Denver Broncos pip New England Patriots to book Super Bowl berth
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The Denver Broncos edged a dramatic AFC Championship game to beat the New England Patriots 20-18 and book their place in next month's Super Bowl 50.
Defending champions New England scored a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining but failed with a two-point conversion which would have levelled the scores.
The Broncos will face either the Carolina Panthers or the Arizona Cardinals on 7 February in a record-equalling eighth Super Bowl.
Carolina face Arizona at 23:40 GMT.
The Broncos have lost five Super Bowls - more than any other team - and last appeared in 2014 when they were thrashed by the Seattle Seahawks.
The Broncos' 39-year-old quarterback Peyton Manning, who has faced criticism all season after struggling with poor form and injury, now has a chance to win his second Super Bowl title.
Manning - who has thrown the most touchdowns in NFL history - managed just nine touchdown passes in the regular season but threw two first-half scores to Owen Daniels to put the Broncos 17-9 up at half-time at their Mile High Stadium.
New England kicker Stephen Gostkowksi had missed his extra point after Steven Jackson's touchdown - to end a remarkable run of 523 consecutive kicks.
Patriots' own veteran quarterback Tom Brady struggled against Denver's superb defence, throwing two interceptions in the first half, but rallied late on to throw a touchdown to Rob Gronkowski inside the final few seconds.
That made the score 20-18, but Denver defended the two-point conversion to see out the win.
Manning, the oldest quarterback to reach the Super Bowl, won his first Super Bowl ring with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007.
"It has been a special four years playing in Denver for these great fans and this great organization," he said. "To be going to our second Super Bowl in four years is very special and just an awesome effort."
Manning would not be drawn on whether his 17th and final duel with Tom Brady on Sunday may have been their last.
"I'm not going to get into what if scenarios," he said. "But I've stated it all week, I've stated it my entire career - I have great respect for Tom as a player and as a friend and for the job he's done as a quarterback for that franchise."
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