It’s been an interesting few days in Broncos Country, to say the least. First, the team laid an absolute egg at home against the Chiefs, falling behind 29-0 in the second half and having to pull Peyton Manning from the game after the quarterback threw four interceptions. Then, Denver added to the drama on Monday when it was announced that No. 18 would stay on the bench this week, as Brock Osweiler will get the start against the Bears. News cycles don’t get any crazier than that.
And it sets up for another round of must-read storylines in the coming days. The debate isn’t over, as neither side is going to rest or go down quietly. This story is far from over, as it figures to unfold during the next couple of weeks and months.
As a result, three members of the organization find themselves on the “Hot Seat” this weekend. Here’s who everyone will be watching on Sunday in Chicago:
No. 3 – Peyton Manning
Manning will not dress at all. Trevor Siemian will be the backup in Chicago.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 16, 2015
For the first time in his 18-year career, the Broncos quarterback will be missing a start during the middle of a season. Other than 2011, when he sat out the entire year after four neck surgeries, Manning has been on the field for every game of his illustrious career. But this week, the Broncos have sat him down, wanting him to heal his various ailments. That puts Manning in an uncomfortable spot. For one thing, his every move will be watched, as people evaluate whether or not he’s a good teammate by how much he helps out his understudy, Brock Osweiler. But also, and perhaps most importantly, it puts No. 18 in a spot where he may never get back on the field. If Osweiler plays well, Denver may decide to stick with their quarterback of the future. So throughout the game, Manning will be squirming; his future in the Mile High City hangs in the balance.
No. 2 – Gary Kubiak
#Broncos Kubiak adamant that offense won't change with Osweiler. Said, "We have to do what we do better first."
— Sam Cowhick (@SamCowhick) November 18, 2015
When John Elway hired his ex-roommate to replace John Fox, he expected Kubiak to work a lot of the same offensive magic that he saw when the former Broncos backup quarterback was the team’s offensive coordinator. Kubiak had a reputation for churning out 1,000-yard rushers, which helped take the pressure off of signal callers. But through nine games, that hasn’t happened. So far this season, the Broncos rushing attack has been anemic; currently, they rank 29th in the NFL in rushing, averaging just 85.3 yards per game. As a result, Peyton Manning has been under siege, having to make plays in the face of a big pass rush. This week, however, Kubiak gets a mulligan; he gets a chance to show that the struggles were all the fault of his 39-year-old quarterback. With Brock Osweiler at the helm, the Broncos offense gets to hit the reset button.
No. 1 – Brock Osweiler
And, on cue, The Brock Osweiler audition begins in #Denver…#KCvsDEN
— Zig Fracassi (@ZigFracassi) November 15, 2015
He’s waited three-and-a-half years for this opportunity, biding his time on the bench behind a quarterback who never misses a game and won’t surrender a single snap to his backup. But finally, the Broncos second-round pick in 2012 gets his chance to run the show, as Osweiler gets the starting nod in Chicago. And there’s a lot at stake. For one, he needs to help end the Broncos two-game losing streak, before a once-promising season careens off course. For two, he’s playing for his next contract, as Osweiler will be a free agent at year’s end; if he plays well, someone (probably Denver) will give him big money to be their QB in 2016. And he’s playing for John Elway’s reputation. Not only did the Duke of Denver draft him, but this week also features a showdown with the head coach No. 7 fired; beating John Fox is hugely important.