Denver Broncos Rumors: Decision To Start Peyton Manning Over Brock Osweiler Has John Elway's Fingerprints On It [VIDEO]

The Broncos announced the obvious on Thursday: Peyton Manning will start over Brock Osweiler in the divisional round of the playoffs, per NFL.com.

Manning -- who entered in place of Osweiler in Week 17's victory over the Chargers -- missed six weeks with an ankle injury. He finished 5-of-9 for 69 yards and a QBR of 44 in his first action since Week 10.

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It was just enough for Denver to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but it was more than enough for John Elway to stick with his guy. While the Broncos GM is hands off in the decision making process, his opinion is still heavily valued.

"That's Gary's decision," Elway told 104.3 The Fan when asked about the team's QB situation, per the team's official website. "We chat a lot and talk a lot and he asks what I think at times, and so I give him my thoughts.

"Most of the time I sit there and listen and ask questions and allow him to come to the best decision that he believes is right for this football team."

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Often times, those tend to be loaded questions. Especially when you feel morally bound to send Manning off as a winner.

"I told him this," Elway said before the start of the 2015 season, per NFL.com. "I appreciate him coming to Denver and playing and finishing his career in Denver and I feel obligated to him as much as I do the Broncos is to try to figure out a way to let him walk away into the sunset with a world championship."

Manning now has that opportunity. He just has to stay out of his own way.

Most times losing first start of playoffs (since 1966): Peyton Manning 9 No one else has more than 4

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 7, 2016