This latest version of Brady vs. Manning was a rout.
And then it wasn’t, stretching deep into overtime before New England’s biggest winning rally in franchise history gave it a 34-31 victory over Denver.
In a game of turnovers in frigid and windy conditions Sunday night, Tom Brady brought the Patriots back from a 24-0 halftime hole created mostly by three lost fumbles. But Peyton Manning and Denver got sloppy in the second half, then Tony Carter had a punt hit him late in OT. New England (8-3) recovered, leading to Stephen Gostkowski’s 31-yard field goal to win it with 1:56 remaining.
“We had some of those plays in the first half that didn’t really go our way,” said Brady, who is 10-4 against Manning. “It was nice to get a good bounce when we needed it.
“It was not our best night, glad we won.”
The bitter defeat for the visiting Broncos (9-2) ruined a superb night for running back Knowshon Moreno. He rushed for 224 yards on 37 carries and a touchdown.
“Hated the way that ended, not getting a chance to get our hands on the ball,” Manning said.
Other Sunday scores: Minnesota 26, Green Bay 26, OT; Jacksonville 13, Houston 6; San Diego 41, Kansas City 38; St. Louis 42, Chicago 21; Pittsburgh 27, Cleveland 11; Tampa Bay 24, Detroit 21; Baltimore 19, N.Y. Jets 3; Carolina 20, Miami 16; Tennessee 23, Oakland 19; Arizona 40, Indianapolis 11; Dallas 24, N.Y. Giants 21
Week 12 began when New Orleans (9-2) beat Atlanta (2-9) 17-13 on Thursday night. The Monday night game has San Francisco (6-4) at Washington (3-7).
Idle this week are Seattle (10-1), Cincinnati (7-4), Philadelphia (6-5) and Buffalo (4-7).