my eyes, and it was really special to watch Denver celebrate another AFC title. I wondered why I was so emotional watching them clinch. For one thing, I have seen this before. I remember watching the Broncos win the AFC Championship in 1986,’87,’89, ’97, and ’98. I saw John Elway deliver back-to-back Super Bowls the last two years of his career. I was 18 and 19 years old when Denver won Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII, so it wasn’t like I never saw the Broncos advance to the Super Bowl and win it before. As I watched the celebration on the field, I started to realize why I got caught up in the moment. There are a few reasons that stand out. The first reason is the fact that it has been 15 years since the Broncos last made it to the Super Bowl. The second reason is the fact that John Elway is prominently involved in the decision making process with the organization. The third reason is probably relate to Peyton Manning and what he has been through the last few years. I’ll go step by step to explain in detail just how much this meant to me.

            The Broncos have been a top-flight and successful franchise in the NFL, but they haven’t exactly been racking up playoff victories since their last Super Bowl win. Since the Broncos last won the Super Bowl following the 1998 season, they had only won 2 playoff games before this year. Denver lost their first playoff game in 2000 to the Ravens, in 2003 to the Colts, in ’04 to the Colts again, and of course last year in the Divisional Playoffs to the Ravens. Denver also lost an AFC Championship Game at home in 2005 to the Steelers. Tally it up and Denver was 2-6 in playoff games since John Elway retired. Those two wins came with Jake Plummer and Tim Tebow at quarterback. Don’t forget Denver missed the playoffs 5 straight years from 2006 to 2010. When they finally made it in 2011, they got in at 8-8 after losing their last three games of the year. The bottom line is that Denver has not had the success they were accustomed during the years following Elway’s retirement. It also seemed that Denver hit a stretch of some really low moments. The Broncos could not find a long-term replacement after Elway retired. Brian Griese, Jake Plummer, Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton, and Tim Tebow all took center stage at some point as the Broncos starting QB, but none of them lasted longer than four full seasons before their tenure ended for whatever reason. In 2005, Denver finished 13-3 and defeated the Patriots in an epic 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff, but they got smoked by underdog Pittsburgh at home in the AFC Championship Game. In 2006, Denver lost at home on the final Sunday of the season to the 6-9 San Francisco 49ers. The Broncos blew a 13-0 lead in that game, and they finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs. A win there would have clinched a playoff berth. That night promising CB Darrent Williams was killed in a drive by shooting at a New Year’s Eve party. RB Damien Nash would die in the offseason that year from a heart attack as well. In 2008, Denver held a three game lead in the AFC West over San Diego. At 8-5, all Denver needed to do was win one game in their final three to clinch the division. At 5-8, San Diego could lose one more game, and that would clinch it for the Broncos as well. The Chargers won their next two to get to 7-8, while Denver lost two in a row. That included a terrible home loss to the 6-8 Buffalo Bills in a game that Denver led 13-0 at one point. The final game of the epic collapse was in San Diego as the Chargers blasted the Broncos 52-21 to win the AFC West and knock Denver out of playoff contention. That game led to firing of Mike Shanahan and the hiring of Josh McDaniels. The McDaniels era might be one of the worst in Broncos history. In 2009, McDaniels feuded with start QB Jay Cutler, and Cutler demanded a trade before the season even began. McDaniels dealt Cutler to Chicago for Kyle Orton and draft picks. To make matters worse, McDaniels guided Denver to a surprise 6-0 start and they stood at 8-4 with four games to play, only to lose their last four games and finish 8-8 and outside of the playoffs once again. In 2010, McDaniels traded away Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall in the offseason, but he made bigger headlines with the decision to draft Tim Tebow in the 1^st round of the 2010 NFL Draft. There was constant controversy and hoopla around both Tebow and McDaniels. After McDaniels struggled to a 3-9 record that year, the  Broncos fired him before the season was over, and that would be their fifth straight year out of the playoffs. In 2011, John Elway took over the franchise and hired John Fox as the coach, but the big story regarding the team was what they would do with Tebow. After a 1-4 start, Fox decided to bench Orton in favor of Tebow, who then sparked Denver on a remarkable run and they were 8-5 with three games left in the season. Their crazy run was brought back to Earth when they lost their final three games to finish 8-8, but they backed into the playoffs because the Raiders lost at home to San Diego. Although the Broncos had a magical moment when Tebow led them to a dramatic overtime win over the Steelers in the Wild Card round at home, they were embarrassed and humbled by the Pats in the Divisional round with a brutal 45-10 loss in Foxboro. The season ended with more questions and concerns about Tim Tebow than anything else that happened positive on the field. I don’t think I have to go into too much detail about how badly last season ended either. The playoff loss to the Ravens was about as bad as it gets, and that was the worst loss in franchise history bar none. As I said earlier, there have been a lot of black eyes, low moments, and just plain heartbreak the last 15 years. I’m not comparing the Broncos to the Jets, Browns, Lions or Bills, but the Broncos have certainly endured some really gut-wrenching moments in the past decade and a half. All those events ran through my mind as Denver was celebrating on Sunday.

