Your Denver Broncos are playing in Super Bowl 50. . . Let that sweet sentence sink in for just a moment.
Denver went into championship Sunday as a home underdog for the third time this season. Just like the previous two times, Denver found a way to win and beat the former Super-Bowl-Champion, New England Patriots, 20-18, to advance to their eighth Super Bowl — tying the record held by Dallas, Pittsburgh, and New England for most appearances all-time.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was under pressure for the entire contest. The Orange and Blue practically lived in the backfield and were able to get to the Golden Boy 20 times in 60 minutes. No QB this season has seen such pressure.
“We knew they were a good defense,” Patriots right tackle Marcus Cannon said following the loss. “They got the better of us today, but it was a good game.”
One man was out there trying to earn what will become a monster contract once his current deal is up and boy, did he produce. That’s why he gets top billing for my A-Team for the AFC Championship game.
Von Miller:
Von Miller is an absolute beast on the gridiron. Number 58 was able to sack Brady 2.5 times, which is a Broncos postseason record, and intercept Brady for what would lead to seven points for the Mile High Crew.
Miller and this haunting Denver defense were responsible for keeping Brady to 27-of-56 for only 310 yards and two interceptions. Plus whenever you get to grace to cover of Sports Illustrated, you make the A-Team.
Owen Daniels:
Talk about making a statement. Daniels caught the ball twice for only 33-yards in the contest. Oh, he also caught the only two touchdowns for Denver. The journeyman tight end has never played for a coach other than Gary Kubiak and Sunday after the win, Kubiak was elated to answer questions about the all-pro tight end.
“He’s a pro. I think I said this to you before when you’ve asked me. As a coach, when you bounce places and guys names come up, sometimes you’ve got to be careful, but there are certain guys you have no doubt standing up for saying, ‘Put him on your team.’ He’s one of those guys. He went with me to Baltimore and played extremely well, played really big in the playoffs for us last year, and he comes here. He’s a pro, he works at it, it’s important to him and I knew he’d fit in. [We’re] Proud of him.”
This could very well be the final home game for one of the greatest of all-time. “The Sheriff” ended the game with a 90.1 total QBR and for the second straight game, did not turn the ball over. Manning, who is now 6-11 against Brady, was somber after the win knew there was one more task before he could call it an illustrious career.
“I’ve really tried to take it one week at a time all season long, through the injuries and all the things that have gone on,” Manning said. “I’ve stayed in the moment, stayed patient, that’s served me well.”
Cameras seem to have caught him talking to Patriots coach Bill Belichick, saying this “might be my last rodeo.” If that happens to be the case, we here in the Mile High city salute you for the amazing four years.
This team has seen its ups and downs throughout the season and it has all lead to this. It is going to take 53 men playing like an A-Team to bring home their third Lombardi trophy back where it belongs.
