The media was in a frenzy Thursday, as the parking lot was jammed packed with television vans; Peyton Manning’s locker was even more crowded, reporters packed in like sardines around the famed quarterback.
The decision had been made: Manning would be the Denver Broncos’ starter. Oddly enough, it really didn’t matter.
The Broncos will be watching this week’s first round of the playoffs from home, thanks to the 12-4 finish that earned them the coveted top-seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. In part, both quarterbacks have had a role in the team’s success with some well-timed offensive explosions, but the real hero is Denver’s top-ranked defense.
In reality, the Broncos don’t need a herculean effort from their signal caller; they just need him to not be the worst player on the field.
“I’ll just make the comment — like I’ve made all along — it’s taken all of us, and I think it will continue to take all of us as we embark on this second season,” head coach Gary Kubiak said Thursday, when asked about the quarterback position repeatedly.
The Broncos’ 12 wins haven’t come easily. In fact, nine of them have come by a touchdown or less. They’ve won with interceptions, they’ve won with fumble recoveries and, most importantly, they’ve won despite their quarterback. While everyone wants to talk about Manning over Osweiler, it turns out that they’ve essentially been the same guy.
Manning is 7-2 ,with a completion percentage of 59.8 and a passer rating of 67.9. Osweiler is 5-2, with a completion percentage of 61.8 and a passer rating of 86.4. Manning’s 17 interceptions to Osweiler’s six is the biggest factor in the difference in ratings, but both have been serviceable signal callers this season, and it has proven to be enough. Manning isn’t what he once was, and Osweiler is not what he will be; their teammates, though, understand that they can win with either.
“No reaction, it’s just time to go to work,” C.J. Anderson said sharply when asked about how the team handled the news on the quarterback situation Thursday. “Kubiak told us that Peyton was going to be the starter going into the playoffs. He also said that Brock [Osweiler] will be ready because you never know what’s going to happen. Like I’ve said before, we have plenty of depth on this roster. We’re just happy no matter who’s at the helm.”
That is the truth, and it comes from one of the most vital players the Denver Broncos have entering the playoffs. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman will have to be the work horses in the coming weeks. They must run well enough to keep Manning upright; they have to relieve the pressure on the quarterback position. It is no coincidence that in the Broncos four losses, the running backs had 20 or less carries.
Regardless of Thursday’s decision, it may not stay that way. Both quarterbacks have come into games as relief this season, and it may happen again before it is through.
Kubiak admitted weeks ago that Manning’s foot will not be fully healed until he gets “complete rest” in the offseason, and Osweiler was not a participant at either Thursday or Friday’s practices due to a sprained knee. He also has been dealing with elbow, shoulder and rib injuries.
Neither quarterback’s health is great, and neither quarterback has played great this season. Both of them have only two games of passer ratings above 90, and Manning only has one game in which he didn’t throw an interception, which occurred last week in under a half of play. Osweiler’s lone game in which he surpassed 300 yards passing was a loss against the Oakland Raiders.
The point being, whoever ends up playing quarterback for the Broncos in the playoffs is a moot point, and their regular season has proven that. It is also encouraging that they can win with either, as long as they do not depend on either for a monster game. They have even won several times in which their quarterback was responsible for multiple turnovers. The defense has held up under immense pressure and finished the season as the top-ranked total defense and first or near it in almost every statistical category.
Malik Jackson shed light on how the defensive side of the ball sees the situation Thursday:
“I don’t know everything that happened, but I thought Brock [Osweiler] was doing a great job. He did a great job when he had the reins, but P.M. is a Hall of Famer. He’s going to play. It is what it is. I don’t really pay too much attention to it.”
While Manning prepares to start, Osweiler has vowed to remain ready. Luckily, the team knows what both of them can do. More importantly, they know that they don’t have to rely on any one player anymore.
“Going back to the first game against Baltimore, that game and every game from thereafter, the games we’ve won have been ‘we’ wins, ‘us’ wins, whatever you want to call it,” Manning said Thursday. “Everybody had done their part. That’s the only way that we’re going to be able to have a chance in the postseason—everybody doing their part, and I want to be able to do my part.”
This season has shown that the Broncos do need everybody to do their part, but they have proven, time and again, that the quarterback’s part, on this team, no longer has to be so big. They would be wise to remember that for the next three games, wins permitting.
Email Sam at sam@milehighsports.com and follow him on Twitter @SamCowhick.