DENVER (AP) — Peyton Manning hedged on returning next year to play for the Denver Broncos.

Following a 24-13 loss to Indianapolis in the AFC divisional playoffs on Sunday, the 38-year-old, five-time MVP was asked if he planned to return for the 2015 season.

“I guess I just can’t give that simple answer, I’m processing it,” Manning said. “So, I can’t say that.”

As recently as Christmas Eve, Manning said he planned on being back next season if the Broncos wanted him.

Manning went 26 for 46 for 211 yards and a touchdown against the Colts. He struggled to find his rhythm, as has been the case since mid-November, when the Broncos started running the ball more.

He said he’s been dealing with a thigh bruise since the Dec. 14 game against the Chargers, but said it felt good enough to play with coming into the playoffs.

DENVER (AP) — When Colts owner Jim Irsay scans the field Sunday, he’ll see in the Denver Broncos the kind of team he admittedly couldn’t surround Peyton Manning with nearly enough during their 14 years together in Indianapolis.

Equilibrium on offense, dominance on defense — a team that doesn’t necessarily have to ride Superman’s cape in its Super Bowl quest.

Remember Irsay’s comments preceding Manning’s emotional homecoming in 2013 about giving up the old Indy offense’s “Star Wars” numbers in a quest for more Super Bowl rings? It raised a lot of eyebrows, but his point was this: he thinks the formula for winning more championships is better balance.

John Elway thinks so, too, and that’s precisely what the Broncos (12-4) have as they host the Colts (12-5), who again have a star QB covering up deficiencies elsewhere.

After the record-shattering Broncos were demolished in the Super Bowl, Elway bolstered his defense by signing Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and T.J. Ward to a guaranteed $60 million. He also replaced Eric Decker with Emmanuel Sanders and drafted Bradley Roby.

Following the inexplicable loss at St. Louis at midseason, the Broncos pumped the brakes on their Lamborghini offense and watched fourth-string running back C.J. Anderson blossom behind a restructured line.

Although that downshifting spawned the “What’s wrong with Peyton?” buzz, consider this: the Broncos were 3-4 when Manning threw for more than 300 yards this season, 9-0 when he didn’t.

“It takes a team,” is the new mantra in the locker room.

Almost all Manning’s key numbers are down from 2013, but these less-flashy Broncos may have a better chance of winning it all — providing they can keep Luck from winning his first road playoff game.

Interestingly, the Colts are relying more on Luck than they ever did on Manning.

In his time in Indy from 1998-2011, Manning was responsible for 73.3 percent of the Colts’ total net yards. During his three seasons there, Luck has accounted for 78 percent, according to STATS.

Granted, some of that is due to Luck’s mobility — his 905 yards rushing in his three-year career are already more than Manning accumulated in Indianapolis (722).

“Even when they’re one-dimensional, they’re not one-dimensional because he’ll take off and run it,” Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said.

And throw it: Luck led the league with 40 TD throws.

That was one more than Manning, who threw just three TD passes in December to go along with six interceptions.

His coach scoffed at the notion anything’s wrong with Manning.

“I think a year ago, he broke probably every single-season record known to man. It was the style we played and what was best for our team at that point,” John Fox said. “This year I think we’re a little bit different team. We’re built different. He was a 12-4 quarterback during the regular season, which is I think tied for the best record in football this year.”

The winner advances to the AFC championship. Among other subplots:

—60 MINUTES: The Colts overcame a 28-point deficit to beat the Chiefs in the playoffs last year and nearly erased a 24-0 halftime hole in Denver in the 2014 opener.

“You can’t relax,” Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said. “It’s going to take 60 minutes of football to win in the playoffs and we know that. So that’s what we’re going to have in our minds going into the game and 59 1/2 is not going to be enough.”

RAHIM’S REDEMPTION: Speaking of letting up late, Broncos safety Rahim Moore is playing in his first postseason game since his gaffe against Baltimore two years ago when he allowed Jacoby Jones to haul in a 70-yard TD catch with 31 seconds left in regulation.

“Don’t dwell on the past,” Moore said. “You’ve got to be futuristic.”

COLTS’ TIGHT ENDS: Upsetting Denver would likely require big performances from tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, both of whom scored eight TDs this season. The Broncos surrendered nine TDs to tight ends as teams shied away from Pro Bowl cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Talib.

