ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware watched the previous New England-Denver game from an equipment room at Sports Authority Field on a snowy November night two months ago.
From the room adjacent to the Broncos' showers and lockers, the pair of sidelined superstars offered their own commentary and clues on the pivotal showdown.
Manning met with Brock Osweiler at halftime that night to talk about Bill Belichick's blitzes, advice his longtime backup credited for helping him lead Denver back from a two-touchdown, fourth-quarter deficit for a 30-24 win in overtime.
That triumph ultimately landed this weekend's AFC championship game between the 13-4 teams in Denver, with temperatures in the 40s, instead of frigid Foxborough.