The reason Denver got back to where they belong was because of John Elway and Peyton Manning. Let’s start with Elway. When he was hired in January of 2011 as Executive Vice President of Football Operations, many people were skeptical. I was definitely one of those people. Would he be a figure head? Does he even know how to build a team? Is this franchise a joke? With all the questions surrounding Elway rejoining the franchise, the one that I was most concerned with was what happens if he fails miserably. There was a lot of concerns for this organization when Elway came aboard. All Elway has done was right the ship from day one. A lot of experts felt that Denver would have a tough time getting a new head coach because it wasn’t considered a top job in January of 2011. What did Elway do? He got the best available coach on the market with the hiring of John Fox. Elway was able to draft Von Miller at #2 when many people were saying that Denver should go with either Marcel Dareus or Nick Fairley. Elway’s thought process was that you need a stud pass rusher who can impact the game over the interior defensive lineman. That proved to be a shrewd move. When he faced with the Tim Tebow dilemma, he decided that the team had to try and see if Tebow can play. When Tebow succeeded, Elway was constantly criticized for not going over the top with his praise of Tebow, but Elway was actually keeping a clear mind for the future. When faced with that decision about Tebow after the magical run in 2011, Elway still kept an open mind, and then when the time came to go after Peyton Manning, he jumped at the opportunity. He stood there and took much of the criticism when he decided to go after Manning and move on from Tebow, but he was able to withstand it, quiet the concerns of Broncos fans, and make a move for one of the best QBs ever. And the best part about it was that it worked. Manning’s decision to pick Denver can definitely be traced back to Elway. Elway’s pursuit of Manning was ballsy, risky, and almost genius. When Manning signed with Denver, Elway got a lot of credit, and he should have. I don’t think Manning is in Denver without Elway’s presence. What has Elway done in his three years running the Broncos? Three straight AFC West titles, three straight playoff appearances, and now an AFC Championship is a nice way to start your career as an executive. That is what made the AFC Championship win so cool too. To see Elway standing there on the podium amid confetti accepting the Lamar Hunt Trophy was a treat for every Bronco fan. To have him involved in this makes it so much sweeter and special. The best part is that he has earned the success that he has had.

The final piece of this Broncos AFC Championship puzzle is Peyton Manning. When Manning was let go by the Colts, the Broncos were pursuit of Manning right away. It seemed risky for both sides. Can Manning still play at that level? What if Denver is getting a beaten-up and old Manning? My concerns about Manning started to change when the Broncos began courting him over those two weeks. If Manning wasn’t healthy enough to play, then he would have just retired. If Denver is going to get Manning-even at like 80%- then that still gives them a great shot to be good. Well, when Manning signed with the Broncos, I had a feeling that we were onto something special. My thought was that if Manning was healthy, then Denver would be in the playoffs and be a contender. That is what exactly has transpired. Manning is 28-7 in his 35 games with the Broncos. He shattered the record books with over 5,500 yards and 55 touchdowns this year. He led Denver to a record 606 points this season. Even last year, when he was probably like 90 percent, he still threw for over 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns. The guy has been as good as we could have hoped for. Manning bounced back from four neck surgeries, and his pursuit of another Super Bowl has been the story of the NFL for the last two seasons. To see Manning play at this level after watching John Elway play at that level in the past has been a dream scenario for Broncos fans. Manning’s performance in Denver brought the Broncos back to the NFL’s elite. Division titles, 13-3 records, homefield advantage, and Conference championships are all things that the Broncos and their fans hadn’t seen in 15 years. With Manning as our QB, we are back to where the franchise used to be-at  the top of the AFC. Now, Manning gets a chance to cement his legacy with a win over Seattle in the Super Bowl. It would be the most fitting end to one of the best players ever to suit up in the NFL.

