Manning to start for Broncos in playoffs opener

The Denver Broncos named quarterback Peyton Manning their starter for the AFC Divisional round over Brock Osweiler on Thursday, but it’s no clear-cut indication the 39-year-old is fully fit and healthy enough to help the No. 1 seed advance in the postseason.

Manning returned from a foot injury in the third quarter of their final regular season game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, replacing an ineffective Brock Osweiler.

“Peyton is going to start in the playoffs”, Osweiler added later, “and that’s something that I support 100 percent”. However, while head coach Gary Kubiak’s decision may be an excellent vote of confidence in Manning’s health and abilities to return as full-time starter, there is no telling how he will perform in a full game. November is when Manning suffered a tear in the plantar fascia near his left heel – Nov. 8 in Indianapolis – and November is when Manning was pulled from a game for a bad day for the first time in his storied National Football League career with four interceptions in the Nov. 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

During last Sunday’s regular season finale, Manning came off the bench and led Denver on four scoring dives during a 27-20 victory.

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.

Despite the significant improvement of the Broncos offense when Manning was on the field, Kubiak was hesitant to hand the keys back to the veteran for the playoffs.

Despite his Hall of Fame credentials, Manning has just an 11-13 record in the playoffs, with one Super Bowl win. “I’m just very proud of him. It felt like I hadn’t played in a little bit”. The Broncos can not continue to turn the ball over at the rate they have this season and continue to win.

“If anybody knows that you need to be prepared, regardless of the situation, that’s me”, Osweiler said, a knowing smile crossing his face. “We have a lot of guys nicked up coming out of the football game”.

“And let me spin it forward to Peyton’s kid brother Eli, who’s going through a coaching process now, and he doesn’t know who his coach is going to be, and he saw what Peyton went through”.

On if the Broncos are looking to enter 2016 with Brock Osweiler as their franchise quarterback, Kubiak said, “There’s obviously no discussion about whats going to happen in the offseason and those type of things but we think the world of him”.

Stop me if you’ve heard this story before.

People think Manning can’t do it. He doesn’t have it. Father Time never loses and he finally caught up to Manning.