New England PatriotsVERSUSIndianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning's Colts had spent years building championship-caliber seasons only to repeatedly run into New England. The Patriots had eliminated Indianapolis twice in the previous three postseasons, so another meeting with Tom Brady made the conference title game a referendum on Manning's ability to win the game his critics said he could not.

• Indianapolis had won at least 12 games in four straight seasons without reaching the Super Bowl during that run.
• New England already owned three championships under Brady and Bill Belichick and had never lost an AFC title game with that partnership.
• The Colts' much-criticized run defense had transformed in the playoffs, allowing the offense to reach the rivalry game at home for the first time.

Sources: NFL: 2006 AFC Championship · NFL game recap