NFL

A fan’s guide to the Broncos

Catch up on all things Broncos before Super Bowl Sunday with The Post’s handy guide to the AFC champions:

Meet the Broncos

As the No. 1 seed last season, the Broncos could have easily been in this position a year ago, but suffered an incomprehensible overtime loss at home to the Ravens in the divisional round after Jacoby Jones scored on a 70-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of regulation. As the AFC favorites this season, Denver ran out to wins in its first six games with a record-setting offense that never slowed, before playoff wins over the Chargers (24-17) and Patriots (26-16) to reach its first Super Bowl in 15 years.

Less than three years removed from potentially career-ending neck surgeries, 37-year-old Peyton Manning made his second season with the Broncos unforgettable, throwing seven touchdowns in the season’s first game and finishing with NFL single-season records of 55 touchdown passes and 5,477 passing yards. The Broncos offense set records for most points in a season (606) and most total yards (7,317).

What appeared to be a crowded backfield after the team selected Montee Ball in the second round, thinned out as Knowshon Moreno registered his first-ever 1,000-yard rushing season (1,047), while adding 60 receptions and 548 receiving yards for 13 total touchdowns. The talented receiving corps was as incredible as its quarterback, with newcomer Wes Welker sliding in seamlessly. Manning had four receivers record double-digit touchdowns (Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Welker and tight end Julius Thomas), with Demaryius Thomas and Decker combining for 2,718 yards. Trindon Holliday remained one of the league’s most fearsome returners, averaging 27.7 yards on kick returns, with one touchdown.

The defense, which allowed 24.9 points per game, got a team-high 10 sacks from Shaun Phillips after Von Miller was limited to nine games, due to a suspension and a torn ACL, which ended his season. Linebacker Danny Trevathan, who ranked 11th in the league with 128 total tackles, shared the team lead with three interceptions, along with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and the injured Chris Harris.

Reasons to root for them

  • Peyton Manning doesn’t need another ring to validate his career, but as one of the best quarterbacks of all-time, Manning has a chance to make his case as the greatest ever if he wins another title, having overcome past postseason failures to reach his third Super Bowl. One of the most likable personalities in sports, Manning’s record-setting season was all the more enjoyable to watch given the fact he underwent four neck surgeries that threatened his career.
  • After 15 seasons, Champ Bailey — one of the best defensive players of his generation — gets a chance to play in the biggest game of his career. Bailey was limited to only five games this season due to injuries, but the 35-year-old cornerback is thrilled to be playing in his first Super Bowl. He will see an increased role due to Chris Harris’ injury and could even go out on top like his boss, John Elway, and retire after the game.
  • Coach John Fox believed his team could get to the Super Bowl, but he didn’t know if he’d be able to be there with them. Fox, who fell just short of a title with the Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Patriots, underwent heart surgery in November and was away from the Broncos for four weeks. It’d be hard to find anyone who would deserve this win more.

Reasons to root against them

  • Because most neutral observers are rooting for the Broncos and think they will win, the instant Vegas made the Seahawks a small favorite, the public swung the line three points in the other direction, putting all its faith in Manning and his unstoppable offense. Winning with an underdog is always more fun.
  • Wes Welker is in a new city with a new team and a new Hall of Fame quarterback, but it is nearly impossible to look at the wide receiver without thinking about the much-hated Patriots. Welker will be playing in his third Super Bowl — having lost in both previous appearances to the Giants — and it would only be fitting if he lost another, in the home stadium of his two former rivals.
  • How many Manning commercials can we take? Manning is funny and personable, but if the Broncos win the Super Bowl, the man who makes more television appearances than most actors may lose his charm if he gets played out like a bad radio single.
John ElwayGetty Images/Elsa

Franchise Icon: John Elway

One of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Elway played all 16 seasons with the Broncos (1983-99), leading the team to five Super Bowls, while winning the championship in the final two seasons of his career — including capturing the MVP in Super Bowl XXXIII against the Falcons in his final game. A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Elway finished his career with the most wins of any quarterback in history, and ranks in the top-five in completions (4,123), passing yards (51,475) and passing touchdowns (300). He has been the team’s executive vice president of football operations since 2011.

Week-by-week season recap

Game 1, at Denver: Broncos 49, Ravens 27

Peyton Manning’s record-tying seven touchdown passes — something no one had done in 44 years — led the Broncos past the defending champion Ravens in the NFL opener.

Connecting with Wes Welker, Julius Thomas and Demaryius Thomas for two TDs each, Manning became the sixth QB in NFL history to throw seven TD passes in a game and the first since Joe Kapp did it for Minnesota against Baltimore on Sept. 28, 1969.

Game 2, at New York: Broncos 41, Giants 23

Peyton again beat younger brother Eli, throwing two touchdown passes in leading the Broncos past the Giants.

The older Manning is 3-0 in the NFL against his sibling, with the other two victories coming when Peyton was with the Colts.

Game 3, at Denver: Broncos 37, Raiders 21

Manning threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns to lift the Broncos to another easy victory.

The quarterback’s 12 TD passes are an NFL record for the opening three games, breaking Tom Brady’s mark of 11 in 2011.