MARSHALL PLAN: Denver led the league with nine Pro Bowlers, but linebacker Brandon Marshall wasn’t among them, and he was their top tackler despite missing the last two games with a sprained right foot. His return provides a big boost in facing Luck’s intermediate game.

RED ZONE INEFFICIENCY: Thomas has 12 TDs but none since spraining his left ankle Nov. 16. Before his injury, the Broncos scored 24 TDs in 31 trips inside the opponents’ 20. They’ve reached the end zone just 15 times in 31 trips since.

If he’s healthy Sunday, watch out. Thomas had three TDs against Indy in the opener, in single coverage against two linebackers and a safety.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning said his plan was to spend the Broncos’ bye week getting healthy and he’s doing just that.

The quarterback skipped practice Wednesday for the second consecutive day, something he hadn’t done since coming to Denver in 2012.

Manning said after the Broncos’ 47-14 rout of the Raiders on Sunday that earning the AFC’s No. 2 seed and a first-round bye was imperative because of the team’s long list of banged up players.

He counted himself in that group although he didn’t go into specifics. Two weeks ago, he strained his right thigh in a victory at San Diego when he was dehydrated from the flu.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning says he plans to return to the Denver Broncos in 2015 for his 18th NFL season.

Manning was asked during his weekly news conference Wednesday if there was a set of circumstances that would lead him to retire.

He replied: “I have not thought about those circumstances at all. So, I certainly plan on being back, if the Broncos will have me. But at this point, I’m kind of thinking about Oakland.”

Manning, 38, said he knows talk turns to the coaching carousel this time of year and “I get to fall into that category because maybe I’m closer to the same age as some of the coaches. But yeah, I have no plans along those lines. I’m enjoying playing.”

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning is over his illness but not his injury.

Denver’s quarterback was limited Thursday when the Broncos reconvened for their first practice since their 22-10 win at San Diego on Sunday. Manning fought through the flu in that game and strained his right thigh in the first half, which he blamed on dehydration.

Manning participated in the walkthrough but retreated to the Broncos’ facility after the team stretch.

Manning didn’t appear in any discomfort afterward. He had his coloring back in his face and even jokingly referenced Bill Belichick three times when he answered reporters’ questions with a “We’re onto Cincinnati” mantra.

That’s something the Patriots coach did five times a day after their 41-14 drubbing at Kansas City on Sept. 29.

DENVER (AP) — Leave it to Peyton Manning to plan his own prank.

After breaking Brett Favre’s NFL record with his 509th touchdown toss, Manning’s teammates played keep-away with his milestone memento, and Manning played right along.

Manning went into the Sunday night showdown two TDs shy of Favre’s record of 508 and finished with four touchdown passes on 22-of-26 passing for 318 yards in just three quarters of work.

He surpassed Favre with an 8-yard strike to Demaryius Thomas just before halftime in Denver’s emphatic 42-17 thrashing of the San Francisco 49ers.

As he went to retrieve the ball, his teammates had some fun.

Thomas tossed the ball over Manning to Emmanuel Sanders, who lobbed it to Wes Welker. From there, Welker dished it back to Sanders, who flipped it to Julius Thomas — all of Manning’s favorite targets getting into the act as Manning ran around like a kid trying to get his lunch sack back.

“Those guys are all great athletes, and my vertical leap isn’t what it used to be. I haven’t played keep-away since I was 8 years old,” Manning said. “That is something I will always remember.”

The Broncos (5-1) had actually talked about doing something like that but Manning said he was surprised his teammates went through with it.

He shouldn’t have been, Demaryius Thomas said, revealing that Manning actually had them practice it Friday.

“It’s easy. You did that when you were kids,” Thomas said. “It’s like keep the ball away from the guy in the middle.”

Come to think of it, Manning said he deserved to get picked on “based on my non-graceful play when I tripped on the play before.”

Manning finally got the ball along with congratulations from his teammates and coaches. The souvenir won’t end up on Manning’s mantle, however — the Pro Football Hall of Fame has a nice spot all ready for it.

Manning had a hand in most of the game’s biggest moments, from Emmanuel Sanders’ first TD catch as a Bronco to Wes Welker’s record-tying 39-yard catch and run against the exasperated 49ers (4-3).

