The focus is still on the past. Peyton Manning vs. his old team. Peyton Manning vs. his replacement, Andrew Luck.
But Peyton Manning has moved on.
The Denver Broncos host the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC divisional playoff game Sunday, pitting Manning against his former team of 14 years. The primary story line is obvious. It’s known. It’s been told.
But it’s not the one Manning wants to talk about.
“I’ve never thought much about the comparisons and how it affects me, and I’m sure he hasn’t either,” Manning told Denver media of Luck.
“I guess if you’re the first pick in the draft you’re always going to be compared to other first picks, and if you play for a team, there’s going to be comparisons to other quarterbacks who have played. Obviously, it’s an outstanding start to his career. It’s not a surprise at all to me. A guy who has as much talent as he has, you combine that with the type of work ethic that you hear that he has, and the times that I’ve been around him you just kind of knew he was going to do everything that he could to be a special player.”
It took Manning six seasons before he earned his first postseason victory. Luck needed only two. And in his first three seasons as a pro, Luck has led the Colts to three playoffs and two divisional titles while compiling a 2-2 playoff record. He finished the 2014 regular season with the most passing touchdowns (40, one more than Manning), the third-most passing yards (4,761) and the seventh-best passer rating (96.5). He’s only 25 years old.
But …
“This is 2015, we’re playing Indianapolis in this divisional round and that’s kind of where our focus is, on trying to do our job versus a good team — a team that’s playing hot, a team that’s playing with a lot of momentum, won six out of the last seven, coming off a win against a good Cincinnati team,” Manning said. “Anything that’s happened in years past — six, seven, eight years ago — I’m not sure the impact that it’s had on this particular team.”
A lot has changed for this Broncos team since their last meeting with the Colts, in Week 1 in Denver, where and relied primarily on Manning’s arm on offense.
C.J. Anderson happened. The Broncos’ defense has come alive. Their offensive line has undergone numerous shifts. And now it’s as though both teams must start from scratch in scouting the other.
But while the spotlight will be cast on just two players, Manning — and Luck — are well, over it.
“I think we’ve covered that,” he said. “I’ve been here in Denver for three years, (and this is) the third time we’ve played them. Obviously two years ago or last year (we) went back there to play and I undertsand that was a unique story, but (we) played them this regular season.
“I’ve always just tried to do my job. I know that’s probably a boring answer, but I think everyone wants to do their job every week we play. … And when you’re playing potentially the last game of the season, you want to be sure you’re doing your job.”
Footnotes: Manning, who sat out practices last week with a thigh injury, said he physically feels fine. … Safety David Bruton and left guard Orlando Franklin and returned to practice. … Linebacker Brandon Marshall was officially listed as limited.
Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or at twitter.com/nickijhabvala