Those three factors (Broncos recent history, influence of Elway, and Manning) are really the main reasons why this Super Bowl run is so special to me. Super Bowls don’t come around every year for your team. You have to enjoy it when you get that opportunity. Those three storylines are what make this Super Bowl run by the Broncos a special and even emotional one for me.

Broncos Defeat Patriots to Win AFC Championship!

It was just their day. Sometimes a team or a player takes the field and just seems to be their day or their moment, and Sunday's AFC Championship Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High was simply the Broncos day. Denver defeated the New England Patriots 26-16 in a game that was not even as close as the score would indicate. It was the Broncos day from the outset, and it was Peyton Manning's day as well. Manning threw for 400 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he kept the Broncos offense in rhythm and consistently baffled and befuddled the Pats defense. Manning completely outplayed his counterpart, Tom Brady, and the Broncos built leads of 10-0, 13-3, 23-3, and 26-10 before putting the Patriots finally away in the 4th quarter. With that outcome, the Broncos clinched their first AFC Championship in 15 years, and their 7th Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Peyton Manning will return to the Super Bowl for third time in his career, and perhaps this AFC Championship victory will quell some of his critics about his legacy. To see the confetti pouring down on Manning, John Fox, Pat Bowlen, and John Elway was pretty special. It was great to see the Broncos celebrating an AFC Championship in their home stadium after vanquishing Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. It was truly a special afternoon, and one of those days that you will never forget as a fan. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game....

1) Give credit to the Broncos defense because they set the tone early. They forced two 3 and outs on the first two series. Great breakups by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Tony Carter forced the Pats to punt right away.

2) Although the Broncos ending up punting on their first drive, they moved the ball effectively and you had the feeling that it would be a matter of time that Manning and the Broncos would get going. They were able to pick apart the Pats on the second drive, but they had to settle for field goal after the drive stalled inside the 10. At 3-0, you could feel that the Broncos weren't going to be stopped all game long.

3) Brady missed a wide open Julian Edelman on a deep corner route on the next series. If he hits it, them Edelman probably would have scored. That was a huge play and a huge miss by Brady. The Pats did move the ball a little bit on the next series, and the drive stalled with the aid of a questionable offensive pass interference call.

4) The Broncos began the next drive at their own 7, and they methodically put together a brilliant drive to take a 10-0 lead. They went 15 plays 94 yards and chewed up 7:01 of clock. The key play was a 29 yard run by Knowshon Moreno on a 3rd and 10 in which Manning checked into the running play and picked up the first down. From there, Manning perfectly executed a play-action bootleg and hit a wide open Jacob Tamme for the 1 yard pass and the 10-0 lead.

5) The Pats did put together a drive and were able to get a field goal on the next possession, but once again the Broncos defense came up big. Robert Ayers got a huge sack on Brady on a 3rd down, and it forced the Pats to settle for field goal and cut the lead to 10-3.

6) The Broncos got the ball at their own 20 with 2:54 left in the half, and once again Manning went to work. He hit Demaryius Thomas on passes of 26 and 27 yards and the Broncos were able to get a field goal to extend their lead to 13-3 right before the half. Thomas ate up the Pats all game long. He finished with 7 receptions for 134 yards and 1 touchdown. Plus, Denver was getting the ball at the end of the half, so anytime you get points right before the half it is always a huge factor.

7) The Broncos opened the second half with a classic 14 play, 90 yard drive that ate up 7:08 of time. Big passes to Eric Decker and Thomas set up a great play inside the five on a 1st and Goal. Manning play faked into the line, and found Thomas wide open on a quick slant to give the Broncos a 20-3 lead midway through the 3rd quarter.