“I’m not sure what their coaches do,” 49ers safety Eric Reid said. “They probably don’t have to do much. When he’s out there on the field, he recognizes the defense and makes audibles, he does it all. You’re playing against a coordinator when he’s out there. He’s definitely one of the best, if not the best ever.”

Here were some other highlights on this historic night:

DOMINANT DEMARYIUS: The Broncos’ big receiver didn’t stop at the record-breaking TD. He added a 40-yard touchdown grab in the second half and set up another score with a 49-yard catch.

After getting off to a slow start this season, Thomas has come on strong. He caught eight passes for 171 yards, giving him an eye-popping 27 catches for 521 yards receiving and five TDs over the last three games.

That’s the best three-game stretch by a receiver in Broncos history.

“He’s one of the first guys that I really spent a lot of time throwing with when I first got here,” Manning said. “It looks like the hard work paid off for both of us and for our team. I have a great appreciation for how hard he works and the way he plays the game. It’s been a lot of fun to be his teammate.”

The feeling is mutual.

“He’s the best that ever played the game,” Thomas said.

GROUND GAME: The Broncos have finally found some footing in their ground game even without Montee Ball, who is out with a groin injury.

Ronnie Hillman, coming off his first career 100-yard game, gained 74 yards on 14 carries (5.3-yard average) to go with four receptions for 29 yards. He scored on a career-long, 37-yard run and plowed over rookie linebacker Chris Borland, subbing for Patrick Willis (toe), for a 1-yard score.

“Once you start getting in there and you start getting a role and getting comfortable with everything, you kind of get in a rhythm,” Hillman said. “Every running back needs rhythm. I don’t care what anybody says. I’m starting to get a rhythm, and it’s starting to pay off a little bit.”

WARE & MILLER: Broncos pass-rushers DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller are in a sacks race, and together they posted five of the six sacks of San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick.

Ware had three, giving him seven for the season, and Miller had a trio, giving him nine, so far.

“We talked about don’t rush timid this week,” Ware said. “We have to get pressure on the quarterback, and the offense was able to really get points on the board and make them one-dimensional where they would have to pass the ball. That’s when me and Von and the others really open up and rush the passer.”

LINE DANCE: Kaepernick had no time to operate behind a patchwork offensive line, spending most of his night on the run or on his back.

The 49ers were already missing left guard Mike Iupati (concussion). In the third quarter, center Daniel Kilgore was carted off the field with what might be a broken left ankle.

“The Broncos played a great game. They were good and better in every phase,” coach Jim Harbaugh lamented.

Linebacker Patrick Willis was among several nicked-up Niners who sat this one out.

“I’m not going to say the score would have been any different or that I would have stopped that offense by any means,” Willis said. “It hurt because I want to be out there with my guys fighting and going through that tough time with them.”

NOTES: Manning reached the career TD milestone in his 246th regular-season game. Favre needed 302. … The Broncos lost LB Steven Johnson (ankle) and CB Omar Bolden (possible concussion).

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Brett Favre says he couldn’t be happier to see Peyton Manning on the brink of breaking his NFL record of 508 touchdown throws.

Manning has 503 heading into Denver’s road game Sunday against the New York Jets.

Favre told The Associated Press he’s thrilled for Manning, who’s coming off a career-best 479-yard passing performance against Arizona that included four TDs.

That made Manning the second QB to reach 500 and moved him within striking distance of Favre’s record.

In a phone interview from his home in Kiln, Miss,. Favre told the AP, “I’m glad it’s Peyton that’s doing it. I think a lot of Peyton. I know him well. I know his family well. His dad was one of my idols.”

DENVER (AP) — Peyton Manning has thrown his 500th career touchdown pass, joining Brett Favre as the only members of the exclusive club.

Manning threw a 7-yard dart to tight end Julius Thomas to give Denver a 7-3 lead over Arizona in the first quarter Sunday. Thomas has caught six of Manning’s nine TD throws this season.

Manning reached the mark in his 244th career regular season game, 49 fewer games than it took Favre.

It was Manning’s 101st TD pass since coming to Denver in 2012 following his tearful goodbye in Indianapolis, where he played his first 13 NFL seasons before sitting out all of 2011 following neck fusion surgery.

Manning figures to surpass Favre’s record of 508 TD throws later this month.