Peyton Manning wins in return over Pittsburgh

DENVER -- You watched Peyton Manning and in some ways couldn't believe what you were seeing. He just didn't look like a man who hadn't played a meaningful football game in almost two years. He looked...normal.

Normal, as in great. The accuracy was still there. The arm strength seemed normal. The confidence was still extreme. Nothing was different. What year is this again? Are we sure Manning was away from football for so long?

Broncos 31 Steelers 19...Manning's surgically repaired neck: the biggest winner of all.

If there is any kind of problem with Manning's neck, it doesn't show. If there is a throw he can't make, we didn't see it.

This was vintage Manning. Sure, he had plenty of help. Denver's defense was brilliant adding it's own score as Ben Roethlisberger looked like the rusty quarterback, throwing a pick-six, not Manning.

No, this has to scare the rest of the division. A division that is ripe for the taking.

Actually, this was a statement to the rest of football: Manning is back.