Broncos name Peyton Manning their starter for playoffs

On Thursday, Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak stated that Peyton Manning, and not Brock Osweiler, will be the team’s starting quarterback in Denver’s Divisional Playoff game on Sunday, January 17th.

Manning has definitely not looked like himself this season, throwing for 2,249 yards with 9 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing just 59 percent of his passes.

If Manning retires, or the Broncos don’t bring him back AND they show Brock the money, Osweiler will let bygones be bygones. “We’re all in everyone’s corner, we all support each other, and at the end of the day I just care about this team winning games”.

Despite some problems with Manning, who is 39 years old this season, Denver started 7-0.

The game was a big disappointment for Broncos fans and long admirers of Manning, who has made his name as the one of the most dominant and intelligent passers to ever play the game.

Harris (shoulder) and Stewart (hamstring) suffered injuries in the San Diego game but received good news from their MRI exams Monday and are hoping to play in Denver’s postseason opener. However, Manning’s veteran instincts and playoff experience is sure to help the Broncos make a deep run this postseason. He struggled with injuries and inconsistency, eventually losing his starting job to Osweiler midway through the season. Broncos coach said “He actually worked harder probably than he would have worked had he been with the team, just because it was individualized workout”, Coach Kubiak also stressed the difference he saw in Manning’s performance in his past two weeks saying, “I just think the last two weeks were different, much different”.

“Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Who knows?” said Osweiler, who threw for 1,967 yards this season with 10 TDs and six interceptions.

Manning was a practice participant and said he came out of Sunday’s regular- season finale with “no issues” related to his left foot, which had been injured. “I stand behind Peyton, coach and this team”.

Well, the Broncos settled on Manning. He’s played extremely well in some tough situations, very tough kid. Kubiak’s announcement of utilizing Manning, a quarterback familiar with the pressure of the playoffs, shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but it also may not make Broncos fans feel any better about their odds. Though the Broncos are the top seed, their division-rival Kansas City Chiefs have won 10 straight games entering the playoffs.

But if he spends time wondering about what might have been, it’s understandable. He can go out as a Super Bowl champion!