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The Denver Broncos have earned the franchises' seventh Super Bowl appearance after dispatching the New England Patriots 26-16 in this afternoon's AFC Championship game. The Broncos entered the postseason as the top seed in the AFC and carried their home-field advantage throughout the tournament and into Super Bowl XLVIII.
Now, the Broncos will wait to see if they will face the San Francisco 49ers or the Seattle Seahawks in February 2's NFL title game. The Seahawks host the 49ers in tonight's NFC Championship game.
Denver simply outmatched the Patriots during the contest, gaining 508 total yards compared to New England's 320. The Broncos won the time of possession battle 35:44-to-24:16. Neither team had a turnover.
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who threw for NFL single-season records in passing yards and touchdown passes this year, was 32-for-43 passing today, for 400 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. He recorded a 118.4 passer rating. On the other side of the field, Tom Brady was 24-for-38 for 277 yards, 1 touchdown, and no interceptions in the losing effort.
Super Bowl XLVII will be held at the home of the New York Giants and Jets in New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. The league will hold the Pro Bowl next weekend, giving both the Broncos and the NFC Champions a bye next week. Kickoff for the title game will be at 6:30pm ET on Fox.
