A quarterback threw a crucial interception in Monday night’s game, but it wasn’t Andy Dalton.
With the Denver Broncos trailing by two points late in the fourth quarter, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick intercepted Peyton Manning’s pass intended for Demaryius Thomas and scampered 30 yards into the end zone for a back-breaking touchdown.
Manning’s interception — the third of four picks he threw in the game — couldn’t have come at a worse time for Denver, as it extended Cincinnati’s lead to nine points with less than three minutes remaining.
Kirkpatrick intercepted Manning again with under two minutes to play, sealing the Bengals’ 37-28 win and guaranteeing them a playoff spot. The Broncos’ loss gave the New England Patriots the No. 1 seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
As you might expect, Manning wasn’t too happy with all of this.
Of course, Manning’s Broncos likely will be the No. 2 seed in the AFC and still can make a deep playoff run. If they want to do that, though, they’ll have to go through New England.
GIF via SB Nation
Thumbnail photo via Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports Images
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