Broncos want to see how Peyton Manning’s foot responds before naming starter

If you’ve ever seen Manning after a regular-season game, he’s usually pretty emotionless whether his team wins or loses.

On another insane Sunday, with each of the 16 games featuring some sort of intrigue in the storyline, Manning threw a surprise party as the Broncos beat San Diego 27-20 to seal the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler throws for a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers during the first half in an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Denver.

Manning led three more scoring drives, including the game-winner in the 4th, a 23-yard touchdown run by Ronnie Hillman on the first play after a Chargers’ turnover.

Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said he made a decision to go with the 39-year-old Manning after the Broncos had their fifth turnover of the game. Although Manning replaced Osweiler, his stats weren’t typical of his performance throughout his 18-year career, completing five passes on nine attempts and throwing for 69 yards. No matter who gets the call, the Broncos might not have what it takes to defeat the New England Patriots, who are the Super Bowl favorites. He’ll have another chance to play fresh when the Broncos play their divisional round game after a first-round bye.

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

Choosing between Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, though, is a nice problem for him to have.

The tricky thing, Luper and Walsh say, is that Osweiler really didn’t do anything to deserve to get pulled on Sunday.

PLAYOFF MATCHUPS: Here’s the schedule for next weekend’s wild-card round: Saturday will be the AFC day, with Kansas City at Houston at 4:35 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN, and Pittsburgh at Cincinnati at 8:15 p.m. ET on CBS; Sunday has the NFC games, with Seattle at Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. ET on NBC, and Green Bay at Washington at 4:40 p.m. ET on Fox.

Gary Kubiak seemed to have an epiphany along those lines as his team was losing to a 4-11 Chargers team and letting home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs slip away. “I’m just very proud of him”.

“I have no timeline”, Kubiak said, adding he did not have any concerns that a quarterback controversy could hover over the team as it heads into playoff preparation. With the return of Peyton Manning, the football squad will have to decide on whether Brock Osweiler should be back in the bench. The running game just wasn’t the same out the shotgun, where Manning was at his best.

“See how my foot feels, I got a good welcome back to on the field football to who hit me hard and left a little message as he was getting up, kind of used me to get up”, Manning said.

Simply put, if Manning is healthy, he should be starting. I don’t really know what can prepare you for something like this.

In the end, Osweiler was a victim of bad luck and the Broncos’ needing a win to give a battered roster a week off.

If he can correct some of the bits and pieces that are off from his game, I have no doubt that Osweiler will truly succeed.

Because he didn’t start, Manning didn’t break the tie he holds with Brett Favre for most regular-season wins, 186. “He’s a tough young man. I know he’s done a great job”.

After that the victor of those two games go on to the Division Championship game in a yet to be determined location.

-Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. underwent an MRI exam on his shoulder Monday. He’s had several games recently where he plays well in the first half before imploding in the second.