Broncos name Peyton Manning the starting QB over Brock Osweiler for playoffs

Osweiler was 4-2 as a starter and a key contributor to the Broncos’ earning home-field advantage in the AFC in Manning’s absence and Kubiak had said repeatedly that he has conveyed to both quarterbacks that the Broncos “will need everybody” in the postseason.

Coach Gary Kubiak informed his quarterbacks of his QB decision and then his team Thursday morning when players returned from a three-day furlough.

Brock Osweiler will be replaced by Peyton Manning, who recaptured his spot as a starter after a strong showing in Week 17.

For the season, he threw a career-low nine TD passes and his 17 interceptions nearly led the league even though he missed almost half the season.

It’s very clear to me that Kubiak did not want this hanging over his teams head. All those things are obvious – time on the job, big games, playoff [experience] – we understand all that; but really, it’s always been about him physically. Emmanuel Sanders said, “Me and DT told him (Peyton Manning) today that we hadn’t seen that kind of smile on him in five or six weeks”. “But I am excited to think about who were going to play (next) weekend and have the opportunity to help contribute in some way”, added Manning. After the recent promising signs the veteran quarterback Manning showed, he may have a good chance at starting in the Broncos next game, which would be the Divisional Round.

Kubiak would probably feel a whole lot better if Osweiler had played well enough to keep the gig in Manning’s absence. Manning threw four interceptions in that game before being pulled in favor of Osweiler.

Any one of those defenses will scheme to hitting and knocking Manning down as often as possible, which could lead Denver’s hopes of a second Super Bowl run in the last three years to a dead end. Manning trotted out in the third quarter to a thunderous ovation, guiding the Broncos to a 27-20 win and securing the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

Manning suffered a plantar fascia tear in his left foot, according to CBS Denver.

Peterson had to leave last Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers because of the injury but was able to return late in the game. Coach Wade Phillips (now Denver’s defensive coordinator) made a decision to give the now-healthy Johnson the start, and the quarterback responded with a 287-yard performance in a 31-6 victory over the Colts. Although it ended up being a long road for Manning, he was still able to make substantial progress.