"star wars" still managed to bring in just over $25 million to take the third spot. since it was released, it has made $851 million in the u.s., and $1.9 billion worldwide. okay. we're kind out of our element right now. we're build a new set. however, broncos tonight gets to stay in the normal spot. >> they do? >> they don't have to build a new one themselves. oh, clearly, these guys are completely not ready for the show.

bad. ready to go? [ music ] >> into the end zone. big plays have killed the broncos so far. >> and the ball is free. and denver got it at the 35.

anderson to the goal line and the end zone, touchdown, denver. >> two more to go. hi, everybody, and welcome to broncos tonight. playoff edition. drew, rod, mike, and chad all still wearing our long johns. was not enough time to change following a 23-16 playoff victory over the pittsburgh steelers. not a signature moment in this playoff game, but what is on your mind? >> the turnover turned touchdown at the end of the game. roby knocks it free. and demarcus ware recovers again. and to me, this is a microcosm of the season. what happened all season long. the offense sputters along and waiting for a big play from the defense. and in the 4th quarter there is a big play.

on the sideline running 40 of the 42 yards down the side lines. after the lackluster, listless performance the broncos had last year in the first playoff game against the colts. i thought he set the tone with the energy he brought. he was emotional all game long. this team was fired up. he played today like he thought this is the most important game he had ever played. he said all of the young guys went out on friday night. he was not doing that. he had business to take care of. >> drew. we talked about this -- 22 postseason touchdown drives. the 23 one wins the ballgame. so that mindset is the moment of the game. >> brandon, an all-time broncos playoff record with five field goals. that that would have been impressive inside of a dome,

>> the one at the end of the half, the 51-yarder. he drilled it right down the middle and still the ball almost tailed off to the right on him. he said before the game in warmups ark calm day, no -- a calm day. and then there was 30 mile-per- hour gusts. very difficult. 5-5ism one of the -- 5-5. one of the heroes of the game. >> yes. when you have defense and offense not at a high level. you need consistent, 5-5 today. the mvp. if they are going to win like this in the postseason they need this again. >> a lot of people are thinking gary kubiak, he misses the pick and steelers will win. but he has trust in my defense and the kid. and he came through from 45.

goal range is to win the position pastel. they did all day. the special-teamers were terrific. specifically webster. >> he was good. the pittsburgh punter was awful. >> terrible. >> that helped the broncos quite a bit. potential teams is big. when defense is your number one strength, your special teams has to playoff of the defense. field position is very big for a bronco team that is built now to win 20-17, 23-16 like today. >> i'm not sure that peyton touchdown passes. but it seeps he finally understands the broncos can win that way. >> no turnovers. that is the key. this is the first full game that peyton played in all year he didn't have an interception. he got the ball, the big 3rd down passes. he managed the game. he is brad johnson now.

>> there is no need for peyton to force things. no need to throw 40 passes. be smart with the football is your number one job. win the game with the defense and offense just be smart. >> he came up big when it matters most. 1-12 on 3rd downs. when they needed it, he goes to benny on the one and gets the first down and the rest is history. the broncos not come back in the 4th quarter, this would have likely been manning's last game and tonight would have been about number 18. but denver won, and peyton will play on and we're still putting him in the spotlight. >> manning has not started a game since the kansas city game. it will be fascinating to see what manning does in this 25th postseason game.

and the receivers that factored into them as well. >> into his hands and drops it. >> the wind, a lot of people watching from the television and in the stands you cannot tell. but peyton, it was tough. >> not sure what is going on. >> i expect peyton to get the ball in the right spot. >> and throw the ball. >> i would like it to go away if it could. but i think it was probably the longest pass play of the game. we'll take it. >> the craziest plays i have ever seen in my life. >> you knew you were going to get a great effort by them. i have a lot of respect from coach tomlin. but you have to be a good team to win in the playoff games and win as a team. so defense did a great job. and offensively, we did enough to win. >> this has been an incredibly hard fought game.

