NFL
Sunday, November 24
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Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady: Who's the better bet?
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Week 12 action in the NFL features a number of marquee matchups - but one clearly rises above the rest as Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos visit New England for a showdown with Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Manning and Brady will face off for the 14th time - and will do so with playoff implications for both teams. The Broncos are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for top spot in the AFC West, while Brady's Patriots have a two-game lead in the AFC East and can strengthen their hold on top spot with a win.
Here's a breakdown of the all-time matchup in a special Tale of the Tape:
Straight-up: Brady 9, Manning 4
Brady has dominated the head-to-head record between the future Hall-of-Fame QBs, winning the first six encounters - including the 2003 AFC Championship Game - and going 6-2 at Foxboro Stadium. Manning does have the most significant victory of the series, leading Indianapolis back from an 18-point deficit to prevail 38-34 in the 2006 AFC title game. It's the biggest comeback in conference championship history.
ATS: Brady (6-5-2)
This matchup is much closer than the SU history, in part due to a series of closely contested games. Brady kicked off the tete-a-tete with a 5-0-1 ATS record - highlighted by a 44-13 rout of Manning's Indianapolis Colts in Brady's first career start - but Manning covered in each of the next four matchups. The two have split three spreads since, including a narrow Brady cover in New England's thrilling 31-28 victory over Indianapolis in their last meeting in 2011.
O/U: 8-5-0
With two of the best quarterbacks of a generation facing off, points are often scored in bunches - and the Brady-Manning encounters are no exception. The first meeting saw 57 points scored, kicking off a trend that saw the teams combine for greater than 50 points in five of the first seven showdowns. The high-water mark of 72 points was set in New England's 38-34 win in Week 13 of the 2003 season and equaled in the Colts' 38-34 win in the 2006 AFC title game.
Passing yards: Manning 3,821, Brady, 3,059
Manning has edged out Brady when it comes to passing yardage, averaging a whopping 293.9 yards per game compared to Brady's mark of 235.3. Manning has a number of big yardage games against the Patriots on his career resume, including a 349-yard performance in the 2006 conference championship and a 326-yard effort in a 27-20 triumph over the Patriots earlier that season. Brady was hurt by a 168-yard showing in their first-ever encounter in 2001.
Touchdowns/interceptions: Manning: 27/19; Brady: 23/12
Known more as a gunslinger than his Patriots counterpart, it should surprise no one that Manning has more touchdowns and interceptions in the all-time series. Manning handed Brady his first victory as a starting quarterback, throwing three interceptions - two of which were run back for scores. He also has a place in history as the first quarterback to throw for four touchdowns against the Bill Belichick-led Patriots in 2003 - albeit in defeat.
Sunday, November 24
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Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady: Who's the better bet?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 12 action in the NFL features a number of marquee matchups - but one clearly rises above the rest as Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos visit New England for a showdown with Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Manning and Brady will face off for the 14th time - and will do so with playoff implications for both teams. The Broncos are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for top spot in the AFC West, while Brady's Patriots have a two-game lead in the AFC East and can strengthen their hold on top spot with a win.
Here's a breakdown of the all-time matchup in a special Tale of the Tape:
Straight-up: Brady 9, Manning 4
Brady has dominated the head-to-head record between the future Hall-of-Fame QBs, winning the first six encounters - including the 2003 AFC Championship Game - and going 6-2 at Foxboro Stadium. Manning does have the most significant victory of the series, leading Indianapolis back from an 18-point deficit to prevail 38-34 in the 2006 AFC title game. It's the biggest comeback in conference championship history.
ATS: Brady (6-5-2)
This matchup is much closer than the SU history, in part due to a series of closely contested games. Brady kicked off the tete-a-tete with a 5-0-1 ATS record - highlighted by a 44-13 rout of Manning's Indianapolis Colts in Brady's first career start - but Manning covered in each of the next four matchups. The two have split three spreads since, including a narrow Brady cover in New England's thrilling 31-28 victory over Indianapolis in their last meeting in 2011.
O/U: 8-5-0
With two of the best quarterbacks of a generation facing off, points are often scored in bunches - and the Brady-Manning encounters are no exception. The first meeting saw 57 points scored, kicking off a trend that saw the teams combine for greater than 50 points in five of the first seven showdowns. The high-water mark of 72 points was set in New England's 38-34 win in Week 13 of the 2003 season and equaled in the Colts' 38-34 win in the 2006 AFC title game.
Passing yards: Manning 3,821, Brady, 3,059
Manning has edged out Brady when it comes to passing yardage, averaging a whopping 293.9 yards per game compared to Brady's mark of 235.3. Manning has a number of big yardage games against the Patriots on his career resume, including a 349-yard performance in the 2006 conference championship and a 326-yard effort in a 27-20 triumph over the Patriots earlier that season. Brady was hurt by a 168-yard showing in their first-ever encounter in 2001.
Touchdowns/interceptions: Manning: 27/19; Brady: 23/12
Known more as a gunslinger than his Patriots counterpart, it should surprise no one that Manning has more touchdowns and interceptions in the all-time series. Manning handed Brady his first victory as a starting quarterback, throwing three interceptions - two of which were run back for scores. He also has a place in history as the first quarterback to throw for four touchdowns against the Bill Belichick-led Patriots in 2003 - albeit in defeat.
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