The 2013 Broncos were statistically the greatest offense ever. They averaged 37.4 points per game and are still the only team ever to score more than 600 points in a season. Even with the extra game, teams today have not been able to come close to surpassing the 600-point mark. The Broncos Offense also had 4 different players scoring 10 + TD's which was also a first in NFL History. The 4 players were Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Wes Welker, and Eric Decker. It was an absolute treat to watch. And of course, we have to talk about the Sheriff Himself, Peyton Manning. He put up record numbers in his second year back from a neck surgery that many thought would end his playing days. His numbers include 55 touchdowns and 5,477 passing yards. Both of them are NFL records. He also had 450 completions that season which was a franchise record. We should have known that he was going to have a season for the ages when he threw for 7 touchdowns on opening night vs the Defending Champion Baltimore Ravens.
Manning threw 20 touchdowns in the first 5 games of the season. For context, a Broncos QB has not thrown 20 Touchdowns in a season since Manning in 2014. His spectacular play sprung the Broncos to a 6-0 start before they lost 33-39 to the Colts in Manning's first game back in Indy since his departure. The Broncos would bounce back and win 3 games in a row leading to a Sunday Night Showdown vs the Patriots. A game Denver gave away after being up 24-0 and losing 34-31 in OT. This was the first game that Manning looked pedestrian all year just throwing for 150 yards and 2 TDs. Those stats seemed irrelevant a week later after Manning tossed 5 TDs vs the Chiefs. This team never had back-to-back weeks of poor performances. Manning a few weeks later would toss his 51st TD pass in week 16 vs the Texans in a 37-13 thumping and broke Tom Brady's 50 TD mark a week early. Manning broke the all-time single-season passing touchdown record in 15 games. In week 17 Manning needed 266 yards to break Brees's sing season passing yard record. He accomplished that goal by halftime and tossed in 4 TDs as well just for good measure. The Broncos ended the season with a 13-3 record and clinched home-field advantage for the second straight year and into the playoffs they go.
The Broncos would play a pesky Chargers team in the division round. After going up 17-0 with a chance to make it 24-0 at half, Manning threw a red zone int for the first time all season which changed the momentum of the game. The Chargers would score 10 unanswered making it 17-10. The Broncos would answer making it 24-10 hoping to finally put the Chargers away. The Chargers would score once again on the next drive making it 24-17. Keenan Allen was a monster his game as he scored both their TDs. Denver would get the ball back and would be facing a 3rd and 17 on their side of the field. The Chargers have all the momentum and if the defense can get off the field here, there is real optimism for San Diego as they can tie it up. However, they do not and Manning makes a big throw down the right sideline to Julius Thomas and that throw pretty much ended any chance the Chargers had at pulling off the comeback. Denver wins 24-17.
The Patriots came to town for the AFC championship game. It was an ugly game to start as both offenses were sloppy and had some missed opportunities happen. But things changed when Wes Welker inadvertently took out Aqib Talib while running a shallow cross. Talib was unable to return to the game and as a result, it unleashed the beast named Demaryius Thomas. Thomas carved up the middle of the Patriots' Defense every chance he got, and no one on that defense could stop him. He finished the game with 7 catches, 134 yards, and a touchdown. Manning was a ho-hum 32/43 for 400 yards and 2 TDs with no interceptions. The Broncos were up 20-3 after DT's TD. Then the Patriots started to get things going and put up a decent fight in the end but would fall short 26-16. The Broncos are AFC Champs for the first time since 1999 and are heading to the Super Bowl!
Super Bowl 48. A set of words I will forever hate. The high-powered offense that rose high all year was curb stomped by the Legion of Boom. The #1 ranked defense. This game proved that defense wins championships. From the opening snap, everything went wrong. The game began with the Broncos on offense and in the first play, the snap went 10 feet above Peyton's head and into the endzone and it was recovered by Denver so the game started 2-0 immediately. However, things didn't look horrible yet because the Seahawks were only able to muster up field goals in their first couple of drives so it was only 8-0 for a while. Denver was still not able to do anything and then Seattle finally scored a TD on their next drive. Still, all hope was not lost as Denver had a very nice and long drive going as they were deep in Seattle territory and then all hell broke loose. Manning's arm was hit on a pass which was then caught by Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith returned it for a pick 6. That made it 22-0 nothing and that was the ball game. Percy Harvin opened up the second half with a kick-off return to the endzone making it 29-0 which pretty much ended any small chance the Broncos had at coming back. Denver would end up losing 43-8.
This was a season that many fans would love to relive but it comes with a painful memory because of the way it ended. Had Denver lost a competitive Super Bowl, the sting may have not been as bad as it is now. People still bring this loss up despite the fact the Broncos won the championship 2 years later.
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