If the Denver Broncos are going to make it to the playoffs this season, it looks like it's going to be with Brock Osweiler as the starting quarterback.

Denver Head Coach Gary Kubiak announced today that Osweiler still start Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, and Peyton Manning likely will be inactive.

The plan was for Manning to practice today and test his ailing foot, but the Denver Post reports he was not able to practice today, which brings in to question not only if Peyton will play again this year, but if he has taken his last snap as the Broncos starting quarterback.

The Broncos started the season 7-0, but have lost four of their last seven games while Kansas City has won eight games in a row, leaving them just one game behind the Broncos in the AFC West. The Broncos control their own destiny by winning their last two games, but a single loss could conceivably leave them out of this year's playoffs.

Broncos fans will recall the 2008 season when the Broncos needed to win just one of their last three games to win the division, but they lost all three to finish at 8-8 and missed the playoffs. In 2009, Denver was 8-4 and headed toward the playoffs before dropping their last four games.

These Broncos have lost two games in a row and have failed to score a second half point in three consecutive games.

Not only will Brock Osweiler's performance in the next two weeks determine whether the Broncos make the playoffs this year, it likely will determine whether or not he returns to quarterback the Broncos next year.

 

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