New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after a touchdown during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium.(Photo Stew Milne USA TODAY Sports)
Story HighlightsBroncos led 24 0 at halftime Manning had never lost a game when leading by at least 22FOXBOROUGH Mass. Just classic.
They fumbled six times in the first half trailed 24 zip were booed by the home crowd.
And it was cold.
BOX SCORE Patriots 34 Broncos 31 OT
WATCH Brady's TD celebration freakout
Yet the New England Patriots won again anyway with a comeback for the ages.
Sorry Peyton Manning. Tom Brady wins again.
Nobody not even Mr. GQ quarterback himself could have predicted it would go down like it did at The Razor on Sunday night when who knows maybe Red Auerbach's Leprechauns flew in to help the Patriots unleashed a furious second half rally to short circuit the Denver Broncos in an overtime thriller.
Patriots 34 Broncos 31.
Denver jump started by three New England fumbles led 24 0 at halftime and still lost.
The Patriots won in overtime on a 31 yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski that followed the most bizarre play on a night full of wild momentum swinging occurrences a muffed punt that ricocheted off Tony Carter and was recovered by Nate Ebner at the Broncos' 13 yard line. Carter was setting up to block for a possible return.
Go figure.
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Last SlideNext SlideIt was the first time in Manning's illustrious career that he was ever on the losing end of a game in which he led by at least 22 points. NBC flashed a graphic during its telecast showing that he was 50 0 in such games during the regular season and 2 0 in postseason.
Then it happens that the first loss comes at Gillette Stadium which is sort of like Manning's personal house of horrors.
Figure and go.
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Wes Welker's big in your face homecoming statement Not here. Not now. Not with the Patriots playing and winning like it was a game of two halves.
What did Bill Belichick say to his team at halftime
Maybe he promised them on off day on Monday with a win.
Then again more than a few members in the Patriots camp had to be thinking that they needed a perfect half and that if Stevan Ridley Brady and LeGarrette Blount could fumble in the frigid first half then the Broncos were due a few blunders too.
When the tide turned it was unmistakable. You could feel the emotion.
The Patriots took the second half kickoff and turned it into an 80 yard confidence building touchdown drive that made it 24 7.
No sweat. Manning could just keep handing the ball off to Knowshon Moreno who rushed for 107 yards in the first half. Milk the clock. Go home.
Playing not to lose is not a good thing. For the bulk of the first half it seemed that the Broncos were content to do just that using a winterized offense to chew the clock and protect the lead. Manning had 14 passes in the first half while they logged 23 rushes.
Tough to argue about that strategy when you're up by 24.
Then came the real turning point. Denver fumbled
After Montee Ball caught a flare in the flat Dane Fletcher put helmet on ball.
Brandon Spikes whose availability for the game was questionable due to a knee injury got the loose football then held it aloft as he limped off the field.
The crowd roared.
Then bingo with a short field it took just six plays to march 32 yards for the TD drive capped by Brandon Bolden's 1 yard plunge.
New ballgame even though the Patriots still trailed by 10.
Because it happened so fast and with such conviction it felt different.
The Patriots forced a punt and then kept rolling with momentum. Brady found Julian Edelman who looked a lot like Welker in a Patriots uniform wide open for 43 yards.
Three plays later Brady zipped a six yard pass over the middle to Rob Gronkowski to make it 24 21.
And boy did Brady celebrate. He met Gronkowski in the end zone and screamed facemask to facemask. He had all of the excitement of a 12 year old on the playground.
That body language alone sent another message.
It wasn't about style points. It was guts and glory.
And some crazy bounces.
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