Peyton Manning's 2015 season started with a 19-13 win over the Baltimore Ravens, but it was far from his sharpest performance.
Peyton Manning wasn’t exactly thrilled with his game against the Ravens
Peyton Manning finished with 175 passing yards, no touchdowns and an interception against the Ravens, but still got a win in Week 1.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos quarterback was under pressure for most of the game and finished with just 175 passing yards and zero touchdowns on 40 pass attempts. He began the second half with an interception thrown to Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith that was returned 24 yards for a touchdown that gave Baltimore a 10-9 lead.
After the game, Manning didn’t feel particularly chatty when reporters talked to him after the game in the locker room. Via Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post:
“If you need a catchy headline for your little article or whatever it is you might be doing, we’re trying to get better every single week,” said Manning, describing his meager 175 yards passing on 40 attempts, his analysis dripping with condescension. “What’s another cliché I can think of? We’re chipping away.”
Manning, 39, was sacked four times on Sunday, hit six times and none of his 24 completions were over 20 yards. While it is far from the best way to start the year, the Ravens finished 2014 No. 6 in scoring defense and racked up the second-most sacks in the NFL with 49.
A 59.9 passer rating for Manning is only the second time in his last 47 regular season starts that the 14-time Pro Bowler finished with a rating under 60 and just the third time since 2009. His last was a two-interception performance against the Buffalo Bills to begin a poor December at the end of last season, which drew questions about how much more Manning has left in the tank.
Manning and the Broncos will look to get back on track offensively against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2, although that's another team with talented pass rushers on a good defense. The Chiefs finished No. 2 in scoring defense in 2014 and Justin Houston led the NFL in sacks with 22.
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