This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
No football team that ever included Peyton Manning has dealt with this question: Is the quarterback good enough to take them to the Super Bowl?
Yet that's exactly where the Denver Broncos stand, going into Sunday's AFC championship game vs. New England. A closer look at the Broncos:
Team's theme • The Broncos boast the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense, and they pieced together a 12-4 record in the regular season with an aging Manning and a young Brock Osweiler as their quarterbacks. They'll need the best available versions of Manning and that defense to advance.
How they got here • Denver earned the AFC West title and the conference's No. 1 seed on the last day of the regular season, beating San Diego as Manning came off the bench in a comeback victory. The Broncos defeated Pittsburgh 23-16 in the divisional playoff round.
Super Bowl-bound if • The Broncos can run the ball well enough to reduce Manning's role in the offense. In a 30-24 overtime defeat of New England in late November, C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman combined for 172 rushing yards to complement Osweiler's 270 passing yards.
Homeward-bound if • Manning struggles. His statistics were somewhat skewed by one horrible game against Kansas City as he tried to play with multiple injuries, but Manning's rating was 63rd among the 73 quarterbacks who threw passes in the NFL this season. Manning was adequate against Pittsburgh, completing 21 of 37 passes for 222 yards.
Biggest variable • Pass protection is vital to both teams. Denver led the NFL with 52 sacks in the regular season and New England finished second with 49. Each team's offensive line ranked in the middle of the league in sacks allowed and performed very well last weekend.
Best player • Linebacker Von Miller has recorded 25 sacks in the past two seasons and forced four fumbles this year, earning AP All-Pro honors and leading an aggressive defense.
Best player you've never heard of • Cornerback Chris Harris plays across from the more recognizable Aqib Talib, but Harris is a Pro Bowl player — one of the Broncos' four selections, all on defense.
Local connection • Sam Brenner, who played guard and tackle for the University of Utah, is the Broncos' No. 3 center. Signed by Denver after being waived by Miami in November, Brenner was inactive vs. Pittsburgh.
Reasons to cheer for them • The Broncos have a strong following in Utah and Manning is an exemplary pro athlete, even if his marketing presence becomes overwhelming at times.
Reasons to cheer against them • Some Utahns get tired of the Broncos being thrust at them as a regional team in this television market, although CBS affiliate KUTV's ratings are markedly higher for Denver games than others.
Twitter: @tribkurt —
Conference championships
AFC New England at Denver, Sunday, 1:05 p.m. MST TV • Ch. 2
NFC Arizona at Carolina, Sunday, 4:40 p.m. MST TV • Ch. 13