Listening to most of the analyst surrounding the AFC Championship game this week, you would have thought Peyton Manning had already been served his eviction notice. Boston wasn’t afraid of him, and Vegas didn’t give him a shot.

But that’s why we play the game, folks.

After the Broncos defense stuffed Tom Brady and the Patriots on their first drive, Manning received the ball at the 18-yard line, before driving it all the way down the field on an 11-play, 82-yard touchdown drive, giving Denver an early 7-0 lead.

On the drive, Manning completed four of six passes for 60 yards and a 21-yard touchdown pass to Owen Daniels.

There’s still a long ways to go, but it would have been hard to ask for a better start.