Peyton Manning Benched During Broncos Loss — Is It the End for Him?
Entering Sunday, Peyton Manning needed less than 10 yards to break Brett Favre's passing yard record. Manning got 35. Go team?
On the way to a 29-13 loss to the Chiefs, Manning had four interceptions and had a zero passer rating.
He went 5 for 20 and looked physically weak.
Manning, after falling apart at the end of the 2014 season, had the Broncos surviving this season on the backs of the defense. On Sunday, however, his play was insurmountable for the defense and it led to Manning being benched for the first time maybe ever.
News has come out this morning that Manning has been playing through a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot, which will make coach Gary Kubiak's decision much easier on who to start moving forward.
Is Manning playing for records like the one he broke Sunday, or are he and the Broncos delusional enough to believe he is the best option (even when partially injured)?
Maybe the past two coaching staffs just have zero confidence in heir apparent Brock Osweiler, who will surely get the start next week. Peyton's injury list this season is almost as long as the list of his records, with rib, shoulder and now the torn plantar fascia.
" ... I thought I felt good enough to play. That's what I thought," Manning said. "Maybe that was the wrong -- maybe that was a false feeling by me or whatever that was ... I was honest with them with how I felt, thought I was good enough to play."
Coach Kubiak maintains that Manning will be the starter as long as he is healthy enough.
At this point you have to ask: What is Peyton playing for -- personal records or team wins? If he is team-oriented, he will concede to Osweiler. If not, he will continue to go out and add to his injury list (and the team's loss column) while adding to the record books.