Peyton Manning threw four interceptions, and then Gary Kubiak threw himself under the bus.
Manning, the Denver Broncos’ quarterback, was benched after his fourth pick in the first half of Sunday’s 29-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Kubiak later took the blame, saying Manning never should’ve been on the field since he was in pain.
“I’m disappointed with myself. This is on me. I probably should’ve made a decision not to play him in the game,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said, via NFL.com. “Saturday, as you all know, (Manning’s) ribs were bothering him a little bit, and I probably should have said right there, ‘No, he’s not going to go this week.’
“He’s a competitor. He wanted to play. … That’s why he’s a great player. That’s why he’s going to be a Hall of Fame player. They want to compete. They want to do everything they can for their football team. But as a football coach, sometimes you have to say, ‘No, I don’t think this is the right thing today.’ ”
Although starting Manning wasn’t the right thing Sunday, Kubiak reinforced that, despite backup Brock Osweiler’s strong second-half performance, there isn’t a quarterback controversy in Denver. If Manning is healthy, he’s still the Broncos’ starter.
Manning broke the NFL’s all-time passing yards record in the first quarter, but he’s also on pace to throw 30 picks, which would be his most in one season.
Save for 2011, when Manning missed the entire season with a neck injury, the former No. 1 overall draft pick has started in every single game of his 18-year NFL career.
Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
