The NFL playoffs bracket in the AFC has the New England Patriots hosting the Indianapolis Colts after Andrew Luck led his team to a win over the Denver Broncos and now the future for Peyton Manning could be up in the air as the Pats get ready for another conference championship game with Tom Brady.
The Patriots won over the Ravens with a bit of trickery and now they have the Colts coming in for a matchup at Gillette Stadium. The two teams played earlier in the season in Indianapolis and the Patriots dominated and now the Colts get another shot after upsetting Manning and the Broncos. Manning reportedly has been playing injured for over a month, but that doesn't make things feel any better in Denver following the loss to the Colts.
Accursing to Adam Schefter at ESPN.com, Manning was dealing with a torn right quad in the game on Sunday, and injury he has had over the past month. Sources said that Manning suffered the injury earlier in the season against the Chargers and that the doctors for the team and Manning knew about the injury, but tried to keep it as quiet as possible. Manning looked beat up on Sunday and reports had him suffering that injury back in December against the Chargers.
Manning did not have a great game on Sunday, putting up 20 incompletions and passing for just 211 yards and a touchdown. Manning was not good on long balls either, going just two of 12 on passes 15 yards or more according to ESPN.com. Manning lost again in his first playoff game and he now is mulling what to do next season after losing in the playoffs.
Andrew Luck and the Colts now move to the next round and they will have a rematch with the Patriots after playing in Indianapolis earlier in the season. The Patriots won that game and now Luck and company travel to Boston to take on Brady and Bill Belichick in the AFC title game.