With a week off, the Denver Broncos have some time to get healthy and evaluate things before heading into the divisional round of the playoffs. After wrapping up in the AFC in a game where both Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler saw action, the quarterback position is on everyone's mind. With a starter having yet to be named, head coach Gary Kubiak says he needs to evaluate the health of both players before making the call.
There would not be a debate over the Broncos' starting quarterback if Kubiak did not put in Manning with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter to secure the win over the Chargers. Osweiler had helped record five turnovers before that point leading to the veteran getting the nod. Now, with Manning looking healthy, many wonder if he will get the starting nod in the playoffs as Kubiak notes it comes down to health.
"Peyton's our quarterback," Kubiak said, via ESPN.com. "If he's healthy and ready to go, Peyton's our quarterback."
Manning spent a lot of time handing the ball off in those 29 plays against San Diego as CJ Anderson and Ronnie Hillman did most of the work. That was good enough to get the win, but does little to help the evaluation of the quarterback position. Demaryius Thomas has thrown his two cents in during the season noting that Osweiler throws a harder ball than Manning, but he was quick to say that if given the chance, the veteran quarterback would prove he can still play.
"I knew he still had it," Thomas said, via ESPN.com. "It was a matter of giving him an opportunity to get healthy."
Both Manning and Osweiler are taking the right approach to the situation when speaking to the media. Osweiler said he would prepare for anything as he was quick to say he is always ready to get in the game while Manning said he did feel a little rusty after missing time for the torn plantar fascia. The week off could make Manning healthier and further complicating the situation. As the Broncos await to find out who their opponent will be following the Wild Card games, they are more anxious to find out who is getting the start at quarterback.
"I won't say anything,'' Kubiak said, via ESPN.com. "I'm very proud of our football team. We've got a few days off here, I've got a lot of things I need to do as a coach right now, I'm still up there trying to evaluate a lot of things. I've got nothing for you [Monday], so we'll just get ready to go and we'll go back to work Thursday.''
