Osweiler subs for Manning, leads Broncos over Bears 17-15

Kubiak told the team Monday that Osweiler would start again next weekend when the Broncos (8-2) face the New England Patriots (9-0), who were hosting the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Even though he brushed it off, you know that had to get to him especially after what happened a year ago between the two teams with the Patriots blew the Broncos out. “We shouldn’t read anything into it. It was a decision made on Saturday”. I have no problem with Brock Osweiler but he’s no Payton Manning, and never will be.

Osweiler threw a pair of touchdown passes in their 17-15 win at Soldier Field, a victory that came on his 25th birthday, and Kubiak was pleased with his performance.

“[Manning is] doing everything he can possibly do to get himself healthy and get himself back on the field”, Kubiak said.

“I’m pretty close to Peyton Manning and I hadn’t heard that before”, Dungy said. He showed signs of improvement in his first real test. Osweiler makes his first start today against the Bears: “If Brock Osweiler goes out, stays healthy and plays well, he’s the future of that franchise and that’s what the Broncos want”.

“His team played [well] for him”.

Pass rush does its job, coverage over the middle does not: While the defense struggled defending passes over the middle – Denver’s tight ends Vernon Davis and Owen Daniels had a big game without defenders near them, combining for 137 yards receiving – the pressure on Osweiler was effective.

“The message this week was, ‘Let’s protect the football and play, ‘” Kubiak said. For everything Manning has been, he has not had the best of seasons in 2015.

“To me, we’re day-to-day and week-to-week”.

Had the Chicago Bears completed that two point conversion, fans and the media may have been singing a different tune about Brock’s ability to lead the Broncos.

Considering Chicago’s trouble with the running game all day, the conversion call seemed odd; the Bears running backs had just 57 yards rushing on 22 attempts. With Manning’s absence being extended, they’re planning to work out former Vikings QB Christian Ponder on Wednesday. Which is good for best this season. They are clearly making strides under Fox, who split with Denver in January after leading the Broncos to four first-place finishes in the division and a trip to the Super Bowl. He has ben mentored by Manning and Broncos GM, John Elway.

-RUN DEFENSE: A-minus. Jay Cutler’s 18-yard scramble was the only breakaway run for the Bears, as Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey combined for just 57 yards on 22 carries. Denver kept the Bears’ runners in check, which prevented Chicago from finding any offensive consistency. Manning looked like a poor fit for Kubiak’s system from the start this year, so a new team that will allow him to have full control of the offense could be an appealing scenario.