Manning-Brady XVII is shaping up to be great contest. Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos lead Tom Brady's New England Patriots 17-9 at the half of the AFC Championship game. The teams have combined for 275 yards of offense so far, with the Patriots producing just 114.
Manning has outplayed Brady in the first half. Brady, flustered at times by the Broncos' pass rush, is just 9 of 20 for 87 yards and two picks. He's been sacked twice. Manning is 10 of 20 for 128 yards and two TDs. He has been sacked once and was credited with a fumble following a backward pass.
Both of Manning's TD passes went to Owen Daniels, who has two catches for 33 yards. He's out-produced Rob Gronkowski, who has two grabs for 24 yards.
Neither team has found much success on the ground. The Patriots have recorded 35 yards on 12 carries. Eleven of those yards came via a Brady scramble. Denver has 39 yards on 15 carries. C.J. Anderson leads all runners with 28 yards on seven carries.
The Broncos scored on their opening drive, going 83 yards after the Patriots were forced to punt. New England finally found the end zone following the Denver fumble. Steven Jackson plunged in from a yard out, but the Patriots missed the extra point. The Broncos' second score came following a Brady INT. New England responded with a field goal, and the Broncos added one before the end of the half.
The Broncos get the ball to start the second half.
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