SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Take note, Brock Osweiler. Your man Peyton Manning totaled five touchdown passes with eight interceptions during the two postseasons in which his teams won Super Bowls. "The Sheriff" wasn't always laying down the law in those games. His passer rating was 72.4, his Total QBR was 41.9, and oh, by the way, his record was 6-0.
Defense does not always win championships, but it is a quarterback's best friend, even when you've played well enough for long enough to have your own advertising jingles.
With Super Bowl 50 complete and Manning presumably retiring, the Denver Broncos must determine Osweiler's value in the absence of a clear alternative. It's a tricky situation. The Broncos won it all this season with underwhelming quarterback play, but they cannot count on being this dominant defensively for the long haul. On the other side, the competitor in Osweiler might resent getting yanked from the lineup after only six starts. He might question the Broncos' commitment to him. Exploring options in free agency could be tempting if Denver lets Osweiler test the market.
But if Osweiler and his agent are wise, they will leap at the chance to stay put. Denver's dominant defense could be the No. 1 variable for Osweiler's own long-term earning ability.