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Denver Broncos: Constructing an All-Decade Team from 2010-2019

By Travis Wakeman

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 09: DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Denver Broncos celebrates with teammate Von Miller #58 in the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on November 9, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 09: DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Denver Broncos celebrates with teammate Von Miller #58 in the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on November 9, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 6: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos signals to a receiver during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 6, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. The Broncos defeated the Cowboys 51-48. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 6: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos signals to a receiver during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 6, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. The Broncos defeated the Cowboys 51-48. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Quarterback: Peyton Manning

Others considered: None

There wasn’t much to think about with this choice as Peyton Manning is easily the best quarterback of the last 10 years for the Broncos.

Though Manning did not make the NFL All-Decade squad, he posted massive numbers in four seasons with the Broncos. Though many will remember him as the player who had clearly lost much of his ability in 2015, the reasons for Manning to make this team over any other Broncos quarterback are many.

In his first year with the team in 2012, Manning helped lead the Broncos to a 13-3 record. Though they had a heartbreaking playoff loss against the Baltimore Ravens, he came back with a vengeance in 2013.

That year, Manning set NFL single-season records with 5,477 yards passing and 55 touchdowns. Both of those records still stand to this day.

The Broncos were crushed by the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl to close that season but finished 12-4 in 2014. The Broncos were again bounced from the playoffs with a difficult home loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round.

In 2015, Manning and the Broncos were still a contender but as that season wore on, the team’s chances to win the Super Bowl seemed to be dwindling. Manning was hurt and the team had to turn to Brock Osweiler.

It seemed that Manning’s career would end as a spectator from the sidelines and the Broncos would have a good run with Osweiler but they probably weren’t good enough to win it all.

But in the season finale against the San Diego Chargers, the Broncos turned back to Manning with Osweiler struggling. Though Manning’s physical tools were diminished, he gave that team what it needed to get over the hump.

The Broncos finished as the No.1 seed in the AFC and won two hard-fought playoff games before heading to Super Bowl 50 where they were massive underdogs against the Carolina Panthers.

Though the defense was the story of the day and that unit carried the Broncos to a Lombardi Trophy, Manning’s experience helped the team get the ultimate win.

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