With the AFC Championship looming, the Denver Broncos are turning to a familiar face to set the tone-one who knows a thing or two about beating the New England Patriots when it matters most. Peyton Manning, the Hall of Famer and Super Bowl-winning quarterback, lent his voice to the Broncos’ official hype video ahead of Sunday’s showdown at Mile High Stadium. And let’s be honest-there may be no better figure to rally the Denver faithful.
Manning’s connection to this moment runs deep. After a storied run in Indianapolis, he closed out his legendary career with four seasons in Denver, leading the Broncos to two Super Bowl appearances and one championship.
And both of those trips to the big game? They came by way of victories over Tom Brady and the Patriots in the AFC title game.
First, a 26-16 win in 2014. Then, a nail-biting 20-18 triumph in 2016 that paved the way for Manning’s final Super Bowl win.
So when Manning says, “Our legacy means everything,” it carries weight. He’s lived it. He’s built part of that legacy with his own hands, and now, he’s passing the torch to the current roster to carry that tradition forward.
While the Broncos don’t have any former Tennessee Volunteers on their current roster, the Patriots do-backup quarterback Josh Dobbs. And while Dobbs hasn’t seen much action this season, the NFL has a way of reminding us that depth matters, especially in January. Just ask the Broncos, who are heading into this game without their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, after a season-ending injury last week.
Dobbs has appeared in four games this year, completing 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards and adding 10 yards on the ground. Modest numbers, sure, but the bigger story is his journey.
After spending last season with the 49ers-who struggled to a 6-11 finish-Dobbs now finds himself one win away from his first-ever Super Bowl appearance. And in this league, all it takes is one moment, one injury, one opportunity for a backup to become the story.
Sunday’s matchup is a clash of the conference’s best: the top-seeded Broncos hosting the No. 2 Patriots at 3:00 p.m.
ET. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the energy in Denver is already building.
With Peyton Manning’s voice echoing through the city and the Broncos looking to climb higher, the Mile High crowd will be ready.
Legacies are on the line. And for some, they’re just getting started.