http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-...roncos-in-afc-championship-ten-things-to-know
DENVER -- Ten things to know about the
New England Patriots visiting the
Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday (CBS, 3:05 p.m. ET), via ESPN’s Stats & Information:
1. With a victory, the Patriots would advance to play in their ninth Super Bowl, which would set an NFL record. The Patriots are tied with the Cowboys and Steelers, who each went to eight Super Bowls. Furthermore, quarterback
Tom Brady would advance to play in his seventh Super Bowl, which also would be a record. He currently is tied with Mike Lodish for the most Super Bowl games played, with six.
2. The combined age of Brady and Denver’s
Peyton Manning is 28,603 days (78.4 years), which is the highest-ever combined age by opposing starting quarterbacks in a playoff game, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. The old record was 27,704 combined days (75.9 years), by John Elway and Dan Marino in the 1998 AFC divisional round. Lastly, this will be the fifth meeting between Brady and Manning in the playoffs, which is the most by any two quarterbacks in NFL history. Brady leads the overall series, 11-5.
7. Brady was timed getting rid of the ball in an average of 2.13 seconds in the divisional round against the Chiefs, which was especially quick and reflected how the offense was back in rhythm with the return of receiver
Julian Edelman. Brady's average time before pass is considerably shorter when Edelman and tight end
Rob Gronkowski are on the field; when both are on the field, it’s an average of 2.14 seconds. When either Edelman or Gronkowski are off the field, it spikes to 2.39.
8. In Sunday's win over the Steelers, Manning completed five of his 11 passes more than 10 yards downfield. His completion percentage has decreased on those throws in each of the past four seasons -- 56.7 percent in 2012; 53.1 percent in 2013; 50 percent in 2014 and 43.2 percent in 2015.
9. Broncos receiver
Demaryius Thomas has a team-record 50 postseason receptions and has six touchdowns in his career; he needs one touchdown catch and 122 more receiving yards to pass
Rod Smith for the most in Broncos playoff history (both categories). Thomas struggled in the Nov. 29 game against the Patriots, finishing with one catch for 36 yards on 13 targets. As a result, that was one of
Logan Ryan’s best games of the season at cornerback.
10. The Broncos led the NFL in sacks (52) during the regular season, while the Patriots ranked second (49). ESPN research notes that 35 of the Patriots’ 49 sacks came on the standard four-man rush. The 49 sacks are the most for the Patriots under Bill Belichick (2000-present).