Joe Flacco Pays Tribute to Peyton Manning Following Preseason Start at Mile High

During the offseason, the Denver Broncos made a trade with the Baltimore Ravens to bring in former Super Bowl XLVII MVP and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. And the Broncos' new starter made his debut in Mile High against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the preseason Monday night.

Following just this single start, Flacco has already complimented the home crowd by recognizing that the influence of Peyton Manning's presence could still be felt from the Denver fans.

Flacco on Broncos crowd: "It was really weird, you can tell Peyton played here because when the offense has the ball you can hear a pin drop. That was a little different. It's always quiet for the home team when they're on offense but that was a little extra." #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) August 20, 2019

The last time the current Broncos' regime brought in a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, it was Manning in 2012, who would help lead the organization back to the promised land. But since Manning's historic 2013 season, the quarterback play in Denver has been on a massive decline. The hope is that Flacco can re-energize his career in Denver as a strong performer until the reins are handed down to a younger talent, such as rookie Drew Lock.

Broncos QB Joe Flacco on @ESPNNFL MNF telecast: This stadium is unbelievable. I can’t wait to play in front of these fans in the regular season.”
— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) August 20, 2019

Energy within a player can often be influenced by the home crowd, which Flacco seemed impressed with in Denver following Monday night's game. The fans are still used to remaining silent on offensive possessions, which helped allow Manning to pick apart opposing defenses and shout his famous 'Omaha' call at the line. While Flacco's pre-snap tendencies have seemed less complicated than the future Hall of Famer's, this extra advantage could help lead Flacco to some success in a Broncos' uniform.

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