Game 4, at Denver: Broncos 52, Eagles 20

Manning made quick work of the Eagles in a warp-speed game between the NFL’s top two offenses. Denver scored more points than it ever had in its 54-year history, blowing out the Eagles behind Manning’s four touchdown throws and two special-teams scores.

Game 5, at Dallas: Broncos 51, Cowboys 48

Matt Prater kicked a 28-yard field goal as time expired and Manning and Denver overcame the first 500-yard passing game in Dallas history to keep the Broncos unbeaten.

Manning maintained his record pace of touchdown passes to start the season and finished with 414 yards and four scores for Denver (5-0).

Tony Romo threw for 506 yards and five touchdowns for Dallas (2-3), but he was intercepted by Danny Trevanthan inside the Dallas 30 to set up Prater’s winning kick.

Game 6, at Denver: Broncos 35, Jaguars 19

Manning threw for two scores and Knowshon Moreno ran for three to lead Denver to a tougher-than-expected victory over winless Jacksonville.

The Broncos (6-0) came in as 27-point favorites, and much of the pregame hype centered on whether they would cover the spread and when Manning would come out of the game. Neither happened.

Game 7, at Indianapolis: Colts 39, Broncos 33

Andrew Luck threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, outplaying predecessor Manning in a victory over the previously unbeaten Broncos.

The victory ended the Broncos’ 17-game regular-season winning streak in the first game Manning played against his former team since being released in March 2012.

Game 8, at Denver: Broncos 45, Redskins 21

Manning overcame four turnovers and Denver scored the last 38 points against former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and his new team. Manning finished with 354 yards and four touchdown passes to offset his three interceptions and lost fumble.

Game 9, at San Diego: Broncos 28, Chargers 20

Manning threw for 330 yards and four touchdowns, three to Demaryius Thomas, as he efficiently led the Broncos in their first game since coach John Fox had heart surgery.

Game 10, at Denver: Broncos 27, Chiefs 17

Manning went virtually untouched by Kansas City’s sack-happy defense, throwing for 323 yards and a touchdown to lead the Broncos to a victory over the NFL’s last undefeated team.

The Chiefs, who came into the game with a league-leading 36 sacks, barely breathed on Manning, who finished 24 for 40. The Broncos tied Kansas City at 9-1 atop the AFC West.

Game 11, at New England: Patriots 34, Broncos 31 (OT)

Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 31-yard field goal for New England after a misplayed punt return by Denver, lifting the Patriots to an overtime victory over the Broncos.

Denver’s Tony Carter ran into Ryan Allen’s punt after it landed and Nate Ebner recovered for New England at the Broncos 13-yard line. After Tom Brady ran twice to line up the kick, Gostkowski connected.

Game 12, at Kansas City: Broncos 35, Chiefs 28

Manning threw for 403 yards and five touchdowns, four to Eric Decker, and the Broncos held off a furious rally to beat the Chiefs 35-28 and seize control of the AFC West.

Decker had eight catches for a career-high 174 yards for the Broncos (10-2), who moved a game clear of the Chiefs (9-3) in the division.

Game 13, at Denver: Broncos 51, Titans 28

Unbothered by the freezing weather, Prater set an NFL record with a 64-yard field goal and Manning threw four more touchdown passes, lifting the Broncos to an easy victory over the Titans.

Game 14, at Denver: Chargers 27, Broncos 20

Phillip Rivers outplayed Manning and the Chargers sprung an upset.

Rivers threw for 166 yards and two scores to Keenan Allen and kept the Chargers’ offense on the field for nearly 39 minutes. Stuck on the sideline most of the night, Manning ended up with 289 yards and two touchdowns.

Game 15, at Houston: Broncos 37, Texans 13

Manning regained his NFL record for touchdown passes with 51 and the Broncos clinched the AFC West with an easy win.

Manning threw for 400 yards and four touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter to surpass the 50 TD passes Tom Brady threw in 2007.

Game 16, at Oakland: Broncos 34, Raiders 14

Manning set the NFL single-season record for yards passing and threw four first-half touchdown passes to help the Broncos clinch the top seed in the AFC playoffs with the win.

Manning broke Drew Brees’ record of 5,476 yards set in 2011 with a 5-yard pass to Thomas with 13 seconds left in the half to make it 31-0. He finished the season with 5,477 yards and 55 touchdown passes.

Divisional playoffs, at Denver: Broncos 24, Chargers 17

Manning welcomed Welker back into the lineup with a touchdown toss and the Broncos narrowly avoided a repeat of their playoff slip from last year, advancing to the AFC Championship with the win.

The Broncos (14-3) controlled the game for 3¹/₂ quarters before Rivers capitalized on an injury to cornerback Chris Harris Jr. to almost stage a comeback that would have been reminiscent of Baltimore’s shocking win at Denver exactly a year earlier.

AFC Championship, at Denver: Broncos 26, Patriots 16

Manning and the Broncos advanced to the Super Bowl after a victory over Brady and the Patriots.

Manning threw for 400 yards and two touchdowns to lead Denver to its first trip to the NFL title game in 15 years.

With AP