The Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and are heading to the AFC Championship game but quarterback Peyton Manning had a rough day. The future Hall of Famer completed 21 of 37 passes, for 222 yards, 0 touchdowns, and a dismal 74.4 QB Rating.

One of the few highlights of the day for Manning came with 13:15 left in the 4th quarter when he executed his patented “Self sack” or “Turtle sack.” This is usually orchestrated when he thinks he’s about to get sacked so he just collapses, usually in the fetal position, until the whistle is blown.

This time Manning kind of slid instead of going full turtle. Strangely, the whistle never blew and a Steeler defender never touched him so he stood back up and completed what would turn out to be a 34 yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders.

“I gotta take a look at that play,” Manning joked. “I’d like to get in there early in the morning and get that deleted off of the game film.”

Manning continued the joking. “I don’t really want to analyze this play too much (laughing), I’d kind of like it to go away, I was stepping up and you know, when you think that way, and you kind of get your head around, I felt the guy closing so I stepped up and kinda leaned forward and my momentum kind of took me down I guess, and then I didn’t think he touched me,” so he stood up and launched it.

Adding a final touch of entertainment for the media, Manning said, “I told Emmanuel to be alert just in case I fall down and then get back up.”

It wasn’t all fun and games on Sunday though. Manning finished the game 3/15 on third down and was 1/11 on third down after three quarters.

The Broncos will need a much better performance to beat the Patriots next weekend.