Peyton Manning named the Broncos starting quarterback for the playoffs

So much for quarterback drama.

Peyton Manning will start at quarterback for the Broncos in their AFC divisional round playoff game on January 17 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the team announced Thursday.

So, Manning should be under center, albeit with a quick hook should things go awry like they did in his last start, November 15 against the Chiefs, when he threw four interceptions and hobbled to the sideline with a torn left plantar fascia.

Osweiler has never taken a snap in the playoffs.

Among other Broncos missing practice this morning include DeMarcus Ware, T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart, Chris Harris, Aqib Talib, Brandon Marshall and Owen Daniels.

As Kubiak keeps silent, the football world will have to wait on who will get the starting nod at the quarterback position for the Broncos. Manning made his first appearance in five weeks Sunday after replacing Brock Osweiler against the San Diego Chargers.

Manning can conjure old magic and make a key play here and there for the Broncos, but if we were to be overplayed, it would most certainly be the end of the Denver Broncos season.

The Broncos were trailing, 13-7, at the time and had committed five turnovers.

“He actually worked harder probably than he would have worked had he been with the team, just because it was individualized workout”, Kubiak said.

With Denver in danger of losing to the Chargers and slipping into the wild-card round and a road game at red-hot Kansas City this weekend, Manning entered midway through the third quarter.

Manning might have the playoff pedigree, but he also has an National Football League record nine first-round exits in the postseason.

Kubiak says the Broncos will get back to work Thursday.

That’s the mindset you want in your quarterback heading into an AFC scramble that is as jumbled as any playoff bracket we’ve seen. This is not to mention that Osweiler(86.4 QBR) has been better than Manning(67.9 QBR) this year.