This Sunday the NFL is about to have another Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady game on its hands, as the Denver Broncos visit the New England Patriots. Let’s take this time to reminisce and think back on the best Brady-Manning matchups ever.
5. 2013 Regular Season – New England 34, Denver 31 (OT)
The Patriots fell behind, 24-0, at home on Sunday Night Football in very cold weather conditions. New England fumbled three times in the first half, enabling Denver to drive very short distances for touchdowns. It seemed that Denver was going to roll to victory, but Manning-Brady games rarely seem to be that clear-cut. New England outscored Denver, 21-0, in the third quarter, and a key fumble by Denver running back Montee Ball helped the Patriots mount that comeback.
New England continued to outplay Denver in the fourth quarter to take a 31-24 lead. But, Manning had an answer and threw a game-tying touchdown pass with 3:10 left to send the game into overtime. The cold conditions made it hard for the quarterbacks to throw the ball deep down the field, and it was an error that decided the game. Denver punt returner Wes Welker did not clear out space when trying to field a punt. The punt went off the leg of a teammate, and New England recovered in Bronco territory. The Patriots soon kicked a field goal to win with under two minutes left in overtime.
4. 2007 Regular Season – New England 24, Indianapolis 20
The Patriots went 16-0 in this regular season, and one of their tougher tests came in Indianapolis against the Colts, who were the defending Super Bowl champions at the time. New England scored the final 10 points of this game to win, rolling all the way to the Super Bowl before being stopped by the New York Giants.
3. 2003 Regular Season – New England 38, Indianapolis 34
This was one of the more fun early-year games between Brady and Manning, and it’s valuable if for no other reason than it shows how long and how compelling this quarterback rivalry has been. This is not just something that happened after both quarterbacks had already won the Super Bowl. It preceded Manning’s first and only Super Bowl by a number of years.
2. 2009 Regular Season – Indianapolis 35, New England 34
This game is notable not because it was exciting or close, but because of the gamble taken by New England coach Bill Belichick late in the game with his team leading. The Patriots were facing fourth and two inside their own 30, and Belichick went for the first down, trying to hold the ball without Manning getting another look at it. Belichick had no desire to punt to Manning. He wanted to end the game with his offense.
New England appeared to have gotten a first down, but the play occurred before the two-minute warning. If the play had occurred after the two-minute warning, there would have been an automatic review. New England didn’t have a challenge left, so the Colts got the benefit of a seemingly bad call. Manning led his team 30 yards for a touchdown and the win.
1. 2006 AFC Championship Game – Indianapolis 38, New England 34
The Colts were down 21-3 in the second quarter, and dreams of a first Super Bowl appearance in the Manning era were slipping away. However, Peyton led the Colts back in the second half, leading a fourth-quarter drive for the greatest win of his career, considering the circumstances.
