Brady breaks record in win vs. Broncos
FOXBOROUGH, MASS. (AP)
Tom Brady silenced Tebowmania with a record-shattering performance.
Brady threw six touchdown passes, five in the first half, putting the
New England Patriots into the AFC championship game after roughing up
Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos 45-10 Saturday night.
The Patriots (14-3), winners of nine straight games, will host either
Baltimore or Houston next Sunday for a spot in the Super Bowl. Saturday
night's romp snapped a three-game postseason losing streak, two of
those at Gillette Stadium, and lifted the Patriots to the verge of
their fifth Super Bowl appearance in 11 seasons. They've won three of
those.
''We came in and started fast and it was a big win for us,'' said
Brady, who even got off a 48-yard punt on third down.
From the first snap, this was a mismatch. The Patriots were not going
to make the same mistakes the Steelers made against this team.
A nation transfixed by Tebow's play, if not his principles, tuned in
Saturday to see if he had more heroics in store for Brady and company.
He had nothing left as the Patriots made this must-see TV only for
those who live in New England.
With New England up 42-7, the fans began their derisive Teeee-bow
chants. On the next play, the Broncos quarterback was sacked for an
11-yard loss - one of five sacks for New England's 31st-ranked defense.
''We went out and played very hard and good things happened,''
defensive tackle Vince Wilford said. ''A great team win.''
And so ended one of the season's most exciting story lines - one that
began when Denver was 1-4 and made Tebow a starter. The one-time
third-stringer promptly won six in a row and seven of eight, with a
string of stunning comebacks. That surge ended with a 41-23 home loss
to New England, and the Broncos dropped their next two, backing into
the AFC West title.
But they rebounded nicely in their first playoff game since the 2005
season with the longest overtime touchdown in playoff history, an
80-yard catch and run by Demaryius Thomas against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Like everyone else on the Broncos' offense, Thomas was
invisible against the Patriots.
Denver couldn't cover or tackle All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, who
tied a postseason mark with three touchdown catches, all in the opening
half. Brady toyed with the Broncos (9-9), throwing more TD passes than
Tebow had completions (three) in the first 30 minutes.
''We were playing complementary football, and it was awesome,''
Gronkowski said.
Brady's sixth TD was to his other tight end, Aaron Hernandez, as the
quarterback tied Steve Young and Daryle Lamonica for the most in a
postseason game.
The two-time league MVP threw for 5,235 yards during the season, second
in NFL history to Drew Brees' 5,476 in 2011. He looked ready to get
that much against the Broncos as he moved to third place in career
touchdown passes in the playoffs with 36, trailing Joe Montana (45) and
Brett Favre (44).
Brady was 26 for 34 for 363 yards and Gronkowski made 10 catches for
145 yards as the Patriots gained 509 yards in all. In stark contrast,
Tebow was 9 for 26 for 136 yards.
The Broncos won the coin toss and elected to defer. Bad idea: They
never were in the game after that.
Brady hit his first eight passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, who's leaving to become Penn State's coach once the Patriots are done, threw in a wrinkle by using
Hernandez as a running back. On one of those plays, Hernandez broke
free down the left sideline for a 43-yard gain, the team's longest run
this season.
But with the ball in his hands and a 14-0 lead, Brady momentarily
stumbled. His throw over the middle for Julian Edelman sailed directly
to safety Quinton Carter, whose weaving return set up Denver at the New
England 24.
Willis McGahee scored on a 5-yard run.
Carter left the game moments later with a neck injury; Denver was
already without strong safety Brian Dawkins with a neck problem. And
it's secondary had no chance without them.
Yes, Brady had cooled off in the 24-degree temperature (wind chill of
12), but only for a while.
Using the no-huddle, and aided by an effective running game, Brady hit
three passes for 31 yards, with Gronkowski getting free over the middle
this time for the 12-yard score. Several times, and not just on his
romps into the end zone, Gronkowski simply shoved aside would-be
tacklers to tack on yards after catches.
Brady's TDs covered 10, 12 and 19 yards to Gronkowski, 7 to Wes Welker,
61 to Deion Branch and 17 yards to Hernandez early in the third
quarter. Coach Bill Belichick wasn't about to back off at that point,
but the Patriots stalled inside the Denver 5 early in the four period
and Stephen Gostkowski made a 21-yard field goal to conclude New
England's scoring.
Hernandez left in the fourth quarter with a head injury.
''He's feeling great,'' Gronkowski said. ''Hernandez is a beast and I
love playing with him and everything.''
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