8) On the next series, the Broncos defense came up big once again. On a 4th and 3, Terrence Knighton beat Logan Mankins and sacked Brady to stop the Pats at the Broncos 29 yard line. That was the biggest play of the Broncos season on defense in my opinion. Knighton has been great all year, and he has elevated his game in the playoffs.

9) Manning took control again when he hit Thomas on a deep fade for 30 yards. The Broncos drive stalled inside the 10 and Julius Thomas, who was great all game, dropped a surefire touchdown catch in the endzone to make it 27-3. Instead, the Broncos had to settle for a field goal and a 23-3 lead. I was a little nervous that play would come back to haunt the Broncos later in the game.

10) Naturally, Denver's defense got a little complacent and started playing off, and the Pats came right down the field and Brady hit Edelman for a 7 yard touchdown pass to make it 23-10.

11) Denver answered with the help of a Peyton Manning to Julius Thomas 37 yard hookup to put Denver in NE territory. The Broncos got a little conservative and they had to attempt a 54 yard field goal which Matt Prater nailed to make it 26-10, but the Pats were still only two possessions back from tying the game.

12) Naturally, the Broncos defense went into a little bit of prevent mode, and Brady marched the Pats down the field once again. A Brady touchdown run in which he completely juked Mitch Unrein cut the Denver lead to 26-16. The all-important 2 point conversion was next and Shaun Phillips completely snuffed out a Shane Vereen run to keep the lead at 10.

13) The Broncos recovered the onside kick, and with 3:07 left they needed to run out the clock to clinch the game. Denver continued to be aggressive and on a 2nd and 7 from the Pats 48, Manning play faked and hit Tamme in the flat for a 23 yard gain. From there, Montee Ball officially clinched the game with a 5 yard run on 4th and 2 and the Broncos officially became AFC Champions. It was a sweet moment to see Peyton Manning kneel down at the end of the game, and the realization finally hit me that Denver was going to Super Bowl. It was actually an emotional moment for me when it happened.

14) As far as the Patriots are concerned, I thought they were valiant all season long, but the Broncos were simply the better team. You had the feeling that Belichick knew that he couldn't really stop Peyton Manning in this game, and once Brady was off his game a little bit early, you knew the Pats were in trouble. The Pats will be back, and they always reload, but this was simply not their year.

15) I know Belichick was very vocal about how Wes Welker picked Aqib Talib in the 2nd quarter, and how it was a dirty play. Talib didn't return to the game after an injury, but I really didn't think that it was a dirty play. Even if Talib didn't get hurt in this game, I still think the Broncos and their offense would have been able to move the ball just like they did when Talib got hurt.

16) The moment the game started, you just felt like it was Denver's day. The crowd was decked out in orange, the temps were in the 60s, and it just seemed like a coronation for the Broncos and Manning on this day. As for me, I was nervous as hell. I was confident as the week went on, and I loved that a lot of experts were picking New England. When I woke up on Sunday, I had a knot in my stomach all day. You wake up on a football Sunday and you realize that your team is playing for the AFC Championship that day, and it is an incredible feeling. A piece of you is really excited, and the other part of you is downright nervous and anxious. You just don't get this Sundays every year, and it was such an emotional roller coaster all day. I think that is why I was so emotional at the end of the game when Denver ran out the clock. It just kind of hits you right then and there.

17) Manning was superb all game long. He finished 32-43 for 400 yards and 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He completely picked apart the Pats all day. He distributed the ball evenly as Demaryius Thomas had 7 catches for 134 yards and 1 touchdown, Eric Decker had 5 receptions for 73 yards, and Julius Thomas had 8 catches for 85 yards. It was a signature game for Manning. He is now 3-1 in AFC Championship Games, and he has beaten Brady 2 out of 3 times in AFC Title contests. He is 11-11 in playoff games, and now he has a chance to get his second Super Bowl in two weeks. Hopefully, the talk about Manning's legacy can die down a little bit.

