The 2016 AFC Championship Game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots will certainly go down as one of the most thrilling finishes in recent NFL memory. Peyton Manning and the Broncos led from their opening possession, but needed every last second of the game to hang on to a 20-18 victory as Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski nearly tied the game in the closing seconds.
The Denver defense registered four sacks and 20 hits on Brady, while the offense struggled to put points on the board in the second half. And those were just the predictable happenings. Manning ran for a first down. Von Miller snagged an interception. Postgame, T.J. Ward went after Broncos legend Mark Schlereth.
And those weren’t the only oddities from the game. Here are some the best, and strangest facts, figures and observations that came out of Manning vs. Brady XVII.
The Extra Point Rules!
The new extra point rule decided this game. Unreal! #DENvsNE #SuperBowl50
— Justin Adams (@justinadamsTV) January 24, 2016
The longer extra point caused a miss by Stephen Gostkowski, his first of the year. That forced New England to try a game-tying two-point conversion that Denver stopped with 0:12 left in the game.
Storybook Ending On Hold
Will John say: "This one's for Pat!" Or will he save it…
— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) January 24, 2016
Annabell Bolwen, wife of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease spoke at the Lamar Hunt Trophy presentation. John Elway also spoke, but is saving his big moment for after Super Bowl 50, apparently.
Manning Outdoes the Boss
At 39 years, 10 months and 14 days old, Peyton Manning will be the oldest QB in Super Bowl history. #SB50 @Broncos pic.twitter.com/1ybln4Z364
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 24, 2016
What GMA didn’t say in this tweet is that Manning broke the record previously held by his boss, John Elway. Elway won his second of two Super Bowls with an MVP performance. No pressure Peyton.
Broncos History Runs Deep
Seeing Dad's Ring Of Fame Name over Peyton's shoulder gave me goosebumps. Miss you dad! #Broncos #Legends pic.twitter.com/FTxThnGvQ5
— CHRIS “TRIP” TRIPUCKA (@Tripucka17) January 25, 2016
Chris Tripucka, son of Ring of Fame quarterback Frank Tripucka, grabbed this screenshot and shared a moment that united his departed father with Denver’s latest quarterbacking legend.
Manning Makes More Super Bowl History
Peyton Manning will be the 7th QB to start in four Super Bowls.
First to do it with a different coach each time. pic.twitter.com/7LwCPMstPw
— ESPN (@espn) January 25, 2016
Not only will Manning be the oldest QB in the Super’s 50-year history, he’s also the first to take four different coaches with him. Gary Kubiak joins Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell and John Fox in the fraternity of coaches who joined The Sheriff as his Super Bowl coach.
Mork from Ork Cheers From Above
https://twitter.com/SammonSez/status/691407399106789376
The world said goodbye to Robin Williams in 2014; in 1979 the wily comedian dressed up as a Broncos cheerleader as part of a publicity stunt for his television show, Mork & Mindy. Coincidentally, the ’79 appearance happened during a Broncos-Patriots game.
Peyton Playing for More Than Pride
With the win and playing 70%, #Broncos QB Peyton Manning gets a $2M bonus from his incentives. Imagine the Super Bowl trip means a bit more.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 24, 2016
It wasn’t just pride and legacy that Peyton Manning had riding on the AFC Championship. He also pulled in a cool $2 million bonus for picking up the win, thanks to a restructured contract in the offseason. Money happily spent by John Elway, no doubt.
Wade Phillips Bookends His Broncos Eras
Wade Phillips:
• 1989: Makes SB in 1st year as Broncos' D.C.
• 2015: Makes SB in 1st year returning as Broncos' D.C. pic.twitter.com/5Pe7M7wYRa— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 25, 2016
The Broncos strike gold when Wade Phillips is in his first year as defensive coordinator. They’ve booked two Super Bowl trips in the two times he’s been on staff. Maybe he needs to be fired and re-hired in the offseason.
Kubiak Sets Some Records Himself
Congrats to Gary Kubiak, who became only the 6th head coach in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl in his 1st year with a team.
— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) January 25, 2016
Not to be outdone by his quarterback, Gary Kubiak decided to join elite company, too, with the AFC Championship win. Kubiak won’t just be happy with the appearance. He wants the win.
John Fox Remains Relevant
https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/691464953522335744
Denver’s last Super Bowl appearance was coached by now-Chicago Bears coach John Fox. It was a 35-point loss. Carolina’s only Super Bowl appearance was coached by John Fox. They lost 32-29, to who else but New England. Now Denver will face Carolina in Super Bowl 50.
Peyton Keeps the Argument Going
Peyton Manning is the only QB to take multiple teams MULTIPLE TIMES to the Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/Kn5BPeIHpm
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 25, 2016
For all those pundits who want to crown Tom Brady the best quarterback ever. Consider this: Manning has gone to four Super Bowls with four different coaches, Brady has been to six, but all with Bill Belichick. Manning has guided two different teams to the big game on two occasions, something no other quarterback in NFL history has done.