>> like we do every week on broncos tonight, we discuss who the broncos quarterback will be next week. who do you think? [ laughter ] i'll take that as manning. in his defense, his numbers would have been better without seven drops. the receivers are lucky they didn't cost the game? >> the wind was a factor. the ball was moving through the air. peyton not throwing a ball that cut through the air. and it illustrates about the team just defense being the best part of this team. you offense doesn't have to operate at a high level if they don't turn the football over. and score, 14-20 points you will win ballgames because the defense, offense doesn't have to be super sharp, but clutch. >> there are at least seven players -- everyone participated. you cannot point the finger everywhere.

a lot of mistakes by the offense. >> they were in trouble today for a long stretch of the game. and the fumble was the play at turned the game. the steelers were leading from 2:00 to 3:00, they were in control of the game. the broncos had a tough time to get going. the 3rd to 16 to fowler was huge. >> and you come back to him after two drops. that is confidence, they were working on the sidelines. >> all right. so manning-brady, 17, one of the great rivalries in all of sports history, really. does this remind you of magic johnson and larry bird or some other great head-to-head pairing. >> so i'm going to tennis, nadal and federer.

have played together in the post. greats. >> so i'm going to stick with the sport. >> okay. >> aging yourself. >> most people think that samey was a great passer of the generation. and sam always beat him in the nfl championship game. so sammy, manning, and sam is brady. >> magic and bird. the regular season matchup, the appetizer for the postseason matchup is what we want. the main course. >> it is half time on our show.

[ music ] yes it is rarely easy for the broncos, but they rarely loose. thomas caught four passes, making him the all-time playoff leader, with 51 more than smith. but no one talked to dt about

smith in the stands to watch her son for the first time today. she has been in prison since '99 on drug-related charges. >> good, peyton throws a pass. caught by thomas. thomas rubs it in the face of ohis defender. >> what are you holding there. this one is special. >> i'm going to give this to my mother. first game and first win. >> so at first she looked at you apartment, your place of residence, your house was -- it clean? >> oh, it was clean. it was always clean, but that's what moms do, though. >> how special the 24 hours. you saw her last night. and then you won a football game. >> it was very special.

colorado. it is special. one i will never forget. >> and the next one is bigger. and hopefully the one after that you guys are going to play. >> that's our goal to get to the big one and win that one. and our main thing right now is to celebrate this win, it was not easy and get ready for new england next week. every game we have played this year is close besides one throughout the whole season. you know, we took this one like we don't want to go home. you know, every game we played this year is close. >> a quick through, dt into the end zone. >> go enjoy time with your mom. congratulations. >> thank you. thank you. >> all right. so the broncos will have to win it with defense. this defense is not the 1985 bears or the 2000 ravens. but maybe they don't have to be.

the team with a little offense to a super bowl championship. yes. they can. they have people at every step of the way. harris, ward, all of the guys play. they already won a number of games this season. so why would the postseason be different. >> if they stop the patriots in the a.f.c. championship game. they have shot of doing that. wayne is up, he will scheme a new defense. and put pressure right off of the line of scrimmage. and pressure on julian to pass the crossing routes across the middle. the broncos have a chance against the patriots. the game is here. >> no chance if the game was in new england. >> no chance if it was in foxborough.

it will be because the defense. maybe not the '85 bears on the 21 ravens -- 2000 ravens. but the 2015 broncos. >> what they have done in the regular season, it didn't matter as much. it is about the postseason. today they got it done. if they don't get the turnover at the end, we're done and thought doing a show next week. so they came through. they will do it two more times. >> we would have not been doing the show next week? >> all right. well-- [ laughter ] >> patriots coach, bill belichick comes up with something new for manning. what do you think at this stage? >> well, i wonder if the game film can see the velocity on the balls. manning is throwing gravity balls now.

>> i think he will probably try to do what the chiefs did to manning in november. squatted, and put pressure on the receivers at the line of scrimmage. i think that bill belichick will come up with something for manning. >> and mike tomlin, a field goal and -- decided to punt the ball to peyton. it is interesting to see what he has for tom brady. >> here is what bill -- >> okay. tell us, chad. >> all right. peyton is not well outside of the numbers. the deep ball, the longest pass, the 12-yard completion, and that turned into an 18-yard completion. so bill will do what everyone has done. increasingly tighten that window up so there is no more

>> you did have the sac to sanders, though, the slip down. >> yes. [ laughter ] >> what about, what about blitzing on pass rushing. >> they will bring pressure. they will change things because they are good enough. if you show him what the coverage will be, he will get the open receiver. so they will be changing between zone and man, but the concept of outside of the numbers, you cannot throw it deep, and keep tightening the window. >> the patriots or the broncos? >> the patriots, close game. >> patriots or broncos? >> patriots.

hey, there. center. again, another beautiful sunset. the temperatures in the mid-20s tomorrow. aweak weather system. >> we have to interim you -- interrupt you, because your microphone is not working. 27 degrees, and we're looking ahead to sunday, all of those in the future could be -- partly cloudy and maybe sunshine for the broncos game. >> maybe i'm looking on the

so if that creeps into sunday. all right. and then -- >> are we allowed to do that. she's in a union or something. i don't think that we're allowed to read that. i don't think that's the way it works.