17) For the Broncos it was an ending that was maybe a year in the making. To start the season, the Broncos were the overdoes. They were the favorite to come out of the AFC from day one. They battled off the field issues, the Elvis Dumervil fiasco, the suspension of Von Miller, the injuries to Champ Bailey, Ryan Clady, Rahim Moore, and Kevin Vickerson. Also, they dealt with a season-ending seizure by Derek Wolfe, a heart attack that sidelined John Fox for a month, and then the season-ending ACL injuries to Miller in Week 16 and Chris Harris in the Divisional Playoffs. They entered the playoffs with all the pressure as the #1 seed, and dispatched of the red-hot Chargers and the Patriots to get to the Super Bowl. It certainly wasn't an easy 13-3 season, but they were able to get it done, and punch their ticket to the big dance. What a phenomenal job by John Elway, John Fox, Jack Del Rio, and the rest of the Broncos players, coaches and staff.

18) I am heading into uncharted territories here with my blog. I started this blog in 2008, and I never have been able to write about how the Broncos are going to the Super Bowl. This week, I want to write a little retrospective on the Broncos season up to this point, and I'm going to write about how much this AFC Championship means to me as a fan. I'm 34 years old, and I have been a Broncos fan for about 28 years. I have now witnessed 6 Broncos AFC Championship wins, and this one is certainly up there for me. I want to write about all those feelings and thoughts before I turn my attention to the Seahawks and Super Bowl XLVIII. Once next week commences, I will start to break down the game in more depth. For now, I am just going to soak in the victory in the AFC Championship, and enjoy this for as long as I can. Go Broncos-2013 AFC Champions!

Broncos-Patriots AFC Championship Preview and Pick!!!

Brady vs. Manning. That is all you need to say about the AFC Championship. One QB trying to get an elusive second Super Bowl title and cement his legacy, and the other trying to get a fourth Super Bowl title and take his legacy to another level. You really can’t ask for a better matchup in the AFC. The Broncos and Patriots come into this game wounded on both sides of the ball. Injuries have ravaged both rosters, but with Brady and Manning at the controls this game still has the opportunity to be a classic. For the Broncos, it is a chance to get back to the Super Bowl. They have been there six times in their history, but the last one was 15 seasons ago. A franchise and a QB both are desperate to get back to that big stage. For the Pats, they are looking to get to their sixth Super Bowl in the last 12 years. Brady and Bill Belichick are looking to get that fourth ring which would put them at an all-time level. It should be one hell of contest on Sunday. Here are the reasons why this game and the Pats scare me….

1)    Tom Brady is the number one reason why the Pats are dangerous here. If you had one game to win, you wouldn’t mind putting the ball in Brady’s hands and letting him go win it for you. I actually think the Pats are going to let Brady try to win this game with his arm, and that is very scary for Broncos fans. The Broncos secondary is depleted without Chris Harris, and you know Brady will find a way to exploit that.

2)    Bill Belichick is a great coach, but he is a superb in-game/game plan coach. If anyone will find a way to slow down or stop the Broncos offense, then I think Belichick is the guy to do it. Belichick is just that good of a coach.

3)    The Pats are underdogs in this game. This is their first road playoff game since the 2006 AFC Championship. I’m sure the Pats are relishing the fact that they are the underdog. They are going to thrive on it. That is a very dangerous role for the Broncos to be in: The Pats coming to their house as an underdog. That makes me nervous.

4)    The pressure is all on the Broncos and Peyton Manning. If any team is going to play loose, then I think the Patriots are in this one. They haven’t gotten back to the AFC Championship with a roster that is nowhere near the roster that was configured in the summer. They have suffered injuries to star players, yet they have had guys fill in on defense, and have reinvented their offense and pound the ball on the ground more than they ever had. If they lose, then they will be considered admirable for getting this far. So much of the pressure lies with the Broncos. When was the last time we said that the Pats weren’t facing that much pressure in the playoffs?

5)    I really worry about Denver’s defense stopping the Pats offense. The Pats can run the ball, their offensive line is good and healthy, and Tom Brady is the man. Throw in the fact that Denver is playing without their two best defensive starters in Von Miller and Chris Harris, and I have a feeling the Broncos are going to have a real tough time simply getting Brady and that offense off the field.

