Patricia sees no issues with Manning's arm

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All it took was one Broncos win for some to proclaim an "official" Peyton Manning comeback.

And it only took one loss for others to question the quarterback's arm strength.

The quarterback's answer to it all? "I am what I am. It is what it is."

Tuesday in New England, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia delved a little deeper into Manning's play. The Patriots will face Denver in Week 4, and as far as Patricia can see, the quarterback's most recent neck surgeries aren't affecting his throwing arm at all.

"I havent seen any issues with that whatsoever," Patricia said. "He looks like hes throwing the ball extremely well, extremely confident and getting it into some really tight locations and I just think its building every week. I think hes just doing a tremendous job out there."

Manning has completed 99 of 153 passes in four games with his new team. He's thrown for 1,162 yards and eight touchdowns to three interceptions. Opponents have sacked him eight times.

Both Patricia and head coach Bill Belichick said they see several threads of the Colts offense -- two tight ends, three receiver sets -- being woven into Denver's gameplan.

"Peyton is doing a good job of running things that theyre asking him to run and some of it happens to be real familiar with the stuff that he did previously," said Patricia.

"I think theres a good mix of the Denver offense and a lot of that has to do with Peyton Manning and the quarterback, but also like I said, the skill players really fit into a good role for him in what theyre trying to do both in the run game and throwing the ball too. But there are definitely some things there that look just like Peyton Manning."

Which can always be trouble.

Though New England's quarterback holds an 8-4 advantage in the all-time Tom Brady-Peyton Manning Bowl, Manning's team has won four of their last six meetings. Their last five clashes (including playoffs) were decided by seven points or fewer.

"Anytime youre trying to play Peyton Manning youre always trying to figure out what the best thing to do is and how to go up and challenge it and figure out how to beat him," Patricia explained. "Hes an extremely smart and intelligent football player. He has a good idea of what youre trying to do at all times which certainly makes it challenging."

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