Peyton Manning can't play in poor weather. That's been the narrative of choice for much of the year used to knock the NFL's best passer. It's a convenient way to diminish the accomplishments of a record-breaking season and shift the focus to the postseason, where there's one last chance to see him fail.
Super Bowl XLVIII daily briefing: Peyton Manning prepares for snow
The Broncos are ready for the weather, and the prop bets are strange.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
The Broncos had an opportunity to jump-start their preparation for playing in potentially poor weather thanks to a local snowstorm that dropped 3 inches of snow on the team's practice field on Thursday. Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post found a confident Manning who knows the New Jersey weather won't faze the offense.
“We played in this and practiced in this a good part of the year, so really, we’ve been through this. But it’s good to get out here and get started,” quarterback Peyton Manning said.
There's a chance to bust that narrative one last time, and a snowy Super Bowl win would seal it.
Thursday notes
There are old standbys like “omitting words from the national anthem,” but the 2014 prop bets are decidedly more slanted toward bizarre holdovers from the season.
Peyton Manning saying “Omaha” would be more surprising if he didn’t. The staple code word of the Broncos quarterback rose to prominence on a national stage during the playoffs; now you can bet on it.
Our favorite is Knowshon Moreno's possibility of crying during the anthem. In an emotional game on the world's stage, it might be a pretty good bet.
A presidential interview is part of the Sunday ceremony surrounding the Super Bowl and will continue when FOX’s Bill O’Reilly will sit down with Barack Obama. Each year it’s an opportunity for the commander-in-chief to be questioned about the direction of the country and the NFL’s ongoing concussion problem.
The 2014 Super Bowl will be more accessible than ever with the news FOX will stream the game online and on mobile devices. Some restrictions apply, but the move ensures that even those stuck at work without a TV will have a chance to watch.
Injury report
Percy Harvin practiced for the second straight day, meaning it’s near impossible he’ll miss the game unless there’s an unforseen setback. His presence will add a fascinating aspect to the game and one that isn’t easily schemed for by Denver.
Harvin isn't the only Seahawks player to return to action, with linebacker K.J. Wright poised to start at weakside linebacker. He offers a chance to add some speed to a solid linebacking corps, and a key player to help diffuse the Broncos backfield passing game.
Number of interest: 548
This is how many receiving yards Moreno totaled in 2013. It wasn’t just a career high for the Broncos running back, but a definitive factor in determining how well the offense operated this season.
Peyton Manning has had excellent running backs over his career, but outside of Edgerrin James in Indianapolis, he never really had a rusher to lean on. Moreno's season was unique because he was an outside rusher, but just as importantly became a critical outlet. He's the final piece of a puzzle, but much like a keystone, could be the much-overlooked piece.
Moreno practiced on Thursday as he recovers from a rib injury. He should be able to play in the Super Bowl and will be a player to watch on every snap, even if he doesn’t boast the big play potential of other weapons in the Denver offense.
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