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Home , Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, Demaryius Thomas, Derek Wolfe, Emmanuel Sanders, Thunder (mascot)

Voiceofthe Rocky Mountain Empire

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016 flurries through midday E37° F24° »14A B © the denver post B $2 price may vary outside metro denver 6 HI,FIVEAFC Championship: Broncos 20, Patriots-0!18

DENVER WINS THRILLER TO FACE CAROLINA IN SUPER BOWL 50

Broncos wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders, left, and Demaryius Thomas make glow angels in confetti after Denver held off New England late in Sunday’s AFC championship game. The Broncos, who beat the Patriots 20-18, will face the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7. John Leyba, The Denver Post

By Patrick Saunders The Denver Post BRONCOMANIA Waves of sound rolled in off an ocean of orange. The scoreboard record- ed the noise at 114 decibels, the equivalent of a constant clap of thunder. Fans thrilled to see Just one more play by their tenacious defense on this white-knuckle Manning continue Sunday afternoon and the Broncos would be Super Bowl bound. a storybook ﬁnish Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, pummeled re- that last defensive play,” said defensive tackle peatedly by a ferocious Denver pass rush through- Derek Wolfe, who sacked Brady once, had six By John Frank The Denver Post out the afternoon, stepped back to pass. He need- tackles and wreaked havoc all afternoon. “It was ed a two-point conversion to force a tie and send like the air was shaking. I can’t tell you how As the Denver Broncos stormed the field late the AFC championship game into overtime. proud I am of this defense, and this team. Now Sunday afternoon, Steve Kidd held a neon-pink Pressured, Brady fired a quick pass to Julian we’re heading to the Super Bowl. Unreal.” poster that captured the mood of fans: Edelman, but cornerback Aqib Talib tipped the ball In the south stands, Leslie Kramer of Littleton, “No. 18 — The time is now.” at the goal line and Bradley Roby intercepted it. wearing blue cowboy boots trimmed in orange “We are going to finish the story,” said Kidd, Game over, dream alive. fur, was beside herself. “Peyton’s story.” Broncos 20, Patriots 18. “Oh, my God, I thought I was going to pass The Broncos’ 20-18 victory over the New Eng- “Super Bowl! Super Bowl!” screamed a crowd out,” she said. “I can’t believe they held on.” land Patriots in the AFC championship game prob- of 77,112 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos did, and now have entered elite ably was quarterback Peyton Manning’s final Next stop for the AFC champions: Levi’s Stadi- company. They joined New England, Pittsburgh home game in orange. And the storybook finish is um in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 7, when the and Dallas as the only teams to go to eight Super just what the fans at Sports Authority Field at Mile Broncos will face the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowls. High came to see. Bowl 50. The story line leading up to the game was the “It was the greatest ending I’ve ever seen,” John “It’s impossible to describe what it felt like on rivalry between 39-year-old Broncos quarter- McDonald of Parker said as fans hollered in tri- BRONCOS» 10A umph on the concourse near him. It’s hard to underestimate what the game — and AFC CHAMPIONSHIP DENVER BRONCOS 20, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 18 the Broncos’ trip to Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7 — Super Bowl bound: Broncos dethrone the champs for AFC title. »2B meant to the 77,112 fans in the stands and the many “D”RISES UP thousands gathered outside the stadium. Relive history: Commemorate great moments from the Broncos with Manning’s future is not certain, but the fans our collectible plaques, coasters and wall displays. Check out our store to understood his four-year run in Denver is nearing choose your favorite sports headlines. »denverpoststore.com FANS » 10A