DENVER (AP) – No, you’re not seeing things.
That really was Peyton Manning lumbering his way down the field for a 12-yard gain and a first down Sunday. And thanks to his defense, that will be Manning – the 39-year-old quarterback who was supposed to be on his way to a retirement party – and the Denver Broncos, not Tom Brady and the champion New England Patriots, playing in the Super Bowl two weeks from now.
Ol’ No. 18 engineered Denver’s 20-18 victory – not settled until Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby picked off Brady’s pass on a 2-point attempt that would have tied it with 12 seconds left.
Brady hit a double-covered Rob Gronkowski in the back of the end zone on fourth down to set up the potential tie. The Patriots had to go for 2 because Stephen Gostkowski missed an first extra point in the first quarter, his first miss in 524 tries.
Aqib Talib stepped in front of Brady’s pass and deflected it skyward.