Sunday's slate of conference title games kicks off with the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos going head-to-head in hopes of representing the AFC in Super Bowl 50.
The highly anticipated matchup features the 17th, and possibly final, meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, but that's only one of several things deserving of the spotlight heading in.
Here's what you need to know:
Patriots' passing game at full strength
Denver did just enough to limit Tom Brady in their Week 12 meeting and come away with an impressive overtime win to secure what proved to be the eventual tiebreaker for home-field advantage.
That performance certainly gives the defense some hope heading into Sunday's rematch, but this isn't exactly the same Patriots offense.
Julian Edelman is now back in the lineup after a foot injury forced him to miss the last seven games of the regular season, and last week's 10-catch, 100-yard performance suggests he's already in top form.
A dominant wideout in the underneath passing game, Edelman is one of few NFL receivers capable of creating separation against star Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr.
Rob Gronkowski, who was forced to the sideline late in that Week 12 loss, is also now healthy after dodging what initially appeared to be a significant knee injury.
With his top two targets available, Tom Brady now has every opportunity to get the ball in and out of his hands in rhythm, nullifying an explosive pass rush and picking apart the Broncos' defense through the air.
Denver's running-game advantage
Denver's chances of pulling out a win will depend largely upon the offense's ability to move the ball with consistency on the ground.
Not only would a productive running game provide some much-needed balance amid Manning's continued struggles as a passer, but keeping the ball away from Brady and New England's high-powered offense remains imperative.
Denver struggled to run the ball at times this year, ranking 17th with an average of 107.4 yards per game, though one of the unit's most productive games of the season came in Week 12 against New England.
C.J. Anderson led the way with 15 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 48-yard scamper to end the game in overtime.
With Manning back under center for this matchup, making adjustments to get the offense in its best play more often than not, it's possible that the running game continues to thrive regardless of the adjustments New England makes heading in.
One last time
Brady and Manning have long secured their respective spots among the NFL's all-time greats.
Now having done battle for the better part of the last decade, both in the regular season and with everything on the line in the playoffs, their rivalry will go down as one of the most prolific in the history of professional sports.
Whether it's Brady leading the way to a win and getting a chance at his fifth Super Bowl ring, or Manning doing the same to earn an opportunity for his second, football fans ought to appreciate what should be the final game in which the future Hall of Famers go head-to-head.
Brady has continued to play at a high level now 16 years into his NFL career, and there doesn't appear to be an end in sight. The combination of injury issues and a deteriorating physical skill set, however, appears to have Manning on the cusp of retirement.
The Patriots enter as a heavy favorite due in large part to Brady's continued dominance, but no one should rule out one last magical performance from Manning.
Either way, this is what Championship Sunday is all about.
