Stud No. 9 – Owen Daniels
The veteran tight end was targeted only three times in a conservative game plan that ran the ball 30 times compared to 32 pass attempts. But when Owen Daniels’ number was called, he delivered in game-changing fashion.
Daniels had two receptions on the day, both touchdowns. On a day when the Denver offense needed to put up six points when they got into New England territory, it was Daniels that Peyton Manning trusted most to get the job done.
On Denver’s opening drive, Daniels split the safeties for a 21-yard touchdown reception that gave Denver a 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Daniels had Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins tripping over his shoelaces on a 12-yard TD catch that extended Denver’s lead to 14-6 after a Brandon McManus PAT.
It wasn’t the biggest day in terms of stats – he finished with just those two catches for 33 yards – but Daniels made the two biggest catches of the day for an offense that needed just enough to outlast New England.