Prediction: New England (+5) over DENVER: I just think that at the end of the day, Brady and Belichick will somehow and someway find a way to win this game. Maybe they outscore the Broncos in a shootout, maybe they slow Manning down with their defense, or maybe they catch a break with a turnover or luck bounce. I just have a feeling that the pressure on Manning and the Broncos will get to them, and the Patriots will find a way to get back to another Super Bowl.

Final Score: Patriots-34 Broncos-27

One last thing before I go.....It is so special to get to watch a team like this year's Broncos week-to-week. Every week was fun, exciting, and even challenging. Whatever happens in Sunday's game, I would be really surprised if they didn't play a competitive game. This team has overcome obstacles all year long, and why not overcome another one with Tom Brady and the Pats in their path. I'm proud to be a Broncos fan, and I am proud of this team no matter what the outcome is. Naturally, I'll be devastated if they lose this game, and it will be a scar forever, but it has been a great ride following Peyton Manning and this crew. Go Broncos, and I hope this really is Manning's time once again.

NFC Championship Pick

We kick off the preview of Championship Sunday with the two best teams in the NFC squaring off for a third time. Seattle and San Francisco have established a rivalry that is up there in terms of best rivalries in the NFL today. Both teams don’t like each other, and there is even bad blood between the coaches-Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll. It really felt like all year that this is how the NFC would play out. Seattle and San Francisco almost seemed destined to meet with the chance to go to the Super Bowl on the line. I would call it a dead even game, but let’s break it down and make an argument for both sides….

Last Week’s Record: 2-1-1

Overall Playoff Record: 4-1-3

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

(5) San Francisco at (1) Seattle:

A Case for the 49ers: The Niners are playing the best of any of the teams left in the playoffs right now. They have the right mix of coaching, defense, running attack, big plays in the passing game, and the clutch plays from their quarterback. If there is one team in the league that could win any type of game, the 49ers can do it. They have been blown out the last two trips to Seattle, but I think that helps them in this game. I just don’t think they are scared to play anyone in any stadium. They won’t be intimidated by the Seattle crowd, and with a division opponent like the Seahawks, the Niners will be well-prepared and focused for this matchup. Plus, they are battle-tested. They have been down this road before. This is their third straight NFC Championship Game. Don’t overlook that, and also don’t overlook the idea that they are the underdog in this game. I bet they relish that fact.

A Case for the Seahawks: They are at home, and we definitely saw how important homefield advantage was to them last week in their win over New Orleans. The 12^th Man does play a huge factor in their games, and I can’t even imagine how crazy that crowd will be for Sunday’s game. Also, perhaps the Seahawks might be the only team that isn’t just intimidated by the Niners. They can get into a slugfest with them, and they are able to stand toe-to-toe with them for four quarters. I know how important Marshawn Lynch and their defense is to their success, but doesn’t it feel like Russell Wilson is due for a big game? He hasn’t put up big numbers down the stretch, and he really didn’t do much for the Seahawks last week, but I have a feeling Wilson will step up and play a great game on Sunday. Look out of Wilson stealing the spotlight from Colin Kapernick.

Prediction: San Francisco (+3.5) over SEATTLE: This is a classic game between two teams that are rivals and play similar styles, but I’ll take San Francisco on the road to win it and go the their second straight Super Bowl. I just think that the Niners are the best team in the NFL right now, and they are just better than Seattle at this point. Expect a close game, but look for San Francisco to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl with a tremendous home win.

Final Score: 49ers-24 Seahawks-16

Divisional Round Review

The Divisional Playoffs didn’t produce the quality of games that the Wild Card round produced, but it did create a classic setup for Championship Sunday. The four favorites won outright, and the best four teams in the NFL are set to play in the conference championship games. Both #1 seeds (Seattle and Denver) advanced, and basically the four teams that were supposed to win ended up winning. In the NFC, you have the Seahawks and the Niners. This is the new version of the NFL's best rivalry. These two teams are the best in the NFC, so it is fitting that they meet for the right to go to the Super Bowl. In the AFC, it is what everyone wanted: Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. The Broncos and Patriots go at it for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. What a Sunday this is going to be. Like I said earlier, the Divisional games weren't the most compelling games ever, but there were some interesting issues and storylines wrapped around them. Here are my random thoughts and observations on the games…

Seattle-23 New Orleans-15

-Seattle just dominated the first part of the game. The game just started and the next thing you know it was 13-0 in the first half. It just seemed like New Orleans was just trying to hang on early and not get blown out.

