2012 was a spectacular season for Denver.
The Broncos landed the greatest free agent in the history of the NFL in Peyton Manning, while John Elway and Co. built around him with many more signings and draft picks.
Denver may have started the season sluggishly, at 2-3, but they came together and strung together 11 straight wins to finish the year as the AFC's top seed.
No one person can be credited with all the success; indeed, many men contributed with profound play all year long. Now the Broncos are 13-3, the No. 1 seed and waiting to learn who their next opponent will be on the road to the Super Bowl.
Let's take a look at the top 12 plays of 2012 for the Broncos:
12. Wesley Woodyard INT – Woodyard was the most versatile defender in Denver all year long. But perhaps he didn't have a more important play than when he picked off Drew Brees, ending the Saints' comeback hopes in Week Eight.
11. Manning shows off movement – Early in the season, it was uncertain how much football Manning had left in him. When he sidestepped over two Chargers defenders to complete a third down conversion to Jacob Tamme, the 36-year old showed off his fleet feet.
10. Tracy Porter pick-six – Porter's been a disappointment this season, with all his injury troubles, but the season did start swimmingly. Porter picked off Ben Roethlisberger to complete the comeback in Week One, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
9. Von Miller sack of Rivers – In Denver's Week 11 win over San Diego, Miller made the Chargers' right tackle look lost, juking the guy out of his shoes and blowing past him for a sack and forced fumble of Philip Rivers.
8. Chris Harris pick-six part two – Harris has made multiple big plays for the Broncos, one of his most important and exciting was an interception of Joe Flacco in Week 15. With Denver up 10-0 and the Ravens driving, Harris jumped in front of Flacco's out route pass and picked it off, taking it 98 yards to the house for the 17-0 lead instead of a possible 10-7 lead going into halftime.
7. Trindon Holliday to the house – With Denver leading 10-3 against Cincinnati, return specialist Holliday came to life. He took the opening kickoff of the second half to the end zone, 105 total yards, to push that lead to 17-3. It turned out to be a key scoring play, as the Broncos only won by eight.
6. Eric Decker in the corner – Decker set a new franchise record with 21 touchdown receptions this season, but none of his was prettier than the one he reeled in against the Chiefs last week. Manning threw the ball to the back corner of the end zone and Decker brought it in, extending his arms fully before securing the catch for the first score of the game.
5. Holliday to the house, again – For the second time in as many weeks, Holliday scored a touchdown on a return. This time, it was a 76-yard punt return against the Panthers which put on display his stunning speed.
4. Harris pick-six – Chris Harris first pick-six of the season came in that amazing comeback win against the Chargers. It was the game's final score, the sealing touchdown, a 46-yarder that broke the will of San Diego and basically ended their playoff hopes.
3. Knowshon hurdles Reed – Knowshon Moreno has been great for Denver in relief of injured Willis McGahee, but his most spectacular play came against the Ravens. Moreno took the ball and went through the line at full speed before leaping and hurdling one of the hardest hitting safeties in future Hall of Famer Ed Reed. Spectacular doesn't begin to describe the play.
2. DT TD – Demaryius Thomas had 10 total touchdown catches this season, but none as sensational as his final one. With the Broncos already winning 21-3, Manning threw a ball that looked to be too high, but Thomas leapt amazingly into the air to snag the pigskin from the sky. He grabbed it with one hand, reeled the ball in and made sure to get two feet down in the back of the end zone. Jaw-droppingly good.
1. Elvis Dumervil and Carter cripple Chargers – With the Broncos down 24-7 against San Diego, Elvis Dumervil and Tony Carter combined for the best play of the year. Dumervil got around the edge and crushed Philip Rivers, forcing a fumble, which was picked up and returned by Tony Carter, 65 yards for a touchdown. It was a huge play during the team's 35 straight points to win the game that jump-started Denver's 11-game winning streak.
What do you think fans? Was there a play(s) that was your favorite and it was left off the list? Should the list be reordered? Let's hear your ideas in the comments section.
More Denver Broncos:
Peyton Manning wins AFC Offensive Player of the Week
John Fox wins his 100th game as head coach of Broncos
Road to the Super Bowl goes through Denver
Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist. You can follow Rich on twitter or facebook for all your Denver Broncos news and opinion.
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