MVP
In a playoff game featuring two likely future Hall of Fame quarterbacks it is strange to say that the biggest factor in the game was a kicker, but it was true Sunday afternoon. Brandon McManus fished the day five-of-five on field goals and kept the Broncos in the game until they could muster their one touchdown. The weather also played significant factor in the game and he had to deal with it on the fly.
“During warmups, we went out there and it was a pretty calm day, a nice, tempered day. We come out seven minutes before kickoff and I see a 30 MPH crosswind come in over the Rockies, so I wasn’t nervous at the time, but I knew it would make for an exciting day, and you know, play a little target practice out there,” McManus said from the podium Sunday night. “You kind of have to hit a ball to a spot and hopefully the wind takes it. I had that 51-yarder right before halftime. I thought it wasn’t going to be easy down the middle, and it barely snuck in that way.”
Only one of his field goals was within 40 yards (his first make was from 28 yards out) and his 51-yard field goal came as the first half expired and brought the Broncos to within one point, 10-9, after a forgettable opening two quarters. He remained focused throughout the contest while also hoping he wouldn’t be needed for any more three-point attempts.
“Anytime I think No. 18 [Peyton Manning] gets the ball, I’m thinking we’re going to score a touchdown. I try to prepare my mind for the extra point. We move the ball decently all game, and we weren’t able to at least punch them in for touchdowns, but I want to help my team any way I can. No matter the yards or the field goals, it’s kind of my job out there to make them,” he said.
Honorable mention: No one on the offense stood out but collectively they got it done. C.J. Anderson once again had some big plays when it mattered most and tied the team for their longest play, a 34-yard run in the second quarter that set up McManus’ longest field goal. He also accounted for the team’s only touchdown, a one-yard run with 3:00 left in the game. He finished the day with 72 yards rushing on 15 carries for a great 4.8 yard average per carry.
