Bill Belichick on Peyton Manning: ‘I would never, ever, ever underestimate him’
From one great to another
Bill Belichick has a great deal of respect for Peyton Manning, who has beaten his Patriots five times in the regular season and twice in the postseason.
“Peyton is a great player,’’ Belichick told reporters during Wednesday’s press conference. “We’ve had tremendous battles against him through the years. There isn’t a player off our team that I have any more respect for than Peyton Manning, so his preparation, his consistency, his skills, I would never, ever, ever underestimate him under any circumstances.’’
Belichick and the Patriots will face Manning in the AFC Championship Game, where Manning ended the Patriots’ season during the 2013 and 2006 seasons.
When Belichick last played the Broncos in Week 12, Brock Osweiler and the Broncos overcame a 14-point deficit for a 30-24 win. Belichick said Denver was the “best team we’ve played this year.’’
How might the offense differ under Manning instead of Osweiler?
“They have good variety in their offense.’’ Belichick said, adding, “Whatever they decide to do is out of our control. We have to defend it. We have to be ready for a lot of things. I don’t know what percentage of what is going to be. Whatever it is, we have to deal with it. So we’ll prepare for what they’ve done, things we think they might do whether they’ve shown them or not, and we’ll go out and play the game.’’
It remains to be seen whether the differences will mean improvements.
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