• American Football

Manning sets up play-off showdown with Brady

ESPN staff
January 13, 2014
Broncos quarterback Manning is chasing his second Superbowl ring © Getty Images
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Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are set for the fourth play-off encounter of their careers after guiding the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots respectively to the NFL's AFC Championship Game.

The pair, considered to be two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, will battle it out at Denver's Mile High Stadium on Sunday for a place at Superbowl XLVIII on February 2.

Manning, 37, has enjoyed the best season of his career, which included breaking Brady's 2007 record of most touchdown passes in the regular season with 55 and a league-record 5,477 passing yards, and led Denver past a late San Diego Chargers fightback as they won their AFC Divisional encounter 24-17.

On Saturday Brady - who has won three Superbowl titles in five appearances - and the Patriots overcame the Indianapolis Colts 43-22 in New England, to set up their third straight visit to the AFC Championship.

In the NFC the San Francisco 49ers equalled the achievement of Brady's Patriots as they made the Conference Championship for the third year in a row, where they will travel to the imposing CenturyLink Field to face arch-rivals Seattle Seahawks.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers, who lost last year's Superbowl to the Baltimore Ravens, to a 23-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in their Divisional game, while the Seahawks' potent running offence saw them beat the New Orleans Saints 23-15.

Both Conference Championships will take place on Sunday January 19.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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