AFC Championship Game Review: Broncos End Patriots Season 26-16
By Hal Bent
Jan 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Tony Carter (32) breaks up pass intended for New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater (18) during the first quarter during the 2013 AFC championship playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
SECOND QUARTER:
The Patriots pinned the Broncos deep but after a first down a blitz set-up a third-and-nine. A wobbling pass from Manning was completely missed by cornerback Kyle Arrington and allowing a first down. On the next play Denver wide receiver Wes Welker cut down cornerback Aqib Talib (offensive pass interference?) with no flag with the ball in the air and Talib was off to the locker room. On third-and-one a holding penalty on rookie Logan Ryan gave Denver a first down.
Another third down, another first down for Denver as they ran a draw and two big missed tackles by safeties Duron Harmon and Steve Gregory missed tackles to give Denver ar28 yard gain and first down at the New England eleven yard line. Finally, on the fourteenth play of the drive on third-and-inches the Broncos barely converted. The Patriots missed an opportunity to give their defense a rest and perhaps force Denver into a fourth and inches by challenging the spot. At worst, the timeout gives a defense a breather. Instead, Manning found back-up tight end Jacob Tamme in the end zone to make it 10-0 Denver.
New England came back with a need to score immediately. Showing urgency at last, the Patriots attacked downfield with a 27 yard completion to wide receiver Aaron Dobson. Tom Brady then found Shane Vereen on second down for 13 yards through the air, then Michael Hoomanawanui for 15. Down to the Denver 20 yard line in a hurry, the offense suddenly stalled as on third-and-eight Brady took a sack for an 11 yard loss and forced Stephen Gostkowski to have to convert from 47 yard to cut the Denver lead back down to a touchdown.
In need of a defensive stop with 2:54 remaining before halftime, the Patriots defense sniffed out a draw play with nice penetration by defensive tackle Sealver Siliga and finished off by defensive end Rob Ninkovich for a two yard loss. The next play made it second-and-twenty as Denver left tackle Chris Clark was penalized for holding. Technically, he tackled defensive end Chandler Jones who had got around him and would have blind-sided quarterback Peyton Manning. However, two big plays put Denver deep in New England territory.
With an injured Aqib Talib still out of the game, Manning found Demaryius Thomas for 26 yards and then tight end Julius Thomas for 27. A quick 11 yard pass to wide receiver Andre Caldwell and the Broncos had effectively kept the Patriots offense off the field as the clock ticked below a minute and the Broncos were well into field goal range with time to get into the end zone. The Patriots stopped Denver short of the first down with 30 seconds before the half to make it fourth-and-one. Another Matt Prater field goal made it 13-3 Denver.