Brock Osweiler will lead the Denver Broncos to the playoffs

Broncos lead series, 25-20.

The Patriots rushed for 146 yards in the 2011 playoff game, with tight end Aaron Hernandez finishing with 61 of those yards on five carries. Their next two games are against the Chargers (2-8) and Raiders (4-6) and the Broncos will be heavy favorites in both.

Max, a longtime Broncos fan, echoed the thoughts of many Broncos fans when he said that there’s no way to overstate how important Peyton Manning has been to not only the Broncos, but to Denver as a whole – not to mention individual players and coaches who have gone on to success (and big paydays) because of Manning.

“It’s encouraging”, Kubiak said. “We’ve got a long way to go”. Sanders said afterward that he has to be ready for New England. “We didn’t protect him very good in the first half, had to take his lumps in a couple situations but kept his composure (and) would come back to make the next play”.

But will he play again this season?

Brock Osweiler, the Denver Broncos are all yours. The Patriots are the major obstacle in the way of the Bronco’s quest for a Super Bowl appearance this year.

“We used to play against Shannon Sharpe every day on defense when I was here (from 1989-94)”, Phillips recalled. “We made it tough on him, too”.

“Buffalo doubled him some…. they didn’t all the time”, Phillips said. “If you can’t learn from them, then you don’t want to learn”.

Ward penalized. Broncos safety T.J. Ward took a bad penalty in the fourth quarter. “I think that’s really what’s gotten me to this point”. “We’ll have a plan”.

This type of win is great to have, with a backup quarterback getting his first National Football League start. Osweiler threw for 250 yards, two TDs and no interceptions at Chicago – Denver’s first game without a turnover all season.

The veteran quarterback visited a foot specialist for the diagnosis and it was decided he will wear a walking boot for at least one week. So the Patriots may go to a more spread approach that they used early in the year, though now James White will have to fill the key role as the pass-catching back.

The addition of Davis has been exactly the boon Owens expected.

-OLB DeMarcus Ware has not yet returned to practice, but did work out with a team strength coach Wednesday. That was before Wade Phillips became defensive coordinator, and he vows to bring a new wrinkle or two this week. But the Broncos’ defense stuffed Langford on the two-point conversion attempt, snapping the Bears’ modest two-game winning streak. Left guard Evan Mathis will be evaluated this week with an ankle injury. He managed the game and ensured that his team gained the victory. Mathis worked out in the team weight room during practice.

The former Minnesota Vikings first-rounder will serve as the Broncos’ third QB behind starter Brock Osweiler and Trevor Siemian, a rookie from Northwestern.

-LT Ty Sambrailo is back at team headquarters after undergoing surgery to fix a torn labrum. Denver’s defense not only leads the league with 34 sacks, it also is surrendering the fewest total yards (284.3) and has scored four touchdowns.EXTRA POINTS1. It’s another to craft a strong follow-up – especially when Bill Belichick is scheming against you.

Tom Brady didn’t have much to say about Brock Osweiler.

-Patriots CB Malcolm Butler vs. Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas.

Aqib Talib is more pumped up than a Patriots’ football… which isn’t saying much. He had an impressive 18-yard run with a late hit tacked on after and then a attractive 40-yard lob to Marquess Wilson to get inside the Broncos ten-yard line.