The Desolation of Manning

I don’t understand how the Broncos lost to the Ravens. Until a few minutes into overtime I never doubted that the Broncos were going to win. I was disappointed in their performance, but never doubted that they would pull out the win. After sobbing for fifteen minutes, I began to review the game in my head. As I did so, I became increasingly angry, and a lot of that anger was directed at Peyton Manning. I’m not saying the loss was his fault. There were dropped passes all over the field. The defense was dismal. (What was Champ Bailey doing covering Torrey Smith? Smith is too fast for Bailey. Even after Smith burned him three, four, five times, the coverage was not adjusted.)

But, Peyton Manning is a veteran quarterback, one of the greats. Still, he threw an interception in his own territory in overtime, running away from a sack. THROW THE BALL OUT OF BOUNDS! That interception set up the Ravens for the win. Manning has never been great in the post-season. It’s something most people acknowledged, but he had a great defense and a solid run game to bolster him this time around. Well, somehow that defense fell apart. 

It was a crazy dream for Peyton Manning to return from multiple neck surgeries & lead his team into the playoffs & then onto the Super Bowl. Somehow that crazy dream seemed to be coming true. For week after week the team improved and the wins began piling up. Home field advantage fell into the Broncos’ laps. The dream didn’t seem crazy anymore; it seemed nearly guaranteed. I was ready to watch my team hoist the Lombardi trophy. Like Von Miller, I had dreams of confetti. It may have been a crazy dream, but it was a dream I believed in.

It’s not Manning’s fault. Honestly, the defense is probably more to blame than he is, but Manning has reaped the credit and praise all season for turning this team around. Now, he’ll have to bear the brunt of the disappointing end to the season as well. 

P.S. to The Desolation of Manning
I still love and support my team, and that includes Peyton Manning. This season was so much better than almost anyone expected it to be, and there is a lot to be proud of. I have to quote my brother here, “If anyone wants to talk shit about the Broncos, make sure your team is still in the playoffs before you open your mouth.”

January 12, 2013