Peyton Manning: Veteran QB's Efficiency Will Be Biggest Key to Broncos' Success

Despite sitting out an entire NFL season in 2011, Peyton Manning didn't skip a beat in his first game back this past weekend in Denver. 

The veteran passer was remarkably efficient under center and had successfully erased all of Bronco Nation's memories of Tim Tebow by the time the final whistle blew. 

That efficiency will be the most crucial key to Denver's success this season.

Manning completed 19-of-26 passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. Two of his completions went for touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with under 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

Keep in mind that Manning's impressive Week 1 numbers came against the NFL's No. 1-ranked pass defense from a season ago. 

Another underrated statistic from Week 1's marquee matchup is sacks. Manning took two of them on Sunday night. Although at first glance it doesn't look important, Manning's decision-making was flawless in that regard.

He opted to take the loss and move on to the next play rather than fumbling or forcing his first pick of the season.

Avoiding disastrous plays is just as vital as making big plays in the NFL if you want to have success. Manning did both on Sunday night. 

The future Hall of Fame signal-caller led three 80-yard touchdown drives in Week 1, and the Broncos never punted or turned the ball over after the first quarter.

We might as well make No. 18 the poster child of efficiency at this point. 

Manning was scary efficient on Sunday night, and looked in complete control of the Broncos' offense. That's why his play as the quarterback and leader of the offense will be Denver's biggest key to success in 2012. 

Without the presence of a running threat at quarterback this fall, the Broncos' ground game is much less of a weapon than it was in 2011. Sure, the trio of Willis McGahee, Lance Ball and Knowshon Moreno will provide Denver with a reliable rushing attack, but it won't be the offense's identity under Manning.

In the end, the Broncos will only go as far as Peyton Manning takes them in the passing game.

The good news for Broncos fans: If he can maintain the unbelievable level of efficiency he displayed in Week 1, then all of those Denver Broncos Super Bowl projections won't seem so far-fetched. 

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