With the Denver Broncos careening toward the earth, something had to be done. Well, on Monday that something happened; Brock Osweiler will start Sunday at Chicago.
Denver came into the game last Sunday against division rival Kansas City with something to prove. Denver had just lost their first game of the season and quarterback Peyton Manning only needed three yards to pass NFL legend Brett Favre on the all-time passing yards list. The orange and blue sure proved something alright; these Broncos are human after all.
Manning accomplished his goal of breaking the record early in the first quarter with a four-yard wheel route to running back Ronnie Hillman, which was the only positive for Manning on Sunday in front of the home crowd. Manning went 5-20 for 35 yards, no touchdowns, four interceptions, and a total QBR of 0.0. This was Manning’s worst outing since a 41-6 loss to the Dolphins…in 2001.
Then, it happened. Midway through the third, the crowd started to cheer as Manning was benched in favor of fourth-year backup Brock Osweiler. Osweiler came into the game that was already 22-0 and looked impressive, completing 14-24 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown; Osweiler also had one interception.
“I gained a lot of confidence last night and I gained a lot of confidence in my teammates,” Osweiler said after the loss. “Going out there and playing with those guys in that situation and seeing how those guys, regardless of the scoreboard, continued to fight.”
It was revealed on Monday that Manning had torn his plantar fascia in the loss. Head coach Gary Kubiak was later asked if he should have started the 18-year veteran and he said, “I should have made the decision not to play him. He practiced Friday, felt good. He came out of practice Friday, Saturday his ribs were bothering him a little bit and I should have probably said, ‘No. He’s not going this week.’”
But Kubiak wasn’t going to end the conversation without showing confidence in the legend. “Peyton is our quarterback, if he’s healthy and ready to go, he’s our quarterback,” the head coach said.
But that will not be the case for the 11 a.m. start time against the Chicago Bears and former Broncos coach John Fox on Sunday.
Players and personnel have faith in the young Osweiler and don’t plan on having to handicap the young starter. They are preparing for this game like it is any other game.
Broncos star cornerback Aqib Talib is confident in Osweiler’s ability. On Monday he said,“[We are] very confident. We’ve seen Brock. He has that strong arm. He has that confidence. It’s not just going to be on Brock. There are going to be ten guys out there with Brock. We’re confident in our offense. They’re going to go and put it together.”
Talib emphasized,“We’ve seen a lot of Brock in the offseason and right now. We’ve seen a lot of Brock. We’re very confident. We know what he can do. We’re just going to do our part on defense and let him do his part on offense.”
Talib will return to the field after serving his one-game suspension for poking the eye of Colts tight end Dwayne Allen two weeks ago.
Manning himself showed praise in the 6-foot-8 quarterback out of Arizona State. “I think Brock did a good job the other day. He has always prepared hard and I think he’ll take advantage of this opportunity.”
Manning was asked if he would coach the young successor. “No, I’m not a coach, for one thing. As I shared with him, he’s probably going to have a lot of coaches this week—some that aren’t coaches, either, that are going to be offering him tips of advice. I told him that I am here for him as a resource if he needs me, but I’m not going to be one of those extra voices in his ear.”
“Peyton has been extremely supportive of me.” Osweiler stated. “He just said, ‘If you need anything throughout the week, I’m here for you. I support you 100 percent and go get a win in Chicago.’ I’m going to do everything within my power, as well as the rest of my teammates—I know they’re going to want to go out there and get a win for Peyton, as well.”
The coaching staff does not know how long Manning will be out but they do think that Osweiler will be up to the challenge. Sunday will be his first start in the National Football League and just so happens to be on his 25th birthday.
