Peyton Manning is the Broncos starter for the playoffs

When Manning played well after missing so much time in the win over the Chargers, Kubiak was not going to turn back another time to Osweiler in the postseason. Peyton Manning has developed quite the playoff resume over the course of his storied career, while Brock Osweiler has none.

Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com provided word of the decision, noting head coach Gary Kubiak met with Manning and backup Brock Osweiler prior to telling the team during a morning meeting. It came as a huge setback to Manning and the Broncos but they tried to make the best of their negative situation. “I didn’t finish the game [against the Chargers], Peyton is going to start in the playoffs, and that’s something I support 100-percent”. They’re 5-4 in their last nine games, including a no-touchdown, 4-interception game from Manning against the Kansas City Chiefs. His return provided a morale boost to help the Broncos overcome a 13-7 deficit.

Kubiak said Osweiler didn’t do anything to deserve a demotion but he felt the team needed a jolt. Osweiler threw 2 interceptions, but none of them were his fault.

Well, the Broncos settled on Manning. He holds the record for most first-game playoff exits in National Football League history (9). Maybe he can engineer a run to his second career Super Bowl win and then walk away from the sport gloriously, the way Broncos executive John Elway once did.

“Today, [WR Demaryius] DT [Thomas] and I were teasing him a little bit, saying, ‘Man, we haven’t seen you smile like that in about five or six weeks.’ I know that he’s happy to be back and everybody is happy for him”.

Manning, who had been a shell of his former self in the early part of the season, finally took a seat in late November when it was revealed the five-time NFL MVP was dealing with a torn left plantar fascia in his left foot.

When first informed of Kubiak’s decision to go with Manning, Osweiler acknowledged he was disappointed.

Peyton Manning fell off the seat in the second 50% of Week 17 and the Broncos moved beyond the Chargers to gain the top seed in the AFC playoffs. But that all seems like a long way off now, and the hope of another Super Bowl in Denver may go along with it. The Broncos finished No. 1 in sacks (52), pass defense (199.6 yards allowed per game) and fewest total yards allowed (283.1).

Doug Marrone, the former Buffalo coach who left the Bills following two seasons, interviewed with Cleveland for its coaching job – the third candidate to meet with the Browns’ search committee.