The Atlanta Falcons dared Peyton Manning to beat them, challenged him to be the Peyton of old, all but begged him to throw deep.

The result? Atlanta intercepted Manning on the Denver Broncos first three drives and rolled out to a 20-0 lead and a showcase Monday Night Football win. It was there for all of football-loving America to see. ESPN's postgame commentators — who often seem to have a can't-criticize No. 18 clause in their contracts — even noted how the Falcons fixated on a 20-yard radius with Peyton, apparently doubting how effectively a fused-back-together 36-year-old can throw the long ball.

But Denver Broncos coach John Fox refuses to see any such evil — and in Denver, which jettisoned the magic of Tim Tebow to completely embrace Peyton, such thoughts are practically sacrilegious. Particularly with the Houston Texans' now No. 1-rated defense coming into town for one of the early showcase games of the season.

"I think his arm looked way better in the second half than it did in the first half, if that’s what’s being questioned," Fox said curtly, responding to a CultureMap question on a conference call. "I don’t think there is any question about that."

This is the company line that the Broncos want everyone to dutifully follow. Hey, look how Peyton Manning played in the second half. We almost won.

Falcons running back Michael Turner has offered less excuses than these Broncos — and Turner was busted for a DUI after leaving the notorious Magic City strip club.

There are real-world serious issues and there are on-the-field quarterback issues. Which do you think get more attention in this football-crazed land?

Denver's story is not the worst of spin jobs, but it does require you to forget how the Falcons shifted their defense after building up that giant cushion and gave up much more underneath as they basically tried to bleed out the game clock. Which, they eventually did.

But the biggest obstacles to the Broncos' theory are coming out of Fox's own locker room. For there is rookie backup quarterback Brock Osweiler telling the world that he is the Broncos' designated Hail Mary passer. Yes, if Denver needs a deep ball to try and steal a game, the legendary Peyton Manning will not be the one throwing it.

And you thought the New York Jets quarterback rotation of Mark Sanchez and Tebow was confusing?

"Had we had to throw a 60-yard Hail Mary, might we go with a 20-year old arm versus a 36-year old arm?" Fox said. "Yes."

Osweiler is actually 21 to be needlessly exact, but he's also a 6-foot-7, 242-pound beast. Having him heave when it's necessary seems to make sense. But it also brings back up those questions of Manning's arm strength.

Just how far can Peyton heave one now?

His longest completion on Monday Night went for 18 yards and the 17-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas at the end of the first half had plenty of wobble on it.

The Texans — who have seen Manning at his best as much as any team (he went 16-2 against them before missing the entire 2011 season with those neck issues) — are hesitant to see Manning's Monday Night as anything but one off game.

"(The Falcons) were flying around the field and making plays," defensive end Antonio Smith said. "They were pumped up and people were making plays, getting in positions they shouldn’t be in. You had safeties coming from across the field to catch interceptions.

"When that’s going on, you know somebody’s amped up for that Monday night game.”

Everyone will be amped up for this Sunday afternoon game in Denver.

Second-year Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is talking about wanting to add No. 18 to his "sack list." Manning is suddenly just trying to get to Sunday as the questions mount.

"I think he’s hacked off all the time," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said when asked if he expects an extra motivated legend. "That's how he always is when I watch him play. Nobody plays the game harder or prepares harder than him.

"We know we’re going to get their best shot as a team. You’re always going to get his best shot."