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DENVER (CBS4) – Denver’s mayor is getting behind his team. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has proclaimed this Friday as “United in Orange Friday” to support the Denver Broncos in this weekend’s playoff game. Broncos fans are encouraged to wear orange on Friday in advance of the Broncos’ Saturday afternoon game against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. “From training camp all the way through, this has been an inspiring season, and we couldn’t be more excited to see the Broncos positioned as the team to beat in the AFC,” Hancock said. “The road to the Super Bowl runs through Denver. Let’s go deep to show the support our team has earned. It’s time for Broncos fans to step up as the 12th man!” The Denver Broncos will host a “United in Orange” Pep Rally for the AFC Divisional home game on Friday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High from 5 until 8 p.m. The rally will be held on the Sports Legends Mall on the south side of the stadium and will be free and open to the public. Join CBS4 Saturday January 12 at 1230 p.m. for our CBS4 Sports PreGame Special. Next is The NFL Today from 130-230 p.m., then the Broncos host the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoff #1! We’ll follow the game with CBS4 News at 6! On Sunday January 13, CBS4 will have AFC Divisonal Playoff #2 featuring the Houston Texans at the New England Patriots. Join us for The NFL Today at 2 p.m. and the game at 230 p.m. CBS4 News at 6 will follow, which moves 60 Minutes to a special time this week only of 6-7 p.m. RELATED LINK: Broncos Fan Fever The City and County of Denver is showing its support for the Broncos by: • Placing a friendly mayor-to-mayor wager with Baltimore’s Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on Friday, Jan. 11; • Lighting the City and County Building with orange and blue lights beginning Friday; • Illuminating with orange and blue lights the DIA sign on Peña Boulevard and several large LED signs along 14th St. in orange and blue lights; • Displaying “United in Orange” on the Denver Convention Center billboard and on all Denver Smart (parking) Meters; • Greeting DIA passengers with a Broncos message from John Elway on the train, hanging banners and adorning DIA employees and ambassadors with “United in Orange” buttons; and • Encouraging downtown building owners and businesses throughout the city to display orange and blue lights and Broncos signs. Adding to that support, the Downtown Denver Partnership, VISIT DENVER and the Denver Art Museum are: • Lighting the D&F Tower in orange and blue lights; • Setting the Denver Art Museum’s titanium-covered Hamilton Building aglow in orange and blue lights; • Hanging Broncos banners along the 16th Street Mall and in Larimer Square; • Broadcasting 850KOA’s live game coverage over the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park sound system for ice skaters to enjoy; and • Offering free skating and skate rentals at Southwest Rink to skaters who wear orange or a Broncos gear! The rink opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Early risers can get free lessons and skate rentals from 8 to 10 a.m. United Airlines, the official and exclusive airline of the Denver Broncos that flies the team to away games all year long, also is: • Supporting “United in Orange Friday” and encouraging their employees to don their best Broncos garb; • Hosting Broncos mascot Miles at DIA on Friday to greet customers; and • Adding a spirited “Go Broncos” in their in-flight announcements.

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Denver Mayor Proclaims ‘United In Orange Friday’

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – Peyton Manning ‘s pocket of protection is about to get an upgrade. A finally healthy Chris Kuper is expected to return at right guard Saturday when the top-seeded Denver Broncos (13-3) host the Baltimore Ravens (11-6) in an AFC divisional playoff. “It would be great,” coach John Fox said after Tuesday’s practice, the exact four words Peyton Manning would use 10 minutes later. “He was voted on as a team captain by his teammates. He’s a guy who’s been in and out of the lineup all year. He’s worked very hard to get back. It was good to see him out there today, and he had a fine day.” Left tackle Ryan Clady also returned to practice, after missing all of last week’s workouts with an undisclosed injury. Although he’s dealt with a troublesome hamstring of late, Clady has never missed a game in his five-year NFL career. Kuper, on the other hand, spent more time on the sideline than on the football field this season, and his absence was sorely felt, particularly – and, quite literally – by Manning. Coming off four neck surgeries, Manning was sacked 21 times this season – but only twice with Kuper in the lineup. Although Manny Ramirez admirably filled in, the O-line wasn’t the same without Kuper. The anchor of Denver’s offensive line and a seventh-year pro out of North Dakota, Kuper made just five starts at right guard this season and played a half dozen snaps on special teams in two other games, including the season finale against Kansas City. He missed the first four games after breaking his left forearm in training camp Aug. 14 and he missed five other games with a sprained left ankle, the same one he dislocated and broke in a gruesome scene a year ago. For overcoming all these tribulations, his teammates Tuesday voted him their 2012 Ed Block Courage Award winner. “Obviously, you don’t want to be in that situation because that means you had to fight through some injuries or adversity, but to be recognized as a guy who will do that, I think that’s just part of being a professional,” Kuper said. Manning lauded Kuper for his perseverance. “What Kupe’s been through from an injury standpoint, certainly physically, it’s taken its toll,” Manning said. “That’s a real challenge mentally, and I can just tell you that from my experience last year. He’s had a positive attitude; he’s worked hard; he and I have spent a lot of time in the training room together, so to see him back out there … it’s kind of like seeing Willis: it’s a great lift to the team and it’d be great to have him in there on Saturday.” Running back Willis McGahee returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since tearing a ligament in his right knee in mid-November and missing the last six games of the regular season. He’s eligible to return to the active roster if the Broncos reach the AFC championship. Kuper is gearing up for his first playoff game. He missed the Broncos’ run last season after getting hurt in the season finale. “I remember watching that game on TV last year and what he’s done to come back from it is pretty spectacular,” wide receiver Brandon Stokley said. “So, it’s well-deserved.” And all the adversity this year, “he’s fought through it,” Stokley said. “He’s a team guy and he’s one of those guys that when he’s on the field everybody looks to and kind of rallies around.” Kuper was named a second alternate to the Pro Bowl after playing in just seven games this season, a measure of how much he’s respected across the league. “To get him back at a much-needed time is a blessing,” Broncos pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil said. “Glad he’s able to go out and showcase what he can do.” Kuper said the bye week did wonders for him, allowing him to knock off some rust. “It helped me tons,” he said. “It’s been a trying year for me, so getting that extra week to kind of work back into the offense, it helped me a lot. It felt good. I’m doing my best out there to get ready to go.” Now, he’s about to get his first taste of the playoffs. “This is what I’ve been playing for since I got here,” Kuper said. Notes : McGahee didn’t make himself available for comment Tuesday but RB Lance Ball said, “I don’t know when he’ll be back or if he’ll be back or not, but it was just good to go out there and see him out there practicing.” By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Pro Football Writer (© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Broncos G Kuper Ready For 1st Playoff Appearance

