- In Week 13 of the 2013 NFL season the Denver Broncos visited the New England Patriots in the fourteenth career meeting between quarterbacks Peyton Manning, in his second year with the Broncos after thirteen seasons with the Colts, and Tom Brady. The ensuing game became one of the most competitive in the rivalry's history as the Broncos forced several turnovers and scored 24 points to lead 24-0 at the half - but it was a lead that would not hold.—Michael Daly
- In Week 12 of the 2013 NFL season the Denver Broncos traveled to Gillette Stadium for the fourteenth meeting between quarterbacks Peyton Manning, in his second season with Denver after thirteen seasons with the Indianapolis Colts interrupted by a forced year off due to recovery from preventive neck surgery, and Tom Brady. The Patriots were sporting a revamped offensive roster and stood at 7-3 following a controversial loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Broncos meanwhile were engaged in a season where Manning set new league records for touchdowns and passing yardage and stood at 9-1.
The game immediately went wrong for the Patriots as running back Stevan Ridley, under fire for fumbles in previous games, fumbled and Von Miller of the Broncos ran back the ensuing touchdown. Ridley was benched for the game and the subsequent week at Houston, but the Patriots' turnover problems were just beginning - Brady was strip-sacked by Miller and two Knowshon Moreno runs ended in another touchdown. On the next Patriots drive LeGarrette Blount fumbled, and again the Broncos got points, this on a field goal and despite a ten-yard sack of Manning.
Following an exchange of punts a failed fourth-down attempt by the Patriots led to another Peyton Manning touchdown. After more punts the first half ended with the Broncos up 24-0.
But opening the third quarter, Brady led an eight-play drive and a touchdown to Julian Edelman. On the next Broncos possession Monte Ball fumbled after a nine-yard loss, and Brady led a six-play drive and touchdown run by Brandon Bolden. After a Broncos punt Brady whipped the Patriots to a six-yard Rob Gronkowski touchdown, and as the fateful fourth quarter dawned the prospect of a historic Patriots comeback - the biggest comeback in Patriots history was a 38-23 win over the Seahawks after trailing 23-0 in 1984 - was now manifest, and became more so when Manning was intercepted by Logan Ryan, and two plays later Brady's touchdown to Julian Edelman put New England up 28-24. Another Broncos punt was answered by a thirteen-play drive ending in another Patriots field goal.
Manning was intercepted on his first play of the ensuing drive, but an Aqib Talib penalty nullified the turnover, and a twelve-play drive ended in a tying Manning score to Demaryius Thomas, hero of Denver's 2011 overtime playoff win over Pittsburgh.
The remaining 3:10 of the fourth quarter saw two punts, three Manning incompletions, and a combined total of nineteen yards gained, and the game went to overtime, a first for the Brady-Manning rivalry. On the coin toss the Patriots won, but coach Bill Belichick decided to defer, thus allowing him to choose to defend the windy north endzone of the stadium. His decision puzzled observers but seemed vindicated as the overtime continued the pattern where the two offenses had ground to a virtual halt; the Broncos went six plays (one an offensive interference penalty) and punted; the Patriots punted after two Brady incompletions. The Broncos clawed to the New England 37 but after a delay of game penalty and Manning incompletion the Broncos could not to try a 50-plus yard field goal. After the ensuing punt Brady could not gain a first down and with 3:11 to go the Patriots punted again, but a shocking turn of events at the Denver 12-yard line became the deciding factor in the game's outcome.
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