He returned to action Sunday when he relieved Osweiler in the second half and led the Broncos to a 27-20 victory over San Diego. The Broncos were off through Wednesday of this week, and coach Gary Kubiak did not announce before the time off which quarterback would start on January 17.
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– Just as important as the change at quarterback from Brock Osweiler to Peyton Manning last week was the shift from Michael Schofield to Tyler Polumbus at right tackle.
“When you’re not out there playing, it does remind you how fortunate you are to be out there playing”, Manning said. I had great conversations with him the minute the game was over Sunday. He has completed 598 of 935 passes (94%) for 6,800 yards (2nd most all-time), 38 touchdowns (4th most all-time), 24 interceptions (5th most all-time), and an 88.5 passer rating (14th best all-time).
Under Osweiler, the Broncos committed five turnovers in two-and-a-half quarters, including two interceptions and a fumble by the fourth-year quarterback.
Manning replaced Osweiler, who played solidly as Manning’s replacement.
Osweiler, who becomes a free agent this offseason, displayed the athleticism, acumen, accuracy and arm strength to run Kubiak’s offense, but his inexperience also showed. There are no guarantees he can make it through an entire game at this point, much less an entire postseason. The Patriots finished the season with four losses in their final six games.
Manning entered the year as the Broncos’ starter, but lost the job when he sat out with plantar fasciitis.
Osweiler has said he’ll prepare the same no matter who’s the starter.
“As he came out of the cast, there were steps to take to getting back to work”, Kubiak said.
Perhaps Denver feels that the struggle of Manning this season was related to his foot and other assorted ailments and he is felling better headed toward the postseason. He battled serious injury that forced him to miss a lot of game-time. He returned in a hard cast and walking boot he wore for 10 days before beginning a long and arduous rehab program.
The news of Manning starting comes with the announcement that Osweiler sprained his knee against the Chargers, but should be ready to go as Manning’s backup by next Sunday.
“I think it will continue to take all of us” at tackle, Kubiak said.
Denver will play the lowest remaining seed from Saturday’s wild-card games – either Pittsburgh, Kansas City or Houston.
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So, he’ll be under center for the Denver Broncos (12-4) in the playoffs.
