Broncos Clinch AFC West With Win Over Chargers as Manning Returns!

The Broncos clinched the AFC West and the #1 seed in the AFC, due to the Patriots loss on Sunday, with a 27-20 win over the Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. It was a game that featured the Broncos turning the ball over 5 times in just over a half, and then the Broncos turned to Peyton Manning in relief of Brock Osweiler to rally the troops and get the win for the Broncos. There is so much controversy surrounding the game and use of Manning, but the bottom line is that the Broncos needed this win to avoid losing the division and finishing as a wild card, but Gary Kubiak made the gutsy call


1) You can't ask for a better start with Demaryius Thomas 72 yard catch and run for an early 7-0 lead two plays in the game. It was the perfect way to start the game, and you had a feeling that Denver was going to run away with this game and #1 seed.

2) The Broncos just completely melted down from there. Five turnovers in the next six possessions. Emmanuel Sanders fumbled inside the five after a long catch and run. Both Osweiler interceptions weren't his fault. One was off of Jordan Norwood's hands on a third down. Another pick was a result of Brock's arm getting hit while he was throwing. A blindside sack and a forced fumble on Osweiler forced another turnover deep in San Diego territory. Then, C.J. Anderson coughed it up in the third quarter deep in their own territory. It is not Osweiler's fault because he played a pretty good first half, but the team needed a spark, and the Broncos were facing a must-win situation with the AFC West and the #1 seed on the line, and Kubiak felt like the team needed something to change. This game should have been 17-3 or even 21-3, instead it was 13-7 San Diego in the third quarter, and it felt like the game was going to slip through their hands. You can't fault Brock and it was a questionable decision and a gutsy one, but it paid off. You just can't have Peyton Manning sitting on the sideline with the #1 seed and the AFC West slipping away, so Kubiak made the move and it ended up paying off.

3) It wasn't like Manning was vintage Peyton, but he checked into the right run plays, completed a few passes to Thomas and Sanders, drew the Chargers offside a couple of times, and it was enough to get the team going, produce 20 points and help the team get the win. Amazing story and totally bizarre. Forget about the QB controversy because for this game and this moment with everything on the line, Manning provided enough of a difference to get the Broncos over the hump and win the game.

4) The Broncos defense did a heck of a job once again. When your offense commits five turnovers, your defense can only do so much, but the Broncos defense did it once again. The usual guys played well like they always do, but give guys like Derek Wolfe and Bradley Roby credit. I thought both of those guys played really well. Also, Shiloh Keo makes a key interception late to set up Ronnie Hillman's game-winning touchdown run to give the Broncos the 27-20 lead. The defense did have some spotty moments on the last Chargers drive, and on a 4th and 6, Philip Rivers had a wide open receiver in the middle of the field, but as the pocket collapsed, he was forced to throw early and the pass was intercepted. The only mistake this defense made in this game was when Aqib Talib blew a coverage and Phillip Rivers threw an 80 yard touchdown to give the Chargers a 20-17 lead early in the 4th quarter.


5) The day started with the Patriots losing to Miami, so the #1 seed was in play for the Broncos. Then, KC was in complete control over the Raiders, so the Broncos were either going to win and get the #1 seed or lose and get the #5 seed. It was an amazing set of circumstances for this game to play out. Then, Denver and Osweiler comes out on fire, but they turned the ball over five times, and you are thinking "Holy Shit, we are going to blow this game, and end up as a wild card on the road at Houston next week." Then, to add more intrigue, Manning comes in the game in relief and the Broncos rally to win the game, finish 12-4, win the West, and now have homefield throughout the playoffs in the AFC. Just bizarre and wild.

6) I knew this game was going to be close all week. That is just how the Broncos played virtually every game this year, so why would we change anything at this point. This game should have been a run away victory for the Broncos, but miscues and turnovers kept this game close, and now they are in a dogfight with the 4-11 Chargers. But, like they proved all season long, their defense made the plays when they needed to, and their offense did just enough at the end to win the game. This game was a microcosm of the entire Broncos season.

7) Hats off to John Elway, Gary Kubiak, and the entire Broncos team and organization. A 12-4 season, a 5th straight AFC West title, and the #1 seed for the third time in four years in the AFC. Also, this might be the most inconsistent 1 seed in recent memory, and nothing will surprise me when the Broncos play their first playoff game in two weeks, but that is for another time. Let's just enjoy this and enjoy the week off and watching the first round games on Wild Card weekend.