Broncos vs Patriots

Peyton Manning is headed back to the Super Bowl.

Manning threw for 400 yards and two touchdowns as his Denver Broncos beat the New England Patriots, 26-16, to advance to the title game for the first time since he lost Super Bowl XLIV as a member of the Indianapolis Colts in 2010.

After the Broncos dominated the first three quarters, the Patriots were able to mount a late rally. Tom Brady led two touchdown drives in the last 10 minutes, and his five-yard scramble with just over three minutes remaining cut what once once a sizable lead to 10 points. Shane Vereen was stood up on the ensuing two-point conversion, and the Broncos grabbed the onside kick to all but seal it.

Denver took a commanding 20-3 lead coming out of halftime when Manning found Demaryius Thomas for a three-yard touchdown pass, capping off a seven-minute, 13-play drive on the opening possession of the third quarter. With Patriots Pro Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib sidelined for most of the game with an injury, Thomas routinely burned the Patriots secondary. He finished with seven receptions for 134 yards.

Midway through the second quarter, Manning hit Jacob Tamme on a one-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-0. The Patriots got on the board on the following possession with a field goal, but Manning led the Broncos on an answering drive just before halftime to go up 13-3.

Brady struggled with his accuracy, going 24-of-38 for 277 yards and one touchdown and making several key overthrows.

He finally got the Patriots into the end zone when he hit Julian Edelman from seven yards out with 9:30 remaining. Once again, however, the Broncos answered. Matt Prater connected on a 54-yard field goal on the next possession to make it 26-10.