Under Manning, the Denver offense is based on precise timing and effective route-running. Defensively, there is one prescription: impeding the Broncos’ receivers at the line of scrimmage. Not every team is equipped to do it, but when it’s done right, Manning becomes mortal. Only one other time this season have the Broncos been held to so few points: their 26-20 overtime defeat in Week 3 to Seattle.

This isn’t an accident. The Patriots spent the off-season trying to emulate the Seahawks, going so far as to sign 6-foot-4 cornerback Brandon Browner, who was part of Seattle’s dominating defense last season until a substance-abuse suspension kept him out of the playoffs. Not surprisingly, he was the key to stopping Manning on Sunday. According to Pro Football Focus, a statistical tracking service, Manning had a 49.4 quarterback rating when throwing toward Browner.