With a fifth consecutive AFC West Title wrapped up for the Denver Broncos, there is a bit of uncertainty that is swirling through the thin Rocky Mountain air. The Broncos have a first-round bye as they are seeking their second trip to the Super Bowl in the last three years. But it might be a bit tougher for the Broncos this time around with the uncertainty that is currently surrounding their quarterback position.
Peyton Manning
Quarterback Peyton Manning joined the Broncos in 2012 and he immediately raised the level of respectability in Denver. Manning has helped the Broncos win three AFC West Titles. But in the AFC Divisional Playoffs last January, Manning struggled with injuries and thus the Broncos were eliminated at home by the Indianapolis Colts. The loss resulted in John Fox being fired as the Broncos head coach and he was replaced by Gary Kubiak. Kubiak’s offensive scheme concentrates on stretch running along with the mobility of his quarterback. Kubiak’s system doesn’t fit Manning’s skill set, but the Broncos were still able to win their first seven games this season. In Week 10, Manning surpassed Brett Favre to become the National Football League’s all-time leader in passing yardage (71,871). But in the game Manning would also be benched by Kubiak after he threw 5 interceptions. Subsequently Manning has not played since then as he has been sidelined with plantar fascia in his left foot.
Brock Osweiler
Manning’s injury has paved the way for Brock Osweiler to become the Broncos starting quarterback. Osweiler was the Broncos second round pick in 2012 and he spent his first three years in the National Football League learning under Manning. Osweiler won his first NFL start in Week 11 over the Chicago Bears, and in his second start, all he did was lead a Broncos rally over the previously unbeaten New England Patriots who also happen to be the defending Super Bowl Champs. With Osweiler as the starter, the Broncos are 4-2 which prompted Kubiak to make a bold and surprising move.
Gary Kubiak
Manning has rehabbed vigorously to get back to the team, but Kubiak has proclaimed that Osweiler will be the starter for the remainder of the season. At 25-years of age, and standing 6’7″, Oswelier has the solid mobility that Kubiak is looking for, but he lacks the overall pocket awareness and presence of Manning which could hurt the Broncos in the postseason. But at the age of 39, Manning no longer has the velocity on his throws that he once did while injuries are beginning to catch up to him. And in the cold environment of Denver, it is imperative to have a strong throwing arm in the month of January during the postseason.
However the Broncos do possess the top ranked defense in the National Football League as only the Pittsburgh Steelers have scored more than 30 points on them this season as this unit will keep Denver in every game that they are playing, in spite of the current issues surrounding them.
But if history has taught us anything, it is that if a head coach has a legend at quarterback on the bench in the postseason, he should use him. In 1977 NFC Divisional Playoffs, the Los Angeles Rams offense was literally stuck in the mud due to the quagmire that was taking place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Quarterback Joe Namath was wrapping up a Hall of Fame career, but he was relegated to being the backup quarterback for the Rams as he was the understudy to Pat Haden. In the playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, Haden would struggle and the crowd was chanting for Namath. However, Rams head coach Chuck Knox decided to stay with Haden and the Rams would lose to the Vikings 14-7 in what would be Namath’s last game in the National Football League. In the 1992 NFC Championship Game, San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Steve Young was struggling against the Dallas Cowboys. The crowd at Candlestick Park in San Francisco wanted 49ers head coach George Seifert to bench Young in favor of Joe Montana who was a four-time Super Bowl Champion. Montana was Young’s backup as he was recovering from injuries. The Niners would lose to the Cowboys 30-20 and Montana would be released that off-season before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the present day Broncos, Osweiler is still lacking some of the intangibles that are needed to be a successful National Football League quarterback and because of that, Kubiak should have a short leash with him in the postseason. Make no mistake about it that Manning doesn’t have the physical skills that he once possessed and this more than likely will be his his swan song in the NFL, but if the situation arises this month in the postseason where the Broncos have their backs against the wall, Kubiak should call on the current John Wayne of football before he rides into the sunset. And if Kubiak doesn’t do that and the Broncos lose, he will be second guessed for the rest of his time as a head coach in the NFL.
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