Or so it seems.
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The Jets controlled their own destiny, needing only a win to advance, but ex-coach Rex Ryan and the Bills played spoiler. San Diego also was without CB Jason Verrett, who was among the team’s inactive players because of a hamstring injury….
This season continues to get wilder and wilder in Denver. However, it is somewhat concerning that Kubiak does not want to state who the starting quarterback is, because it shows a sign of doubt that he does not favor Manning or Osweiler enough to name them the starter out of the gate. “We will know what the direction is”.
– Denver had five giveaways and became the first team since 2012 to win despite going minus-4 in turnovers.
This is not to say that Manning is completely back or is guaranteed to continue playing well for the Broncos in the playoffs, or that he will still have his share of doubters.
There’s no reason to believe that either of those beliefs will change in the next two weeks. Yesterday it took both of them.
You could not have had it play out better for the Hall of Fame quarterback. “It’s just another example of us-we’ve got some young guys up front”.
The Denver Broncos have a bye week before they hit the field again, so that gives Kubiak ample time to make a decision on the quarterback play.
SEAHAWKS 36, CARDINALS 6 (at Glendale, Ariz.) – Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes in a second-quarter outburst and the Seahawks emphatically snapped the Cardinals’ nine-game winning streak. The Broncos offense turned the ball over 5 times in the first two and a half quarters.
Lattimore-Volkmann agrees that Osweiler has certainly earned the right to start, and that the mistakes have caused both Manning and Osweiler to struggle at times are equal parts their own doing and the result of bad circumstances around them. The latter could be explained, while the former would lead to second-guessing for years to come. There are plenty of reasons beyond being able to live with a negative outcome that point toward No. 18 returning to the lineup.
But if Manning starts in the playoffs, can he carry it forward? Denver’s suspect offensive line also played relatively well and their two star receivers, Demaryius Thomas (117 yards) and Emmanuel Sanders (99 yards), had solid games, making this one of the offense’s best performances of the season, turnovers aside.
And while he didn’t look like the Manning of old, he didn’t look like the Manning of Week 10, who was forced to the sideline with four interceptions, a 0.0 rating and an injured foot. Past year with a bye, the Broncos lost at home to the Indianapolis Colts.
A Cleveland Browns fan holds up a New Year’s wish list during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Cleveland.
And finally, the veteran will provide Denver with valuable experience during a postseason run that could see matchups against the likes of Pittsburgh and New England, teams led by quarterbacks who have combined to win six Super Bowls.
Keo was in because starter Darian Stewart aggravated a pulled hamstring, one of two big injuries for Denver.
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So while the speculation is sure to swirl in the coming hours, days or perhaps even week, Denver’s version of “The Decision” shouldn’t be filled with much drama.
