SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The road the Broncos took to Super Bowl 50 is not one they expected to take with Peyton Manning as their quarterback.
This was a season unlike any that Manning has experienced. His foot bothered him for a while before he left the Nov. 15 loss to the Chiefs because of a torn plantar fascia. He threw eight more interceptions than touchdowns in the regular season. He served as the second-string quarterback for a week leading into the regular-season finale before Head Coach Gary Kubiak put him back in the lineup with the team in need of "a spark" with a 13-7 deficit caused by five turnovers.