SCOREBOARD
Sunday, Jan. 24
New England at Denver, 3:05 p.m. EST. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will meet for the 17th time -- with a trip to Super Bowl 50 at stake. With his foot healed, Manning guided the Broncos (13-4) past Pittsburgh and into the AFC championship game for the second time in three years. Brady led the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots (13-4) to the AFC title game for a fifth straight season.
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Arizona at Carolina, 6:40 p.m. EST. Cam Newton and the top-seeded Panthers (16-1) will host the NFC championship game for the first time, facing Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals (14-3) for a spot in the Super Bowl. This will be the third time since 2008 the Cardinals have visited the Panthers in a playoff game. In 2008, the Cardinals upset the No. 2-seeded Panthers 33-13 in the divisional playoffs en route to their only Super Bowl appearance. The Panthers defeated the Cardinals at home 27-16 in the wild-card round last season.
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STARS
Passing
- Peyton Manning, Broncos, led Denver on the game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter and finished 21 of 37 for 222 yards in a 23-16 victory over Pittsburgh.
- Russell Wilson, Seahawks, was 31 of 48 for 366 yards and three touchdowns and two interceptions in a losing cause as Seattle's comeback attempt fell short in a 31-24 loss at Carolina.
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Rushing
- Jonathan Stewart, Panthers, ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in his return from a foot injury, helping Carolina to a 31-24 win over Seattle.
- C.J. Anderson, Broncos, rushed for 72 yards and a TD to help Denver top Pittsburgh 23-16.
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Receiving
- Jermaine Kearse, Seahawks, had 11 receptions for 110 yards and two TDs in Seattle's 31-24 loss at Carolina.
- Martavis Bryant, Steelers, made nine catches for 154 yards and added 40 yards on two rushes in a losing cause as Pittsburgh fell to Denver 23-16.
- Greg Olsen, Panthers, caught six passes for 77 yards and a score in Carolina's 31-24 win over Seattle.
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Special Teams
- Brandon McManus, Broncos, tied the NFL playoff record with five field goals in Denver's 23-16 victory over Pittsburgh.
- Thomas Davis, Panthers, recovered Steven Hauschka's onside kick in the closing moments to seal the win as Carolina topped Seattle 31-24.
- Graham Gano, Panthers, kicked a 48-yard field goal and made four extra points in Carolina's 31-24 win over Seattle.
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Defense
- Luke Kuechly, Panthers, returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and was in on 11 tackles in Carolina's 31-24 victory over Seattle.
- DeMarcus Ware, Broncos, recovered a fumble after Bradley Roby punched the ball from Fitzgerald Toussaint's arms to set up the winning touchdown in Denver's 23-16 win over Pittsburgh.
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STREAKS & STATS
The Carolina Panthers have won 12 straight at home, including a 31-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. ... Jonathan Stewart ran for 106 yards on 19 carries and extended Carolina's string of 100-yard rushing games to 28 in the Panthers' win. Seattle hadn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 27 games. ... Denver improved to 10-3 in games decided by seven points or fewer with its 23-16 victory over Pittsburgh. ... Denver's victory marked Peyton Manning's 55th game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime, extending one of the dozen NFL records he owns. ... Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger completed 24 of 37 passes for 339 yards despite playing with a sore right shoulder and missing his top receiver -- Antonio Brown (concussion) and rusher -- DeAngelo Williams (foot).
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NEXT CHAPTER
Peyton Manning will face Tom Brady for the 17th time next week when the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots square off in the AFC championship game. Brady has won 11 of the 16 meetings, but they're 2-2 in the playoffs, including Denver's 26-16 win in the conference championship game two years ago. This game marks just the seventh time Manning will face Brady at home.
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ONE GAME, TWO HALVES
Carolina, winners of 12 straight at home, made all the right plays in building a 31-0 lead, then were dominated by Seattle in the second half before holding on for a 31-24 victory to advance to the NFC championship game. The 31-point halftime lead was tied for the sixth-largest in NFL postseason history. Buffalo led the Los Angeles Raiders by 38 points -- 41-3 -- en route to winning 51-3 in the AFC championship game in 1991.
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BRONCOS' BIG DRIVE
With Denver trailing Pittsburgh 13-12 with less than 10 minutes left, cornerback Bradley Roby punched the ball from Fitzgerald Toussaint's arms and teammate DeMarcus Ware recovered at the Denver 35-yard line. Then, Peyton Manning went to work, driving Denver to its only touchdown as C.J. Anderson ran it in from the 1. Demaryius Thomas caught the 2-point conversion, and the Broncos won it 23-16.
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SIDELINED
Seattle lost defensive end Cliff Avril (neck) and left tackle Russell Okung (shoulder) to injuries in the Seahawks' 31-24 loss at Carolina. ... Seattle's Marshawn Lynch returned from a two-month absence (abdominal surgery), but finished with just 20 yards on six carries. ... Pittsburgh played without its top receiver and rusher with All-Pro Antonio Brown sidelined with a concussion and DeAngelo Williams out with an injured right foot. ... Broncos punt returner Omar Bolden injured a knee following his 42-yard return that set up Denver's first field goal. ... Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats left before halftime with an injured chest muscle.
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SPEAKING
"It'll be the Broncos vs. the Patriots. We'll enjoy this one tonight. I think you knew that answer was coming. To kind of quote Bill Belichick, we'll be on to New England. But I'll be talking about them on Wednesday." -- Denver's Peyton Manning, who will face New England's Tom Brady for the 17th time in their careers, this time with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
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"We have to find a way to complete a full game of football. We have been known to take our foot off the throttle and we have to find that killer instinct." -- Carolina quarterback Cam Newton after the Panthers built a 31-0 halftime lead and then hung on to beat Seattle 31-24.
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