“What’s going to happen?’ I didn’t really buy into the what ifs”. Due to Manning’s diminishing arm strength, DeMaryius Thomas has suffered, only catching one touchdown pass on the season and none in his last six games. Bears head coach John Fox and quarterback Jay Cutler are set to face their former Broncos team for the first time respectively since each was unceremoniously sent packing. Backup Brock Osweiler gets his first National Football League start, which comes on his 25th birthday. Now, the thing is, for his whole career, Peyton Manning has been more than competent. More than anything, it actually came at a very convenient time for the team.
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Finally, with 24 seconds remaining, Jeremy Langford capped a 65-yard drive by running in for a touchdown from the two-yard line. He now has 71,871 yards to Brett Favre’s 71,838, but he’s still tied with Favre for most regular-season wins by a QB with 186.
Nobody knows for certain if he’ll get a shot at No. 187.
As to Osweiler’s importance to the Broncos, if he isn’t The Answer after Manning is gone, Elway & Co. are going to have to do a few serious searching. If the team can bring that same kind of intensity to each game from here on out, there’s no reason to believe a playoff victory isn’t in the cards for them this season.
It’s actually refreshing to be thinking, not about what Manning can’t do, to, what might Brock Osweiler be able to do?
“In this game you learn to work week by week”, wide receiver Bubba Caldwell said. They gave up 34 points in consecutive weeks to the Bengals and the Jaguars(in London) and gave up the 40 to the Patriots but have not allowed over 17 in any other game. We’re going to bring Brock Osweiler in.’ [Osweiler] is a free agent after the year as well.
Manning has had a hard season.
Cutler has thrown 13 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions, and has a 95.3 passer rating. In his first three years in Denver, he totaled 136 TD throws and just 36 interceptions.
Eifert did not take his display well and labelled it “awful and embarrassing” but he is an exceptional young player so I expect him to bounce back – his price to find the end zone again looks generous. “He’s had a tough year”.
Honestly, I can’t say I’ve felt this excited about a Chiefs defensive performance since Derrick Thomas and Company were roaming the range at Arrowhead.
The Denver Broncos quarterback is missing his first game since 2011 on Sunday and reportedly could miss more time, but it sounds as though the Broncos are more than OK with that scenario, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
“Defense wins championships”, Marshall said.
After the Broncos’ offense went three-and-out on their next possession, Cutler on his next series came through on third-and-3 with a 38-yard completion to receiver Joshua Bellamy, who appeared to beat cornerback Aqib Talib on the play.
The Broncos that took Soldier Field were the team that was the shared vision of Elway and Kubiak.
Never the most mobile of quarterbacks, injuries and age have the 39-year-old Manning operating nearly at a standstill. “It’s a big game for both teams, I’m sure”. Osweiler even looked like a natural running those trademarked Kubiak boot-action passes.
The Bears are feeling good about themselves after taking care of the St. Louis Rams last week.
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“Yeah if you pay attention to what we do, we have a lot of (options) in our offense in every single down, not just two-point plays”, Fox said.