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – There’s a new “Gloved One” – in Denver, at least. Ripping a page from Michael Jackson’s playbook, Peyton Manning has practiced for and played in the last two games with a sticky-feeling, orange-and-grey glove on his throwing hand. Sure, Manning has earned his fair share of curious glances for donning cold-weather gear when the temperatures are in the 50s, as they were Tuesday at practice. But in getting ready for the playoff push, which could include two games in sometimes-snowy Denver, Manning is leaving no stone unturned. And, as if on cue, a strong arctic storm is expected to roll into Denver on Friday night, bringing snow and bitter cold. The high for Saturday’s playoff game against Baltimore is forecast to be 20 degrees. Manning, who won his only Super Bowl playing barehanded in a rainstorm in Miami in 2007, said he hasn’t given much thought to whether the glove would help him more in cold or wet conditions, each of which can make the ball harder, more slick and more difficult to grip. “I really have not thought about it that analytically, if that’s the word,” Manning said. “It’s a glove.” Of course, if Peyton Manning is wearing it, it’s more than a glove – it’s a topic of conversation. A creature of habit who hasn’t worn anything on his hands before this season, Manning conceded the glove is a concession to the altered feel of his grip, especially in cold weather, after the multiple neck surgeries he underwent during his season out of football. “I certainly don’t think I would have had to wear the glove had I not been injured last year,” he said. “It’s part of my injury, some things that I’ve had to adjust. I’m in a different body, some things are different for me, so that’s the reason for that as much as anything.” Manning could certainly use any edge he can get in cold weather. He is 0-3 in playoff games in which the temperature at kickoff is less than 40 degrees. His numbers in those games hardly resemble the norm for a four-time Most Valuable Player with more than 59,000 yards to his credit. In the losses – 41-0 at the Jets, and 24-14 and 20-3 at New England – Manning has gone a combined 64 for 120 for 612 yards with one touchdown and seven interceptions. In two of the losses, his passer rating matched the temperature – never climbing out of the 30s. To be fair, the last loss came a full eight seasons ago, in the divisional playoffs against the Patriots. Also, Manning has more than his share of cold-weather success in the regular season, going 7-5 with five 300-yard games. That includes Denver’s regular-season finale against Kansas City on Dec. 30, the second game in which he tested out the glove, and the first NFL home game he’s ever played with the temperature under 40. His former team, the Colts, played in a dome. “For wearing it for the first time in my entire football career, I guess you could say it’s been OK the past two weeks,” Manning said after that game. More than OK. Manning’s completion percentage was 5.8 points higher and his passer rating was 19.2 points better with the glove than without. (Small reminder: The opponents in those two games finished a combined 7-25.) Some observers, quick in the past to point out that Manning’s passes have often flown with a bit of a wobble, have noticed less of that since he donned the glove. “I love the glove, love the glove,” tight end Jacob Tamme said. “There’s no difference. Other than seeing it, I would never know that he’s got it on. So, whatever works.” Which is sort of coach John Fox’s attitude, as well. “I think a lot will be made of that,” Fox said. “I think a lot of people can relate to that. If it gets cold out, you wear gloves. I don’t think it’s a big factor. I think it’s a lot about nothing.” And though Manning has been preparing for cold weather for about a month now, he prefers not to talk about it much. “You’ve got to play, whatever it is, so that’s not something you think about,” he said. Notes : RB Willis McGahee returned to practice after spending seven weeks on recallable injured reserve with a torn ligament in his right knee. He would be eligible to return to the active roster if the Broncos make the AFC title game. … CB Tracy Porter missed practice. He suffered a concussion Dec. 23 against Cleveland. … PR Trindon Holliday is undefeated this year. He was cut by the Houston Texans when they were 5-0, then picked up by the Broncos a few days before they started their 11-game winning streak. By EDDIE PELLS, AP National Writer (© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Manning Goes With Glove As The Weather Gets Frightful

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis took exception to Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne calling his dance at the end of Sunday’s AFC wild-card game disrespectful.

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Ravens LB Lewis defends his dancing at Sunday’s game (The SportsXchange)

Many of Peyton Manning’s failed suitors are suffering, writes Adam Schefter.

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2012 NFL playoffs — Peyton Manning’s failed suitors suffer