Sports

9 things to know before Sunday's NFL playoffs

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 17: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos signals to the sideline during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 17, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 17: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos signals to the sideline during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 17, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
By Mike Luck
Jan 22, 2016

1. Sunday's game could be your last chance to watch QB great Peyton Manning play. Manning, who will be 40 in March, might retire at the end of this season, so a loss to the Patriots could be the last time on the field for the certain Hall of Famer.

2. Manning and Tom Brady of the Patriots, will meet again Sunday. The QBs have gone head to head 16 times in their careers. Brady's teams have won 11 of the 16 games, but the quarterbacks are both 2-2 in head-to-head playoff games

3. When and where to watch: Sunday's games are New England at Denver at 3:05 p.m. and Arizona at Carolina at 6:40 p.m. The first game is televised by CBS and the second by Fox. The winners advance to the Super Bowl in two weeks, Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, Calif.

4. Weather worries:

5. Sunday's best matchup to watch could be Arizona's explosive receiver

6. Former Falcons running back Steven Jackson plays for the Patriots and wears no. 39. Jackson carried the ball six times

7. Ex-Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon plays for the Cardinals and wears number 55. Weatherspoon played a season-high 18 snaps against the Packers in the divisional-round playoff game last Saturday.

About the Author

Mike Luck is an Audience Specialist on the sports team at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has worked at the AJC since 1980.

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