Peyton Manning moves one step closer to storybook finish

DENVER — Even when his foot wouldn't let him play or his arm strength was a matter of weekly conversation, everyone knew that Peyton Manning understands better than anyone how to beat a defense.

The Broncos knew during Sunday's game they'd have an opening against the Pittsburgh Steelers' zone, to get the slot receiver free in the middle when the corner covering him widened out. So when the Broncos needed a big play trailing 13-12 in the fourth quarter, they dialed up that play figuring they could anticipate the coverage.

"We had talked about that on the sideline," said Bennie Fowler, the intended target against the defense Denver would see. "Peyton made a great read. He's the best and he's been doing this a long time."

Manning knew the correct play and the right read against the coverage (he said any of the four receivers were options, based on what the Steelers did), and he knew he'd have a window to get Fowler the ball. He has faced every defense and knows what can beat it.

But could he make the throw?

The mental side of the game won't be a problem for Manning, even long after he retires. He has an uncanny feel for the game. But physically it has been a struggle this season. Injuries and age have sapped a lot of his remaining arm strength. That's a big reason he had 17 interceptions.

But with the Broncos in desperate need of a big play on offense, Manning reached back and threw a fastball inches beyond the reach of diving cornerback Brandon Boykin. Fowler had 31 yards, a first down, and the Broncos were off on a game-winning drive. Manning might not have too many throws like that left in his arm, but he delivered a perfect strike to Fowler. For a quarterback who has been derided for not having enough playoff success, that throw was as clutch as it gets.

"Peyton made a great throw," Fowler said. "He put that right on the money."

"I thought he played amazing," running back C.J. Anderson said. "The ball he threw to Bennie had some rope on it."

For all the twists and turns Manning's age-39 season has taken, here he is, a game away from going to his fourth Super Bowl after a 23-16 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is a new role for him, no longer an MVP candidate but more a game manager who the Broncos hope can make a play here or there, like he did to Fowler over the middle. And he understands that.

"Our defense has been outstanding all season," Manning said. "They have led us to this point. Let's make that clear."

And that's OK.

Nobody attaches notes to quarterbacks' Super Bowl victories, that John Elway had 123 yards in his first Super Bowl win or that Ben Roethlisberger completed nine passes and had two interceptions the first time he won it all. If the Broncos can string together two more wins — and make no mistake, they'll need to play a lot better next week to beat the New England Patriots — Manning's legacy will take a huge leap forward. After the season he has had, if Manning wins a Super Bowl and walks away on that note, it would be a story unlike any other we've seen in professional sports.

But there's still a long way to go before that point, and Manning wasn't in a mood for reminiscing after Sunday's game. He channeled his inner Bill Belichick and didn't expand much about any feelings he might have had. When asked if it was satisfying to make an AFC championship after missing seven starts because of a foot injury, he just talked about how satisfying it was to beat a tough Steelers team. When asked about the 17th (and final ... right?) meeting between him and Tom Brady next week, Manning said he didn't want to talk about it until Wednesday.

Manning can be engaging, thoughtful and funny in interviews, and while he was polite and had a couple one-liners on Sunday night, it wasn't time for celebration or putting any of this in perspective.

"Certainly I have tried to stay kind of in the moment, tried to stay one week at a time, tried to be patient and not look too far ahead," Manning said.

Manning has talked about what an unusual season this has been for him. There was a run of terrible play that Manning has never experienced before, the first benching of his career and a bad foot injury. Brock Osweiler looking like Manning's permanent replacement pretty late this season, until Broncos coach Gary Kubiak decided he wasn't. Then there was the HGH report and innuendo that got Manning so upset, the questions if he'd ever play again because of Osweiler, and then the triumphant Week 17 return off the bench to help Denver clinch the AFC West and the No. 1 seed. Even on Sunday, the Broncos didn't score a touchdown for the first 57 minutes of the game, and the longest pass play of the game came when Manning seemed to give himself up and went to the ground before he got sacked, only to get up because he wasn't touched and hit Emmanuel Sanders for 34 yards.

And after everything that has happened, from the pay cut of the offseason and playing under a new coach to the game-winning drive Sunday that was highlighted by his great pass to Fowler, Manning is one win from a Super Bowl.

"I think everybody understands when you're in the fourth quarter that there's a sense of urgency, especially when you're behind, you're losing the game and you realize your opportunities are getting fewer and fewer," Manning said.

He was talking about Sunday's comeback win, but he might as well have been talking about the opportunity he has to write the greatest storybook ending the NFL has seen.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab