Denver Broncos Left With Only Questions
By Adam Malnati
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reacts as he sits on the ground after being sacked in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos looked like the best team in the NFL for exactly ONE possession against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The long completion to Julius Thomas, the big runs by CJ Anderson, the touchdown to Demaryius Thomas. It was a magical return to the form of the beginning of the season.
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Just like magic, it was an illusion. The harsh reality of football is that everything can be taken away in an instant. Bronco fans have been both spoiled and dismayed ever since Manning came to Denver.
There is no question that Manning is the best regular season quarterback of all time. On the other side of that coin, he is the quarterback with the most playoff losses in NFL history. At some point, that stops being coincidence. For all of his greatness, there must be something that continues to hold him back. Whether it be an injury, dumb luck, or over thinking a situation, Manning continues to be a playoff disappointment.
Football is a fickle mistress, and one playoff loss can erase all the regular season success in the world.
Of course, now that John Fox and the Broncos have parted ways, the narrative will be centered around Manning’s time left in the NFL, Fox and his inability to guide the franchise to a Super Bowl, and John Elway’s offseason moves.
Manning is getting old. Fox can not motivate his players. Both are probably true statements, but they are not the only reason the Broncos season ended on such a sour not. This end has been coming since the St. Louis game. The Denver Broncos have looked more like a paper tiger since that game, rather than a true Super Bowl contender.
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There seems to be an identity crisis in Denver. The departure of Fox is evidence that this team could not determine who they were, or what they really wanted to be. Super Bowl champions have a solid identity. Think about Seattle, and you know what that team is about. Denver does not have a true identity, and that is why the Broncos are cleaning out their lockers.
There was a strange feeling with the 2014 version of the Denver Broncos. Unlike the previous two seasons, there was a pervasive undertone of futility with this team. Wins were never a forgone conclusion. After the beat down in New England, and the confusing loss to the Rams, there was real doubt in Broncos Country. That had never happened during the Manning era.
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Winning in the offseason did not translate to winning in the post season, and Bronco fans will have to decide what to take away from the 2014 season. John Fox has already fallen on the sword, but was he the one to blame? Was Elway incapable of recognizing the flaws in the offensive line? Will Bronco fans latch onto the Manning injury as the downfall of this team?
No matter what fans take away from the Broncos’ season, the word failure must be included. Football is a fickle mistress, and one playoff loss can erase all the regular season success in the world. Elway will have to hit the reset button. He already has, moving on from John Fox. Manning is coming back, and hopefully he can be healthy in 2015. Moving forward is the key. No point in looking back. There is nothing there but heart ache and disappointment.