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Was Peyton Manning Benched So He Can Rest His Arm For The Patriots?

By Matt Dolloff (@mattdolloff)

BOSTON (CBS) -- It's showtime for Brock Osweiler in Denver. After three-plus seasons of developing and learning under Peyton Manning, the Broncos quarterback is set to take over the offense after Peyton got benched in the Broncos' 29-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Denver on Sunday.

It's been readily apparent to anyone paying attention - and being honest with themselves - that Peyton's arm is a far cry from what it used to be and he doesn't have the strength to play at the level we're used to seeing, let alone for a 16-game season well into winter. So after Peyton's latest interception bonanza against the Chiefs, Osweiler is getting his first chance to start a game this Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

But what if something more cunning is at hand here: what if the Broncos are giving Peyton a week of rest so he can be fresh and 100 percent for Week 12's Sunday night marquee matchup against the Patriots? It sounds utterly ridiculous, but not all that unrealistic.

Just consider Peyton's performance against the Green Bay Packers just two weeks ago, when the Broncos were coming off their bye week. Peyton looked as sharp and strong as he had all season, and his passes had a little extra zip compared to the floaters he had sent fluttering in previous weeks. The extra rest ostensibly aided Peyton's performance in that game.

Denver knows it will need Peyton at his best when the Patriots coming to town, potentially looking to preserve an undefeated season. And with the game on national TV, there's zero chance Peyton wants to embarrass himself against his chief rival.

So the solution looks simple for the Broncos: sit Peyton with an injury and let Osweiler have a start. Peyton gets a week off to recharge his arm and Osweiler gets a chance to prove himself going against a weak defense. Not that Peyton's foot injury isn't real, but the timing of it just seems all too convenient to believe it's actually bad enough to sit him solely for that reason.

If you get mad at me for "disrespecting" Peyton or questioning his toughness, stop proving my point. Fans and media (especially nationally) absolutely love to make excuses for Peyton when he plays poorly, and it's been a litany of injuries in the past year - injuries to everything BUT his arm. Manning can still occasionally pull a big play out of nowhere and is physically very tough, but as a pure passer he clearly doesn't have it anymore. Even national media members are starting to admit that it's sad to see, but of course it's easier to just pin it on the injury so people don't have to accept the truth. Please stop it with the foot and just admit that Peyton is at the end of the road.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Peyton, as un-clutch and relatively overrated as I may consider him. He is clearly one of the all-time greats at the QB position and he's simply not that player anymore. I hate to see him playing this way too, even as a Tom Brady fanboy. Peyton is embarrassing himself, and I'm not reveling in it like some might be - I want the Broncos to show him some mercy. And they're finally doing it - they're just not going to admit that Peyton was benched for not being good anymore.

Looking ahead to Patriots - Broncos in Week 12, it clearly seems like it will be Peyton's Last Stand. Barring a jaw-dropping performance this Sunday, Brock Osweiler likely won't see the field in such a crucial game. Even a noodle-armed, game-managing Peyton could be better off against the Patriots than the inexperienced Osweiler, in a game where the Broncos will have to minimize their mistakes.

In my opinion, Manning's benching is an admission that a bye week is the only way to have a sniff at Peyton performing like his old self. It's not because of the same plantar fascia issues that he has played through many times throughout of his career, and probably could again this time. But he can't throw the ball well on a weekly basis anymore, and the Broncos know that unless they rest his arm he will keep faltering. The Broncos saw how Peyton looked against Green Bay after a week off, and they want to see if lightning can strike twice against the Patriots.

Peyton may deliver one last vintage performance if and when he returns against the Patriots in two weeks. But he is nearing the finish line of his career, and at this point needs an extra week of rest for a chance to pull that off. The Broncos finally realize it, and so should you.

Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.

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