Manning Must Master Brady and the COLD

This is a biggest test of the year for Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Brady has 9 wins over Manning in their 13 career meetings, including the playoffs, which are the most wins for any one QB over another since 1993. Worse yet, Manning is 2-9 in games in Foxboro during his career and 2-6 against Brady at Gillette Stadium. Manning has also thrown an even 21 TD's and 21 INT’s in 11 career games in Foxboro.

Then there's this excerpt from a Denver Post article: “He’s (Manning) 2-8 in which the game temperature is below freezing (32 or below), 0-2 in any game below 20 and 2-5 in games between 20-29.”  “ He’s 8-13 in games where the game time temperature is below 40.”

For most of his career Manning had the luxury of playing 8 regular season games under a dome and he could win most of those games. Clearly, looking at his stats Manning doesn’t play well in cold weather. The current temp in Foxsboro is 28 degrees with winds up to 23 mph. It’ll probably be much colder come kick off.

Manning after the Ravens loss.

Who can forget his bad game in a frosty Denver last year against the Ravens in the 1^st round of the playoffs?

Granted the Patriots are not as good a team offensively as in years past but from a statistical point of view the odds of Manning playing well enough for the Broncos to win are stacked against him.

This is the second game of a 3 game stretch were Manning has to put up or shut up. He got the win in Denver over the Chiefs in game 1 and now must beat the Patriots in game 2. If they can win today and win next week in game 3 of the Chiefs rematch the table is set for home field throughout the playoffs and shot at a Super Bowl appearance.

Despite the odds against him in cold weather games, despite the bad ankle and despite a horrible record against Brady, today has to be the day Manning breaks out and plays a good game. It’s the reason he was brought to Denver, the opportunity is clearly his to prove his critics wrong that he’s not a choker in big games late in the season or in the playoffs.  

It’ll take a total team effort to win today but if Manning hangs out an “Epic Fail” sign in this important game the dream of a Super Bowl win becomes much more difficult. GO BRONCOS!!!