Brock Osweiler is ready to go if needed in Super Bowl

One thing is for certain, the Denver Broncos would not be playing in Super Bowl 50 tomorrow afternoon if it wasn’t for quarterback Brock Osweiler.

From starter to Super Bowl backup, Osweiler is ready to go if needed.

The fourth-year pro lead the Broncos to a 5-2 record after Peyton Manning went down in Week 10, including two wins in which he helped lead a comeback from double-digit deficits.

Despite the circumstances, Osweiler never felt the pressure.

“There was no added pressure,” he said on Thursday.  “I didn’t think about it as, ‘hey, I’m stepping in for Peyton Manning right now.’ I was solely focused on doing my job to the best of my abilities to give my team a chance to win.”

And that he did, going 170 of 275  for 1967 yards (61.8 percent) and 10 touchdowns compared to 6 interceptions during his time as the starter.

“I would say it’s a little bit different compared to our (Super Bowl) run two years ago,” Osweiler said.  “I’m just thankful and happy that when my number was called this season that I was able to step in and just help my team win some football games.”

He did just that, until Week 17 when he ran into the San Diego Chargers.

Osweiler struggled in the first half of that game, throwing two picks and losing a fumble before Manning returned for the first time in seven weeks and led the Broncos to a 27-20 win.

Despite head coach Gary Kubiak trying to keep in a secret heading into the playoffs, it was quite clear it would be Manning and not Osweiler leading the team on their playoff run.

 “I really don’t” Osweiler said earlier in the week when asked about his impact on the Super Bowl run.  “What I think about is all year long whether Peyton was playing or I was playing we won as a team. I think that is what makes this football team so special. Every single guy in that locker room loves each other, cares about each other. Every guy is in that other guy’s corner and would do anything for him. I think that is what truly makes this football team so special.”

“Yeah, I have the best teammates in the world,” Osweiler added.  “It was easy to step in. Every single guy on this team embraced me and that is something I think they all know how thankful I am for that, but this is the best team in the world and we have a very special group in our locker room.”

The impression from his play and how he handled himself through adversity was not lost on future Hall of Famer Manning.

“He has taken advantage of his study time, his repetitions and there is no question that we would not be in this position without him and the way he played in the games that he was in there,” Manning said on Thursday.  “It is a credit to him for being a student of the game, studying, being a real pro and I think trying to use the previous season of whatever you learned to your advantage to make you a better player the next season. That is something I have always tried to do. I think he has done that as well. I thought he played great in those games that he was in there. He is a student of the game. He studies. He appreciates the cerebral part of it. That is something that I always have thought is pretty important.”

Kubiak agreed.

“I think he deserves a great deal of credit,” Kubiak said earlier in the week.  “He had our football team for seven starts, I think, am I right? We won some big games with him. We come back 14 down against Cincinnati, 14 down against New England and Brock was at the helm. So I mean you look around throughout our football team that’s happen, that position gets a lot of attention, but that’s happened in the secondary, it’s happened on the offensive line. I mean we wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t all 53 of those and we’ve lost some guys along the way. But he definitely did his part. He did a hell of a job when he was in there.”

While disappointed he isn’t running through the tunnel as the starter at Levi’s Stadium, Osweiler hasn’t lost any focus along the way.

No matter the circumstance, Osweiler is ready to go if he gets his number called on Sunday.

“I haven’t even thought about that [playing a whole season as a starting quarterback],” Osweiler said.  “I am 100% focused on the Carolina Panthers defense and getting prepared for the Super Bowl on Sunday.”