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: Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-20s when Carolina and Arizona play in Charlotte. Conditions could benefit the Panthers since they have a stronger run game.
5. Sunday's best matchup to watch could be Arizona's explosive receiver Larry Fitzgerald testing Carolina All-Pro CB Josh Norman.
6. Former Falcons running back Steven Jackson plays for the Patriots and wears no. 39. Jackson carried the ball six times for 16 yards in a win over Kansas City last week.
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.
9. The Patriots' offense is as healthy as it has been all season. Brady has all of his favorite receivers back. Tight end Rob Gronkowski (several injuries) and receivers Julian Edelman (broken foot) and Danny Amendola (knee) are back and at full strength.
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