Broncos noncommittal on playoff quarterback after Peyton Manning replaces Brock Osweiler vs. Chargers

Peyton Manning replaced Brock Osweiler as the Broncos’ quarterback against the Chargers on Sunday. Osweiler started the game 14-for-22 for 232 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions before getting pulled in the third quarter. There has been no indication that he was hurt.

Manning entered the game and played well, going 5-for-9 for 69 yards. Though he didn’t light up the Chargers through the air, he was on the field as the Broncos offense scored its final 20 points in a 27-20 win.

Despite Manning’s performance, head coach Gary Kubiak refused to name a starting quarterback for the playoffs. The Broncos will face the winner between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers after earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC and first round bye.

“We’ll sit down,” Kubiak said. “We’ll make a decision that’s best for the football team and we’ll be counting on everybody to continue to do their part.”

Manning last appeared in a game on Nov. 15, when he went 5-of-20 for 35 yards and four interceptions against the Kansas City Chiefs before suffering a torn plantar fascia. He has struggled this season, throwing nine touchdowns to 17 interceptions and accumulating a 67.6 passer rating in nine appearances prior to Sunday’s game. Osweiler, by contrast, threw nine touchdowns to four interceptions with an 87.3 rating through seven appearances prior to Sunday.

Broncos fans nonetheless were excited to see Manning back under center. They gave him a big ovation when he entered the game. Manning led the Broncos to a touchdown on his first drive to take back the lead, completing two of two pass attempts for 20 yards and checking into a run that went 18 yards to the Chargers’ 1-yard line.

Before Manning entered the game, the Broncos had committed five turnovers, three of them by Osweiler -- two picks and a fumble. Despite outgaining the Chargers by 230 yards (370 to 140) they led by just one point after Manning’s drive.