ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Peyton Manning will start for the Denver Broncos in the playoffs.
Coach Gary Kubiak informed his team of the decision Thursday morning when players returned from a three-day furlough after securing the AFC's top seed.
Manning missed seven starts with a left foot injury.
He returned to action Sunday when he relieved Brock Osweiler in the second half and led the Broncos (12-4) to a 27-20 win over San Diego.
The Broncos went 7-2 with Manning as their starter and 5-2 under Osweiler, including Sunday's win over the Chargers.
Osweiler has never taken a snap in the playoffs. Manning is 11-13 in the playoffs over his 18-year career. That includes an NFL record nine first-game exits, three Super Bowls and one ring.
Browns: Manziel ticketed for expired license plates
CLEVELAND — Johnny Manziel's troubles keep piling up.
NFL
The embattled Browns quarterback was cited for driving with expired license plates last weekend, when he failed to report to the team's facility for a medical assessment and was seen having some fun in Las Vegas.
According to police in North Olmsted, Ohio, Manziel was stopped at 8:28 a.m. Saturday while driving on Interstate 480. Police gave him a traffic ticket for the expired plates, an offense that carries a $125 fine.
It's the latest issue with the 23-year-old, whose future in Cleveland is uncertain at best following a second straight problematic season.
Manziel was in the NFL's concussion protocol last week after the team said he got hurt in a Dec. 27 game at Kansas City. He wasn't required to be at Cleveland's season finale Sunday because of the head injury, but owner Jimmy Haslam said Manziel failed to report to the team's facility for a required medical assessment.
For several hours Sunday, the Browns weren't certain of Manziel's whereabouts and couldn't confirm if he was in Vegas. He did return to Berea, Ohio, on Monday and was in attendance for team meetings when Haslam addressed the players following the firings of coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer. Manziel did not come into the locker room to speak with the media.