Hold on to your seats, Denver fans. On Sunday, Peyton Manning and our beloved Broncos will take on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in what is sure to be an exciting (and nerve-wracking) AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Beyond the obvious stakes at hand (a highly coveted spot in Super Bowl 50), this showdown will likely be the last time that football fans will see rivals Manning and Brady battle on the field, as our team’s seemingly unsinkable quarterback is expected to retire after 18 seasons in the NFL. Wouldn’t it be fitting for No. 18 to come out on top—if he can get his throwing game in order—and lead the team to one last shot at the Vince Lombardi Trophy? We couldn’t write a better end to Manning’s storied career if we tried.

Erin Skarda
Erin Skarda
Erin is a Denver-based writer and the former digital editor for 5280.