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Peyton Manning: AFC Championship May Be Final Game vs. Brady

By Jonathan Savitske

Nov 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) greets Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) before the game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) greets Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) before the game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Peyton Manning has had quite a storied career throughout his 18 seasons in the NFL.

With one Super Bowl ring and numerous other accolades under his belt, there is no doubting that Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. Throughout his career though, there is one quarterback who has become Peyton Manning’s biggest rival and biggest obstacle to achieving even more greatness: Tom Brady.

Next: Peyton Manning: Playoffs Determine Future with Broncos

Tom Brady, like Peyton Manning, is one of the All-Time greats, and one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. Throughout Brady’s career, he has four Super Bowl rings in comparison to Manning’s one. The two quarterbacks have faced each other 17 times previously before Sunday’s AFC Championship game in Denver, with Brady owning 11 wins to Peyton Manning’s 5.

Sunday’s game is the fifth time that both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have faced off in the postseason, and the fourth time in a championship game. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are tied in postseason play at 2-2, but Manning leads Brady 2 games to 1 in title games.

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According to Sports Illustrated, the winner of these Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady matchups has won the Super Bowl three out of four times. Given the health and the ongoing speculation that Peyton Manning may retire in the near future at the age of 39, could the 2016 AFC title game be the final time that these two Herculean quarterbacks face one another?

Of course it is simply conjecture at this point, but given how much Peyton Manning struggled this season (2nd in the league in interceptions to Blake Bortles and missing the final 2 months of the season), it is time that we have the conversation that this could not only be Peyton Manning’s final matchup against Tom Brady, but perhaps his final postseason game ever.

In contrast, Tom Brady had one his best seasons in his 16th season. The New England Patriots’ quarterback was third in the league in passing yards with 4,770 yards and 36 touchdowns to along with only 7 interceptions. Peyton Manning, the NFL’s All-Time leading passer, threw for 2,249 yards and only 9 touchdowns in an injury-riddled season. Brady’s excellent play at the age of 38 shows that he will probably remain in the league for at least a few more years. Manning’s outlook is not so clear.

In last week’s division round game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Peyton Manning threw for 222 yards and 0 TD’s in the Broncos win. Against a team like the New England Patriots and a quarterback as efficient as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning will have to channel his inner youth in order to vault Denver into the Super Bowl.

Next: Denver Broncos Squeak Past Steelers, 23-16

Could we actually witness the final game between both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on Sunday? That could very well be the case. Until Peyton Manning says he is ready to retire though, don’t assume anything. I have a feeling that given how well both teams are constituted, a matchup next postseason is not out of the realm of possibility. Stay tuned.

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