For the fourth straight season, the Denver Broncos are set up to compete for a Super Bowl. But, offensively, it all rests on one man’s right shoulder: Peyton Manning.

Look, it’s no surprise how key Manning is to the Broncos offense; he’s an all-time great, a sure-fire Hall of Famer at the most important position in all of football. Lose Manning to an injury and lose a shot at winning a Super Bowl.

At quarterback, it’s Manning or bust, especially with the untested Brock Osweiler backing him up on the bench.

Peyton Manning

Manning’s a magnificent leader, one of the most astute players to ever lace up cleats or squeeze his head into a helmet and, at age 39, is still in phenomenal shape.

Of course, that advancing age and his history of major injuries – specifically to his neck – leaves Manning as a bit of a liability physically. When he had to leave a game last season due to a leg injury, it left all of Broncos Country gasping for air; it was a true “oh no” moment. That’s because, everyone understands his importance in multiple aspects.

With a new coaching group and offensive philosophy, Manning will have to adjust his game from one in which he’s been running for the entirety of his career to a run-oriented one. It has to be noted that Manning was mostly given free reign offensively the last few years; staying in the shotgun and no-huddle attack, calling plays at the line. This year will mean much more under the center snaps, more handoffs and less “Manning being Manning.”

If any quarterback can adjust, one tends to think “The Sheriff” is a solid candidate due to his uncanny ability to break-down defenses through film, his love for studying football.

Without a doubt, this is Manning’s position and he won’t relinquish it unless some sort of injury occurs.

Brock Osweiler

Osweiler has improved through the use of two training camps and preseasons, but he’s still a complete greenhorn on the gridiron. He’s never started a game and the only regular season action he’s seen has come during the end of blowouts as a way to ensure Manning’s health.

Osweiler is still young – too young to lead an offense – as was witnessed last year when Manning jumped back into a game despite the backup’s number being called by the coaches. Osweiler didn’t have his helmet on, Manning did, and “The Sheriff” ran back out to the huddle while Brock pouted.

At 6’7” tall, he may be too tall to be an efficient NFL quarterback due to a longer release time than others. Of course, that height helps in terms of vision, as he can see over the top of massive o-linemen with ease. Osweiler’s accuracy seemed to make a major jump during the 2014 preseason compared to 2013, and it will be interesting to see if he’s made another leap this offseason. Most importantly, he must work on leadership or see himself skipped when Manning finally retires.

Zac Dysert

Zac Dysert is a second-year man who is the third-stringer. That is, if rookie Trevor Siemian doesn’t take his spot. At 6’3” and 221 pounds, Dysert is a more typical size to play quarterback in the NFL, but he still has everything else to prove.

Trevor Siemian

Siemian was selected in the seventh round out of Northwestern, the third straight year Denver took a quarterback in the draft. He is a relative wildcard, not only because he’s a rookie but due to only starting 14 games in college and tearing an ACL last November.