Running down the significant stats and notable numbers following the Broncos’ divisional-round win Sunday:
0 – Interceptions for Peyton Manning on Sunday, making the first time since last season’s divisional-round loss to the Colts (10 starts) that he didn’t toss a pick. Manning had thrown 17 games in nine starts during the regular season to trail only the Jaguars’ Blake Bortles (18) in the league this season.
.769 – The Orange & Blue’s winning percentage (10-3) in games decided by a touchdown or less this season following Sunday’s victory. According to ProFootballReference.com, that matches the 1978 Houston Oilers and 2003 Carolina Panthers for the most wins in such games in a single season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
1 – Broncos’ advantage in turnover differential Sunday with DeMarcus Ware recovering Fitzgerald Toussaint‘s fumble forced by Bradley Roby. Denver is now 10-1 in games this season when owning an edge – or finishing even with the opposition – in turnover differential. The only loss was the 34-27 Week 15 defeat to the Steelers.
5 – Playoff games since 2000 that featured no touchdown passes with this contest becoming the latest. Manning also played in one of the others – a 15-6 divisional-round win over the Ravens in 2006 en route to the Colts’ Super Bowl win over the Bears.
6.29 – C.J. Anderson’s yards-per-carry average over his last six games following his game-high 72 yards on 15 rushes Sunday. He’s also rushed for five TDs in that span.
8 – Straight made field goals for the Broncos’ Brandon McManus since his embarrassingly-wide-left 45-yard field goal at the end of regulation in Week 16 against the Bengals. McManus later came back to kick the eventual game-winning 37-yard FG in overtime and has made all seven of his attempts since, including five here on a windy Sunday and five total of 40-or-more yards.
10 – AFC Championship Game berths now for the Orange & Blue, who have won seven of their previous nine, losing only to the Bills (10-7) following the 1991 season and the Steelers (34-17) to end their 2005 campaign.
11 – Years since the top-two seeds from each conference had last met in the AFC and NFC Championship Games. In the 10 seasons in between 2004 and this year, the 40 No. 1 and No. 2 seeds were a combined 24-16 in the divisional round, including a 2-2 mark for the Broncos.
18.5 – Combined percentage of third-down conversions for the Broncos (3-of-15) and Steelers (2-of-12) Sunday in this defensive tussle.
187 – Combined yards the Steelers gained on their four longest plays – a 58-yard Darrius Heyward-Bey reception, a 52-yard Martavis Bryant catch, a 37-yard grab by rookie Sammie Coates and a 40-yard Bryant reverse. Pittsburgh gained only 209 yards (a 3.8 average) on its other 55 plays in the contest.
