Gary Kubiak sticking with Manning: "Peyton is our quarterback"

A loss does not mean losing a starting spot, apparently.

Gary Kubiak is sticking with future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning as the starter despite what might be his worst start of his career.

Kubiak “if he’s healthy and ready to go Peyton is our quarterback.”

— Adam Kinney (@AdamKinneyRadio) November 16, 2015

Kubiak told the media postgame that if Peyton Manning is healthy and ready to go he will continue to start for the Denver Broncos. Kubiak took the blame for starting Manning in the first place despite multiple injuries he was suffering.

“My job is to gather information and make decisions and on Saturday; I wish I had made a better decision for our football team,” Kubiak said. “Guys want to play, that’s why he’s a Hall of Fame player. They want to compete and he wants to do everything he can for the football team. But sometimes as a coach you have to say no, this is not the right thing for the team today.”

Manning, who broke Brett Favre’s all time regular season passing record in the first quarter, completed just 5 of his 20 pass attempts for 35 yards and four interceptions before being pulled in favor of Brock Osweiler in the third quarter. We ran a poll at halftime and many thought that the Broncos should’ve made the switch to start the third quarter when the Broncos trailed 19-0, but Kubiak rode with Manning.

Should the #Broncos bench Manning for the second half

— BSNDenver.com (@BSNDenver) November 15, 2015

“I didn’t think we were out of the football game,” Kubiak said about halftime. “If we could start moving the ball and make some plays. I tried to get him (Manning) an opportunity to get him going. It wasn’t all him.” Osweiler struggled initially as he entered the game, but found a rhythm and led the Broncos on two scoring drives late.

Osweiler finished 14-24, 146 yards with one passing touchdown and one interception.

“He battled,” Kubiak said of Osweiler. “We didn’t protect him well at times yet he came out and made plays. I’m not surprised, he’s been working really hard. He’s been watching 18 for a few years, he’s always looking for his opportunity.”  

The Broncos will travel to Chicago next week to face the Bears, and if healthy, Manning will be the quarterback. But now there will be many who question if he actually should be.

More Broncos – Chiefs news:

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Peyton Manning: “I felt good enough to play, it ended up hurting our team”

T.J. Ward sounds off on Chiefs: “They are a pretty dirty team”

Recap: Chiefs beat-down Broncos 29-13

Gary Kubiak: “I should have made the decision not to play Peyton Manning”