Peyton Manning and Broncos slump at wrong time

The past few games have not been pleasant for the Denver Broncos or quarterback Peyton Manning. Larry W Smith / EPA

The Denver Broncos suddenly are looking fragile.

They need to end their November swoon quickly or face the possibility of not playing in January.

Peyton Manning and the defending AFC champions played their two worst games in the past three weeks, falling at New England and St Louis.

On Sunday they take on a Miami team that are 6-4, winning four of their past five, with the loss coming at Detroit in the final seconds.

Of late, the Dolphins have a more impressive CV than do last season’s American Conference champions.

“I think there definitely is a sense of urgency,” Manning said.

The Broncos (7-3) were held to seven points by the Rams. Manning usually can produce one touchdown in his sleep. “We’re not happy about last week’s game by any means, with the way we played offensively, and we certainly want to play better,” he said. “Like I said, you can want a lot of things. You have to go and do it.”

And they must do it against a well-rested Dolphins team oozing with conviction that it can make a run to the play-offs. “I feel confident in this team. I feel like we are a good team. I feel like we have all the pieces,” quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. “The defence is playing really well right now, offence is continuing to get better week in and week out.

“Obviously, we’re not perfect … but I feel like we are headed in the right direction coming up in the last six games of the year, the most critical part of the season.”

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