Manning, Ware will not travel with Broncos to Chicago

According to Mike Klis of 9News, head coach of the Denver Broncos, Gary Kubiak, has excused injured starting quarterback Peyton Manning from traveling with the team to Chicago this weekend for their Week 11 match up against the improving 4-5 Chicago Bears. All of the other big-name quarterbacks in the 2012 draft have gotten to play in the National Football League, including those taken behind him, like Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Washington’s Kirk Cousins.

Manning was putrid all day long. The dismal ending for Manning is all the sadder because Manning is not just admired for his quarterback skills; he is well-liked and universally respected off the field, articulate, witty and smart (and the best athlete-pitchman in history).

T.J. with the Cleveland Browns previous year.

His career-low 67.6 passer rating is even lower than Tim Tebows 72.9 in 2011 that forced GM John Elway to go after Manning in free agency. He had come from the far north-west of Montana with an innate ability to throw a football farther than nearly anyone, and little feel for being a college quarterback.

Kubiak quickly announced after the game that he should have never started Manning at all and that he was not fully healthy.

Manning is rehabbing his left foot, right shoulder and ribs. After all those years in Houston trying to stop Manning, Kubiak has finally found a way: Coach him. Part of his poor play may very well be explained by his various injuries that he has sustained, but I don’t think that is the sole reason for Manning’s struggles. Maybe with the proper rest and treatment Manning will be just fine.

“You know growing up in Kalispell obviously there’s a huge following of the Denver Broncos and there’s a lot of Broncos fans”, said Osweiler this week. If Osweiler commits more than one turnover Sunday against the Bears in Chicago, it’s unlikely the Broncos win. He’s young and has had a great opportunity to sit behind, and learn from, a future 1st ballot Hall of Famer.

Jay Cutler, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett are going to make a few plays from time to time. He played pretty well in his relief effort against the Chiefs.

“Oh, he’s ready. He looks good”, ILB Brandon Marshall said. The good news, though, is that both are expected to reinforce the team in this game against the Bears. But they also need to see what they have from Osweiler who has an expiring contract at the end of this season. For the offense to come out of its slump, the play of the offensive line will be key.

“We aren’t going to do anything extra or out of the ordinary”, he said.

Not only will Manning be inactive for Sunday’s game in Chicago against the Bears (Fox is now their coach, while Gase runs runs the offense), but he will not travel to the Windy City.

Osweiler also desperately needs the run game to come together. “We know that we need to get a win and that’s what are sole and primary focus is on this week”.

For the Broncos’ big boys up front, most of the attention focused their way has been negative, due to a sporadic running game and porous pass protection. Certainly there is a case to be made for the Bears, but they do face the best defense in the league this week. That marks the sixth game this season he has thrown more picks than scores. He had more work than Anderson in Week 10, but Kubiak will keep in whichever running back is having more success.

Peyton Manning breaking the passing record may have been historic, but the game and it’s outcome for Kansas City, especially in Denver, was monumental. West’s fantasy totals have gone up every week since he became the starter.

It’s hard for me to believe that Manning’s career is over as he doesn’t seem like the type of guy who would walk away from the game under these circumstances. They must protect him and give him time to throw.