Who needs Peyton Manning when you have Brock Osweiler
Grab a clipboard, Peyton Manning. It's Brock Osweiler's time.
The Denver Broncos are a better team now that coach Gary Kubiak benched Manning in favor of Osweiler.
A five-time NFL MVP who holds many of the league's passing records or a guy who has thrown 54 career passes? Take the backup every time in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business.
Yep, you guessed it. We're overreacting.
Manning played the worst game of his career on the same day he became the NFL's all-time yards passing leader. But he's injured. He's not the player he used to be but he didn't turn into Joey Harrington overnight for no reason.
Manning has a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, a ribcage injury and a lingering sore throwing shoulder. When he's healthy, he gives the Broncos (7-2) the best chance to win.
Here are other overreactions from Week 10:
OVERREACTION: Sam Bradford has played his last game with the Eagles. Bradford, who is in the final year of a contract, injured his shoulder and sustained a concussion in a loss to the Dolphins. Mark Sanchez replaced him and moved the offense well, but threw a crucial interception in the end zone.
REALISTIC REACTION: Sanchez is too prone to turnovers. Once Bradford is healthy, Chip Kelly will play him. He already knows what Sanchez can do; 4-4 last year filling in for Nick Foles.
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OVERREACTION: If the Giants couldn't beat the Patriots, nobody will. New England improved to 9-0 after Stephen Gostkowski hit a 54-yard field goal with 1 second left.
REALISTIC REACTION: Rex Ryan's Bills will be a tough game next Monday. They had an extra three days to prepare for the rematch. And if they already have home-field advantage secured, road games at the Jets and Dolphins to finish the regular season won't be easy.
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OVERREACTION: Seven wins will win the NFC East. The Giants lead the division at 5-5.
REALISTIC REACTION: The Giants play the Eagles in Week 17. They both could be 7-8 going into a winner-take-all finale. And don't count the Redskins out. They have an outside chance to go 8-8.
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OVERREACTION: The Jaguars are playoff contenders. A 22-20 win at Baltimore has Jacksonville (3-6) only one game behind Indianapolis in the AFC South and the Colts won't have Andrew Luck for a while.
REALISTIC REACTION: It took a mistake by the referees followed by a 53-yard field goal for the Jaguars to beat the Ravens. The Colts might only win seven games, but the Jaguars aren't going 5-2.
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OVERREACTION: The Vikings will win the NFC North. They're a game ahead of Green Bay following an impressive 30-14 win at Oakland.
REALISTIC REACTION: Teddy Bridgewater and company have a tough road ahead. They host the Packers next week and still have road games at Atlanta, Arizona and Green Bay. Home games vs. Seattle, the Bears and Giants won't be easy, either.
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OVERREACTION: The Packers won't make the playoffs. An 18-16 loss to Detroit was Green Bay's third in a row.
REALISTIC REACTION: They're only one game behind Minnesota with two games left against the Vikings. They're two games up in the wild-card standings. And, Aaron Rodgers is better than he has played recently.
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OVERREACTION: Kirk Cousins is the long-term answer for Washington at quarterback. He threw four touchdown passes in a rout over New Orleans.
REALISTIC REACTION: Everyone piles up big numbers against the Saints' defense.
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OVERREACTION: The Bungles finally showed up. A 10-6 loss to Houston on Monday night was the first this season for the Bengals.
REALSTIC RECATION: They weren't going 16-0 so they had to lose sometime.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
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