Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has stated his belief that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick will go down as the greatest of all time.

Manning said that he and his teammates would need to play at their best for 60 minutes in the AFC championship game on Sunday night if they are to reach the Super Bowl.

"I don't know if I have a word that really jumps out," Manning is quoted as saying by the Patriots' website. "Coach Belichick is the best coach that I've ever competed against.

"I think it's safe to say he'll go down as the greatest NFL coach of all time. So, the teams that he has coached that I've competed against have always been well-coached, always been prepared, always played hard for 60 minutes."

The Broncos lost in the divisional playoffs last season to the Baltimore Ravens.