ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Tom Brady vs. Trevor Siemian.It doesnt have the same ring to it as Brady vs. Manning .Yet, Siemian is providing the Broncos with better numbers than Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler did last year when Denver swept the New England Patriots on their way to winning Super Bowl 50.And this despite a porous O-line, battered backfield and struggling pass catchers.In his last five starts, Siemian has averaged 303.8 yards passing with eight touchdowns and four interceptions behind a line thats surrendered 17 sacks and a ground game thats managed a sputtering 2.7 yards per carry.If not for some big drops over the last three weeks, the usual aura of AFC supremacy would surround Sundays showdown in Denver along with the typical home-field implications for the playoffs.Instead, while the Patriots (11-2) are closing in on a record-breaking eighth consecutive AFC East title, the Broncos (8-5) are scrapping just to get into the postseason party. Standing in their way are the Patriots, Chiefs and Raiders, who own a combined 31-8 record.I dont care who we play, weve got to win these next three games, safety T.J. Ward said.It would help if Denvers sniffling offense can find a way to help out its sizzling defense.Obviously, not getting a win last week, that stings a little bit. But I think were confident going into these last couple of games, Siemian said. I dont think anybody says in our locker room that we cant win any of these games, starting with New England. Weve got a confident group. Weve got the right guys to do it with, for sure.The Broncos are coming off a 13-10 loss at Tennessee where they held Marcus Mariota to 88 yards on six completions, including just one after halftime when the Titans managed only 42 yards on the ground.Siemian threw for 334 yards but Bennie Fowler couldnt hold on to what would have been the game-winning touchdown pass, a fastball that struck him in the face mask in the closing minutes.The Patriots see in Siemian a QB getting better each week -- and this after he outdueled three No. 1 picks in his first month as Mannings successor. So, theyre not exactly celebrating Mannings retirement.For a younger quarterback that hasnt played much, he does a good job of just keeping his eyes downfield, moving around in the pocket and just getting to the best play no matter really what happens with the rush or anything, Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty said.Despite unrelenting pressure and big hits that have resulted in injuries to both shoulders and his left foot, Siemian has completed 61.2 percent of his passes while throwing for 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions.Siemians athleticism, arm strength and mobility drew praise from Patriots coach Bill Belichick this week.Siemians quarterback rating of 89.8 is higher than Manning (67.9) and Osweiler (86.4) had last year, when Manning completed 59.6 percent of his throws with nine TDs and 17 interceptions and Osweiler completed 61.8 percent of his passes with 10 TDs and six interceptions.Osweiler prevailed in the regular season against the Patriots last year and Manning won the 17th and final meeting with Brady.Two months after the Broncos overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 30-24 overtime win behind Osweiler, Manning threw for just 176 yards in the AFC championship that Denver won 20-18 thanks to a defense that hit Brady a career-high 23 times, sacked him four times and intercepted him twice.The Broncos are the only team Brady has a losing record against (6-9), and hes just 2-7 in Denver.I think theyve had really good teams, Brady said Wednesday. More so than where you play, its how you play. We just need to play better than the way weve been playing out there. Its a great place to play. Theyve got great fans.Brady added that Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware are a lot more dangerous ... than the people in the crowd. So, were going to have to do a good job handling all those guys up front.Nothing will ever match the Brady-Manning matchup, but Siemian is counting on this one being the first of many with Brady, who aims to play several more seasons.When the season started, many saw Siemian as a stop-gap, keeping the seat warm for Paxton Lynch. Now, theres buzz about him being the long-term solution at QB in Denver, although thats not a notion Siemian was keen to entertain Wednesday.Im not looking too far ahead, Siemian said. I want to make the most of these next couple of games and get us into the playoffs and make a run here.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Cheap Indianapolis Colts Jerseys . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Cheap Cleveland Browns Jerseys . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. http://www.cheapjerseysforsale.net/?tag=cheap-new-england-patriots-jerseys . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Cheap Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Cheap New Orleans Saints Jerseys .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. When Washington State plays at Colorado on Saturday, it will be battle of Pac-12 division leaders.Nobody saw that coming.The 12th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12) are the most surprising team in the country, considering they were picked to finish last in the Pac-12 South in a vote of league media and had only five conference victories in their first five seasons in the league.Washington State (8-2, 7-0) opened the season with a home loss to lower-division Eastern Washington and a defeat at Boise State. The Cougars have since ripped off eight consecutive victories -- their longest streak since 1930 and the second-longest streak in the nation behind Alabama (22).Two years ago, Colorado and Washington State finished last in their respective divisions. Now, this game -- kicking off at 3:30 p.m. ET from Boulder, Colo. (Fox TV) -- is the biggest in the Pac-12.Isnt that great, said Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre.It is exciting for both teams. It is exciting for Washington State and Mike Leach and it is exciting for the University of Colorado and our staff. I am so excited for our fans. This is a special time in Colorado football.Colorado is one game up in the loss column on USC and Utah, the only other teams that can win the South.The Buffaloes likely have to win their final two games against ranked opponents to take the title and advance to the conference championship game. The Buffs finish the regular season at home against No. 11 Utah.Washington States division-tile hopes will likely come down to next weeks Apple Cup game against seventh-ranked Washington, which is one game back of the Cougars. WSU will have to navigate its tough final two regular-season games without senior wide receiver River Cracraft.His college career is over after he tore his left ACL in last weeks 56-21 win over California. He and fellow senior Gabe Marks are the only duo in Pac-12 history to each have 200 career catches at the same time.Hes a great player, coach Mike Leach said of Cracraft. He contributed early in his career, which I thought was impressive.Washington State junior quarterback Luke Falk is second nationally with 361.0 passing yards per game, directiing Leachs Air Raid attack.dddddddddddd. Falk last week set a school record with his 23rd career 300-yard game.Marks set the Pac-12 career receptions record last week; he has 295.Colorado counters with the best pass defense in the Pac-12, allowing 176.9 yards per game through the air. Opponents are completing just 50.9 percent of their passes, the best mark in the conference.But this WSU team also has balance, able to run the ball when the opportunity presents itself. Behind Gerard Wicks (career-high 128 yards) and James Williams (80 yards), the Cougars ran for 254 yards on 31 carries last week against Cal, their highest total in Leachs five seasons as head coach.It helps a lot, Marks said of the run game.I dont like to admit it sometimes, because the run game affects my life. But it has affected my life in a good way now. Back in the day, wed just run it and nothing would get done, and it was like dont run it. Just throw me the ball. ...Balance is good. Weve got some good balance right now.Colorado is solid and balanced, too.Senior Sefo Liufau, who set a school record last week with his 36th career start at quarterback, rarely makes a killer mistake. He recently had a streak of 152 passes without an interception.The Buffs can run the ball (204.7 yards per game) behind tailback Phillip Lindsay. They can stop the run (131.5 yards per game).They have forced a turnover in a national-best 23 consecutive games and are tied for 18th in turnover margin at 0.7 per game.Bottom line: They Buffs dont beat themselves. Their only losses this season came at Michigan (they were leading when Liufau left with an injury) and at USC.And, so, Saturday will mark the biggest home game of Colorados tenure in the Pac-12.Giving people something to believe in has always been a part of this season, wide receiver Shay Fields said on the teams website. Folsom the last couple of years hasnt been that packed. But since we won those first three, the fans have been outstanding. Theyve gotten the feeling that CU is back and thats exciting. ' ' '