-I give Drew Brees and company credit for getting back into the game early in the 4^th quarter. The Saints were able to cut the lead to 16-8, and there was a sense that the Saints could actually steal this game.

-After Marshawn Lynch scored a late touchdown to take a 23-8 lead, I thought the Saints did an absolute terrible job towards the end of the game. Their play calling was suspect, they burned two timeouts, and for some reason Sean Payton tried a 49 yard field goal down 16-8 late in the 4^th quarter. It was atrocious. Even the last play of the game was a disaster. Brees hit Marcus Colston with a pass down to the Seattle 36 yard line with about two seconds left. If Colston goes out of bounds, then at least the Saints have one shot to throw a pass in the end zone to win the game. Instead, Colston catches the pass and tries to throw a lateral across the field in an absolute desperation play. The pass was thrown forward, which was a penalty, and the game ended. It was such a bad play at the end, and it wrapped up a terrible finish for the Saints.

-Seattle advanced with a great running game, great defense, and the home crowd. They will have to do that again next week to beat the 49ers. There was a moment that I thought the Saints could steal the game, but Seattle was able to put it away.

New England-43 Indy-22

-The Pats set the tone early by picking off Andrew Luck on the second play of the game. The next thing you knew the Pats were up 14-0. It was an uphill battle from that point on for the Colts.

-If you are a Colts fan, then you are bummed out that they lost the game, but you are very hopeful and excited about the future with Andrew Luck. Put it this way: The Colts will be playing on Divisional Weekend many times in the next 10-12 years.

-Give credit to Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels. They really know how to reinvent their team. The Patriots absolutely ran the ball down the throats of the Colts defense. LeGarrette Blount ran for 166 yards on 24 carries with 4 touchdowns. Stevan Ridley added 52 yards on 17 carries. The Pats rushed 46 times for 234 yards and 6 touchdowns. Brilliant job by the Pats coaching staff with this group.

-Luck did make a few incredible throws once again. He rallied them to get the game to 29-22 going into the 4^th quarter. You thought maybe that Luck would be able to find a way to steal this game. The Patriots ended that hope on a huge 73 yard run by Blount with 12:55 left in the 4^th quarter. It put the Pats up 36-22, and at that point there was no way that the Pats were going to lose this game. On the next series, Luck got picked off by Jaime Collins, a Ridley 1 yard run really finished off the Colts.

-It is truly amazing how much of a shell this Patriots team is since the beginning of the season. Belichick has gotten this team to their third straight AFC Championship in a year where it seemed that they would struggle to win one game in the playoffs.

San Francisco-23 Carolina-10

-This game was so much more intense than the two games played on Saturday. It was also a very chippy game, and it got nasty early on.

-You can’t kill Ron Rivera for going for a touchdown inside the 1 early in the 2^nd quarter on 4^th down. He has done it all year, and this wasn’t going to be any different. Cam Newton didn’t get the touchdown on the QB sneak, but I liked the idea of going for it there.

-I thought the Niners dodged a bullet when they gave up a field goal and fell down 10-6. They drove down before the half, and they got a touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick to Vernon Davis. It was a huge play that gave SF the lead, and it turned the game back into their favor. Once they got that lead, then I had a feeling that the Panthers were done.

-It seemed like the moment of the playoffs was a bit too much for the Panthers. I think they will be back in the playoffs soon, but this just seemed too big for them this year-especially going against a team like the Niners.

-Kapernick essentially ended the game on his 4 yard touchdown run midway through the 3^rd quarter. There was no way the Panthers were going to come back from a two score hole. Credit the Niners. They are tough, resilient, and battle-tested and they are heading to their third straight NFC Championship.