Broncos' Osweiler will start vs. Patriots

Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler will start Sunday against the New England Patriots, head coach Gary Kubiak confirmed Monday.

Osweiler performed admirably in Peyton Manning's absence Sunday, going 20-of-27 for 250 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in a 17-15 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Manning's been sidelined with a foot injury and struggled immensely throughout the year, with nine touchdowns against a league-high 17 interceptions.

"He can do everything," Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said of Osweiler on Sunday, according to the Broncos' official website. "He's a very composed young man and the more he plays, I think, the better he's going to get."

With Osweiler taking the reins, it's possible that we've seen the last of the canonical rivalry between Manning and Patriots superstar Tom Brady.

Sunday's highly anticipated matchup pits the Broncos' top-ranked scoring defense against the Patriots' first-ranked scoring offense, and Osweiler will be counted upon to lead a dormant Broncos offense back to respectability.