Peyton Manning is introduced by Pat Bowlen and John Elway in March 2012. Four years later he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl 50. (RJ Sangost, The Denver Post; Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)
On March 20, 2012, Peyton Manning was introduced as the new face of the Broncos, beginning a four-year tenure that would .
Records were shattered and rings were won as Manning turned the Broncos’ offense into one of the most prolific in history in 2013 and led them to a pair of Super Bowls, in 2013 and 2015.
Forgotten in the reflections of are the bookends, the first and last moments of Manning’s career as a Bronco. These are sure to come up as trivia questions some way, some how, so here goes it:
In his Bronco debut, Peyton Manning hands off the ball to Willis McGahee in a victory over the Steelers. ()
Play: Handoff to Willis McGahee for a 5-yard rush in the first down of a 31-19 victory over the Steelers on Sept. 9, 2012, Manning’s Bronco debut.
Completion: A 13-yard pass to Eric Decker on a second-and-5 with 14:23 remaining in the first quarter of that game against Pittsburgh.
Touchdown pass: Seventy-one yards to Demaryius Thomas, in the third quarter of that win over the Steelers.
Rushing touchdown (the first and only): A 1-yard run in the second quarter of a 51-48 win over the Cowboys in Dallas on Oct. 6, 2013.
We’ll always have this:
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala)
Play: Handoff to C.J. Anderson for a five-yard gain on a third-and-7 at Denver’s 40-yard line with 1:46 remaining in Super Bowl 50.
Completion: To Bennie Fowler for a 2-point conversion with about four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 50.
Touchdown pass: Twelve yards to tight end Owen Daniels, giving the Broncos a 14-6 lead over the Patriots in the second quarter of the 2015 conference championship. The Broncos won, 20-18, to punch their tickets to Super Bowl 50. Daniels caught all three of Manning’s TD passes in Denver last season, starting with his 1-yard catch in a win over Minnesota on Oct. 4.
Could it be his last completion? I don’t know but I gave the ball back to him because he deserves it
— Bennie Fowler (@b_fowler13)
So it’s official I caught p money’s last pass wow what a blessing shoutout to the sheriff on a great career !
— Bennie Fowler (@b_fowler13)
I know I did the right thing by giving that ball back to my guy P
— Bennie Fowler (@b_fowler13)
