Indianapolis Colts Shock Broncos in Denver, Advance to AFC Championship

Andrew Luck and the Colts went into Denver and shocked the Broncos to advance to the AFC Championship.

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On paper, the Colts-Broncos game looked like an ideal way for Denver to ease their way into playoff football. Indeed, perhaps they did a little too much “easing,” and we as a football-viewing public remained willfully ignorant of Peyton Manning’s rough finish to the regular season. Whatever the reason, it’s Andrew Luck and the Colts who are heading to New England and the AFC Championship game next Sunday after they earned a 24-13 win at Mile High.

Manning looked flustered and generally not himself all afternoon, finishing 26-of-46 for 211 yards, one touchdown, and a lost fumble. It is the ninth time he has gone “one and done” in the playoffs, and after scoring 20-plus points in all but one game this season, the Broncos were able to get into the end zone just once.

Luck, despite two slightly befuddling interceptions, was effective in throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns, and Daniel “Boom” Herron ran for 63 yards on 23 carries to pace the Colts’ running attack. They’ll now return to Foxboro, where they were trounced by the Patriots in the Divisional round last season 43-22.

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