Tom Brady and Peyton Manning battled 15 times over the years. Most of those games have been exciting, intriguing battles that held playoff seeding or postseason advancement in the balance. Even though the two players never actually step on the field at the same time or truly go head-to-head, it remains arguably the greatest individual rivalry in sports history. As the sports world prepared for Brady vs. Manning XVI, NFL Network ranked the top-10 games from the historic rivalry.
No. 10: 2004 AFC divisional playoff (video not available)
Cold weather and the Patriots defense put the clamps on Peyton Manning's potent offense while Tom Brady got 144 yards rushing from Corey Dillon as the Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship Game on the way to consecutive Super Bowl titles.
**
No. 9: Brady's first start**
Coming in at number nine on the list is Tom Brady's first start as he takes on Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
**
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game against Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
New England Patriots fan Abel Carrasco of El Paso, Tx., shows off his favorite team's logo on the back of his head as he waits to enter stadium to see the Patriots face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship NFL football game in Denver on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos fan wears jersey for quarterback Peyton Manning, right, while other fan wears the jersey of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as they enter the stadium to watch the Patriots face the Broncos in the AFC Championship NFL football game in Denver on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks for an opening to pass during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno (27) is stopped by New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game in Denver, Md., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas (80) stopped by New England Patriots outside linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) during the first half of the NFL AFC Conference Championship football game in Denver, Md., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hands of to New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) wraps up Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker (87) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Denver Broncos cornerback Tony Carter (32) breaks up a pass intended for New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater (18) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes the ball during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hands off to New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) leaps over Denver Broncos cornerback Kayvon Webster (36) and Denver Broncos outside linebacker Danny Trevathan (59) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen (34) carries the ball during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots wide receiver Aaron Dobson (17) pulls in a pass during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady walks off the field during the following the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches the action during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes the ball during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass over Denver Broncos defensive end Shaun Phillips (90) during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Denver Broncos running back Montee Ball (28) is overrun by the New England Patriots defense during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) carries the ball past Denver Broncos strong safety Duke Ihenacho (33) and Denver Broncos defensive end Shaun Phillips (90)during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) scores a touchdown while being defended by Denver Broncos middle linebacker Wesley Woodyard (52) during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL playoff football game in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
No. 8: 2013 AFC championship game*(video not available)
Mild Denver weather and a key injury to then-Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib gave Peyton Manning all the opening he needed to move the football with regularity to earn a trip to the Super Bowl.
*
No. 7: Manning finally wins*
Coming in at number seven on the list, Peyton Manning gets over his hump as he is able to finally defeat Tom Brady in a pivotal game.
*
No. 6: 4th and 2 game*
Coming in at number six on the list, is the "4th and 2" call where the Indianapolis Colts stopped Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots on a gutsy call.
*
No. 5: Patriots comeback vs. Broncos*
Coming in at number five on the list, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots make an epic comeback against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
*
No. 4: Patriots make a stand*
Coming in at number four on the list, the New England Patriots make a monumental defensive play to seal the victory against the Indianapolis Colts.
*
No. 3: The Undefeated Bowl*
Coming in at number three on the list is the battle of undefeated teams in 2007 as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning square off in a memorable battle.
*
No. 2: 2003 AFC Championship*
Coming in at number two on the list is the memorable 2003 AFC Championship that was just a glimpse of what would be one of the greatest rivalries in football history.
*
No. 1: 2006 AFC Championship**
To top off the list, the 2006 AFC Championship was not only a memorable Manning vs. Brady matchup but one of the greatest games of all time.
So what do you think about the ranking of the top 10 Manning-Brady games? Add a comment below.
