A loss to the New York Jets back on January 8, 2011 was the last time Peyton Manning stepped on the football field in a meaningful game. It was also the last time he would lead the team he had spent 13 years with into battle.
A new era is set to begin for Manning as he makes his regular season debut with his new team, the Denver Broncos on Sunday as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What to expect from Manning in his return has been speculated for quite some time. Questions still linger in regards to how he will respond after four neck surgeries and being out of football for over a year.
His career is well documented and the success he has had on the field is quite impressive. But will that success continue after all he has been through and now playing with a new team?
Here is what it boils down to. The Broncos were a playoff team last year with Tim Tebow under center and actually ended the Steelers’ season in their overtime win over Pittsburgh in the wild-card round.
If the Broncos had that much success with Tebow, why shouldn’t this year’s edition of the Broncos make an even deeper playoff run with Manning as their quarterback?
The numbers this season might not be as compelling as compared to year’s past for the future Hall of Famer, but they won’t have to be. Manning comes into a great situation where the Broncos rushing attack is coming off a season where they led the NFL (164.5 YPG). Willis McGahee returns after rushing for 1,199 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2011. Lance Ball, Ronnie Hillman and Knowshon Moreno are also available to help carry the load.
In Indianapolis, Manning really had no running game to fall back on. And look at the success he had with Colts even without a balanced offensive attack.
But the fact remains that the addition of Manning will make Denver a much better team. With virtually no passing attack in 2011, they had great overall success and now the offensive can be effective through the air to compliment their ground game.
All the questions regarding Manning’s return are about to begin to be answered after he takes the field on Sunday Night Football in week 1. Compelling as his first game back might be, what might be even more so is watching Denver thrive with one of the best to play the quarterback position as their leader.