Chiefs wary of Peyton Manning despite his decline

Given the way Peyton Manning has tortured the Chiefs during his career — he’s 14-1 — it’s only fitting that he likely will make history against them today.

Manning, 39, is 2 yards short of Brett Favre’s career passing mark of 71,838. When Manning breaks the record, it will be a reaffirmation of his greatness and confirmation of his standing as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.

But in the same vein, a look at this year’s stats show the 18-year veteran is on the decline.

Through eight games, Manning has completed 188 of 302 passes (62.3 percent) for 2,145 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and is on pace to finish with 4,290 yards, 18 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.

That would be his lowest yardage output in seven years, his highest interception total since his rookie year of 1998 and the lowest touchdown total of his career.

Yet the Broncos are still 7-1. And while a large part of that has to do with a dominant defense, the old man can still get it done behind center — which the Chiefs learned in their crushing 31-24 loss in Week 2.

Few remember it now, especially after the Chiefs lost five of their first six games, but they led the Broncos by 14 in the second quarter. And there was another point, late in the fourth quarter, when Alex Smith led the Chiefs on a go-ahead drive that gave them a 24-17 lead with a little over two minutes left.

But while everyone remembers Jamaal Charles’ gut-wrenching fumble, which was returned by Bradley Roby for the game-winning touchdown in the waning seconds, Chiefs players remember what preceded that. Manning — with his back against the wall — operated out of the shotgun and orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard drive that was so efficient, it appeared to be pre-ordained.

So when asked this week the biggest lesson they took from that game, it probably shouldn’t be a surprise that multiple defensive players echoed the very same thing.

“Play to the end,” defensive end Jaye Howard said.

“We’ve got to finish,” cornerback Marcus Peters said.

If anyone knows how dangerous Manning still is, it’s defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, who is 0-5 against the Broncos since he arrived in Kansas City a member of Andy Reid’s staff in 2013. In those five games, Manning has completed 110 of 180 passes (61 percent) for 1,403 yards — an average of nearly 300 per game — 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

“The players know that this guy is, No. 1, highly competitive, isn’t going to flinch on anything,” Sutton said. “I think the Cleveland game, he throws the interception, what looks like is going to cost them the game. (The Browns) don’t take advantage of it, he takes them down, (the Broncos) win the game.”

Sutton said Manning’s “great belief” in himself and mental toughness allows him to do things other quarterbacks cannot, even at his advanced age.

“He can say ‘OK, that one got away, I made a bad decision, whatever happened, but it’s not going to affect how I play this last series — I’m going to win this game,’ ” Sutton said. “So you’re gonna have to take this game from him, he’s not giving it to you. You’ve just got to go at him as tough and hard and competitive as you can because his brilliance everybody knows about, his preparation everybody knows about, but on the field, he’s a competitive guy, man.”

And make no mistake about it, the Chiefs relish the opportunity to face one of the NFL’s greatest players.

“It’s fun, it’s always fun,” cornerback Sean Smith said. “He’s one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, so it’s going to be a challenge. You have to bring your ‘A’ game every single snap, because you never know when that ball is coming. Third and 5, you’ve got to assume it’s coming to you. Especially with the weapons he has, the ball can come to anybody.”

Manning and the Broncos have won the AFC West four years in a row.

“It’s definitely frustrating — to be where we want to be, that’s the team we have to beat,” Smith said. “But first of all, you can’t taking anything away from him. Peyton Manning, in that offense, has put up some amazing numbers.

“But as a secondary, this is one of the greatest challenges we’ve got.”

Aside from the importance of finishing, the Chiefs’ defenders learned another valuable lesson from their Week 2 loss.

“We know we have the potential in this room to beat Denver,” inside linebacker Derrick Johnson said. “Knowing that we had them on the ropes and let the game slip out of our hands is even more motivation to get back to that point, because it’s going to be a close one again.”

The Chiefs are feeling good following their last two games, victories against Detroit and Pittsburgh that improved their record to 3-5. They know this game could decide the season, too. Since 1990, 16 teams have made the playoffs after starting 4-5, only four have done so after starting 3-6.

“We’re a tough-minded group,” Johnson said. “One and five, you never want to dig yourself in a hole like that, but it’s here now, we’re trying to dig our way out of it, and what better way to do it than to go get a win up in Denver?”

To do that, however, they will have to finally conquer a nemesis that has displayed mastery over them for 18 years.

So you can bet, based on past experience, that if the Chiefs somehow have a lead over the Broncos late, there definitely won’t be any easing up until there are zero seconds left.

“(With him), you’re never out of it,” Sutton said. “Ever.”

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Chiefs wary of Peyton Manning despite his decline."