The Denver Broncos have been one of the best NFL teams since Peyton Manning arrived.

The Broncos have yet to lose more than three games in a season with Manning, and they are the defending AFC champions.

With Knowshon Moreno now with the Miami Dolphins, Montee Ball out for the season and Ronnie Hillman inactive because of an ankle injury, running back C.J. Anderson has provided the spark that the Broncos need on the ground.

The 23-year-old back out of California didn't start a single game last season, but his punishing style of play has been outstanding this year. Anderson has 679 rushing yards in 12 games with four touchdowns this season. His 4.6 yard per carry average has given the Broncos a lot to look forward to on second downs.

Once upon a time, John Elway was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. Although a Hall of Fame quarterback, Elway was unable to win the big game for a long time. In the 1980s, Elway and the Broncos lost three Super Bowls in a four-year span, all in blowout fashion to the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants and Washington Redskins. It wasn't until running back Terrell Davis came around and provided a balanced attack that the Broncos and Elway won two consecutive Super Bowls.

Elway is the current general manager of the Broncos, and he knows Manning can't do it all by himself.

Even as elite as Manning is, he needs a stable running game. Having Manning throw the ball 50 times a game won't win three playoff games and a Super Bowl against the best defenses in the league. Even though Manning has thrown just three touchdowns and two interceptions in his last three games, all of those games have resulted in wins. Manning is 38 years old, and saving his arm for the playoffs is the best thing that could happen.

In Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins, Anderson ran for 167 yards in a 39-36 win. The very next week Anderson ran for a career-high 168 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 29-16 win over their division rivals. Anderson's performance against the Buffalo Bills in Week 14 was just as impressive, as he scored three rushing touchdowns.

It's extremely unlikely that Anderson is the next Davis, but he can still play that same pivotal role as Davis did.

Not only does Anderson bruise defenses with his running style and provide stability on offense, but his rushing ability helps the Broncos defense a lot. Instead of getting quick scores and leaving the field in a hurry, the Broncos have showed with Anderson the ability to sustain long drives. With these long drives, the Broncos can dominate the time of possession and keep opposing offenses off the field.

It's pretty hard to beat a Manning-led team when your offense is only on the field for 20 minutes.

The loss to the St. Louis Rams in Week 11 may have been a blessing in disguise for the Broncos. The Broncos lost that game on the road 22-7, with Manning throwing the ball 54 times. Anderson only got nine carries, and the Broncos knew they needed a more balanced attack going forward if they want hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Since their loss to the Rams, the Broncos have rushed for 201, 214, 133 and 111 yards in their four-game winning streak.

The Broncos will face the Cincinnati Bengals in their next game on Monday Night Football at 8:30 p.m. EST.

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