Despite dealing with a ton of adversity at the quarterback position this season, the Denver Broncos managed to cement the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs thanks to an impregnable defense, and an offense that was able to do enough as a whole to get by.
Peyton Manning played terribly early on in 2015, and when a foot injury forced the Broncos to start his heir-apparent, Brock Osweiler, it seemed like a blessing in disguise. Manning had thrown for an abysmal nine TDs to 17 INTs, and looked like a shell of his former self.
While Osweiler did a decent job in his first seven starts in the NFL (61.8 completion percentage, 1,967 yards, 10 TDs, six INTs) it’s clear he’s nowhere near ready to lead a team on a Super Bowl run, even with home field advantage and needing only three wins.
Still, many clamors from Broncos fans and media alike for Osweiler to start in the playoffs have been seen and heard.
Today, the situation has been solved. Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak told his team earlier that it will indeed be Manning who will start in the playoffs.
Peyton Manning will be Broncos starting QB in playoffs, Gary Kubiak told his team today. #9news #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) January 7, 2016
This is clearly the right decision. Sure, Manning doesn’t exactly have the greatest track record in the postseason, but at least he has a track record to speak of. He’s a future Hall of Famer and has won a Super Bowl. Manning knows what it takes to bring home the Lombardi Trophy — whether he’s capable of doing so remains to be seen.
If the Broncos were to go to Osweiler in the playoffs, and actually make it to the Super Bowl (which is unlikely), they would be asking a quarterback to win the biggest game of the year in front of 100 million people on television in his 10th NFL start.
It’s simply too much to ask.
For better or for worse, calling on a legend is the right decision to make.
