DENVER – The narratives about Peyton Manning failing in the playoffs yet again feel different this time.
Because this wasn’t Manning, not as we’ve known him since he came into the NFL in 1998.
Maybe Sunday’s 24-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts was it for Manning. After a game in which Manning struggled to throw the ball – that was a theme for most of the second half of the season – he couldn’t say if he would return for another season with the Denver Broncos.
“Uh, yeah, I guess I just can’t give that simple answer,” Manning said. “I can’t say that. I could not say that.”
This isn't how Manning wanted to go out, and it’s certainly not how the Broncos envisioned this postseason going.
Manning said he wasn’t hurt. He said he suffered a thigh injury against San Diego on Dec. 14, but that’s the only injury he had and he felt good coming into Sunday’s playoff game.
Maybe he’s just a 38-year-old quarterback with multiple neck surgeries on his medical record. Time catches up with all athletes. As great as Manning has been, he won’t be an exception to that.
The Broncos told us a while ago that Manning wasn’t the same quarterback he was just a year ago. In the second half of the season the Broncos built their offense around running back C.J. Anderson. You don’t do that if Manning, who had arguably the greatest season for a quarterback in NFL history in 2013, was at his peak. They knew.
Manning and the offense was limited against the Colts. The first drive went well. A 32-yard pass to Julius Thomas set up a touchdown. That was the last time the Broncos got into the end zone, and that was the longest pass for Denver the entire game. The Broncos set an NFL record for points scored in a season in 2013. This isn’t that offense. Manning’s arm, which has not been all that strong since his neck surgeries, really seemed to weaken as the season went on. Manning had just a 76.8 rating in December. To put that in perspective, Jets quarterback Geno Smith had a 77.5 rating for the season. Manning’s rating against the Colts, when he was 26-of-46 for 211 yards, was just 75.5.
Even in the last couple minutes, needing 11 points to tie, the Broncos kept throwing short and hoping the receivers broke a big play. Manning tried taking some shots downfield in the first half but they were all well off.
Manning said there weren’t any instances against the Colts in which he saw a possible play but physically couldn’t deliver the ball (“I don’t think so, no,” he said), but he said he didn’t play well enough. It was the culmination of a fairly long slump to end the season.
“I didn’t play as well, consistently, in the second half of the season,” Manning said. “I can’t give you a great reason for that.”
The one reason everyone will wonder about as the Broncos head into the offseason is if it’s just the effects of aging. If that's the case, it's not something that will get better over the offseason.
“I’m not smart enough to be able to answer every single question with reasons for things,” Manning said when asked how much his age had to do with his struggles. “I’ve always taken a pretty accurate look and fair evaluation of myself, I’m as honest with myself as anybody else is and probably as critical with myself as anybody else is. And I didn’t play well enough today. Didn’t play well enough consistently in the second half of the season.”
The Broncos now enter what will be a fascinating offseason. They were built to win now, a team coming off an AFC championship hoping to keep Manning’s Super Bowl window open with the help of several free agents brought it by general manager John Elway. That push resulted in a one-and-done playoff season.
“Mr. Elway made the changes to make us a better team and we just didn’t go out there and execute,” defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said.
Manning couldn’t immediately commit to coming back, and he’ll be 39 years old next year if he does. It's hard to imagine Manning retiring this offseason, after this loss, but the list of quarterbacks who have had great seasons at 39 years or older is very thin.
Manning isn't the only question. The Broncos have key free agents like receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas. There was a report from Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer that Broncos coach John Fox could be fired if Denver didn’t beat the Colts.
“I don’t make those decisions,” Fox said of that report.
The Broncos were built to win now behind the 2013 NFL MVP. After failing to even win a playoff game, everything seems up in the air for Denver and its quarterback.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
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