Manning helps Denver earn top seed with 27-20 win over SD

Manning replaced Brock Osweiler in the third quarter Sunday and led the Broncos a 27-20 win over the San Diego Chargers that clinched the top seed in the AFC playoffs for Denver.

The Chiefs are headed to Houston for a wild-card game next weekend after Denver won the AFC West with its win over San Diego.

Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said he chose to go with the 39-year-old Manning after the Broncos had their fifth turnover of the game. But he was victimized by five Denver turnovers, including two interceptions that weren’t his fault and fumbles by two other players. “They needed a spark, and Manning came in and gave them that spark”.

“Just my gut told me to turn it over to [Manning] and let him lead the football team”, Kubiak explained, and it must have been a tough call. “I’m just very proud of both of them after the job they’ve done, and now we’ve got to get ready to go here”.

I have been a vocal critic of Manning this year, not necessarily because of how he played for the first 10 weeks of the 2015 season (which was not good), but because of how the media continued to protect him. However, with the Broncos’ offense struggling, committing five turnovers in their first nine drives, head coach Gary Kubiak decided to make the switch, bringing Manning in.

When it came down to Week 17 against the Chargers, Brock Osweiler nailed it right on the head with what he said after the game.

The Chargers wrapped up what might have been their final season representing San Diego; ownership is trying to move the team to Los Angeles.

Manning’s last scoring drive lasted one play: a 23-yard run by Ronnie Hillman after emergency safety Shiloh Keo, who surrendered Antonio Gates’ go-ahead TD in the third quarter, picked off Philip Rivers’ errant pass with just under five minutes remaining.

That’s no way to start a playoff game. The Broncos also lost Pro Bowl pass rusher DeMarcus Ware to a knee injury.

Manning also got rid of the ball quicker than Osweiler, although he did sustain a vicious hit from Damion Square that left him wondering how his body would feel this week. “We had a couple of plays set up that could have ended the game-a post to [WR] Emmanuel [Sanders] and if we have time to make the throws”.

The Broncos coach will have to decide between Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler before Denver opens its postseason in 13 days. Previously, in street clothes he’d watched his longtime understudy either from the sideline or on TV while dealing with an injured left foot.

Because he didn’t start, Manning didn’t break the tie he holds with Brett Favre for most regular-season wins, 186. The Broncos offense went down the field in a flash, capping off a long drive with a C.J. Anderson rushing touchdown.

“It lifted the whole stadium”, Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib said of Manning’s insertion into the game.

Watt had had three sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another one to help the Texans to their first division title and playoff berth since 2012.

Kubiak wouldn’t say who his starter will be in the playoffs, but insisted, “I don’t think we have uncertainty…”

“He got me right in the chest”, Manning said.

“If that game doesn’t summarize our season, I don’t know what does”, said coach Mike McCoy, whose team finished 4-12 and wound up winless in the AFC West. “It’s just sickening losing like this”.