If the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens Week 1 meeting this Thursday drudges up painful memories for Peyton Manning after last year's playoff loss, he's not willing to talk about it.
Manning insisted Sunday that he's not going to discuss Denver's loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens by a 38-35 double-overtime margin at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver last year.
"This is a new season for us," Manning said per USA Today Sports. "We're playing a new team."
Manning told Baltimore beat writers, who tried to pry out his feelings on last year's playoffs, Sunday that he wouldn't be discussing last year's playoffs and is heading into 2013 with a clear head.
"I covered that just about all offseason," Manning said of the playoff loss, according to USA Today Sports. "I know I'm talking to you guys for the first time, but I guess you just have to probably check some old clips for quotes.''
Manning had a successful first season in Denver last year after spending his entire 14-year NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts. Manning went 400-for-583 in 2012 for 4,659 yards with 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, leading the Broncos to a first-place finish in the AFC West and an impressive 13-3 record before the team had its spirits crushed in the divisional round of the playoffs in a classic double-overtime game against the Ravens.
Highlights of the playoff game between the Ravens and Broncos last year can be seen below:
Manning knows Baltimore has changed and may even be better than a year ago, and he's prepared to face the revamped team.
"They've replaced some really good players with another round of good players, brought in some experience, some athleticism. Until you've played them, you probably don't know them as well," Manning told USA Today Sports.
The Ravens were 10-6 last season and defeated Manning's former team the Colts in the wildcard round before deflating Manning and the Broncos in the divisional round en route to knocking off the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game and the San Francisco Giants in the Super Bowl.
Manning is putting all of that history behind him and doesn't plan on being haunted by 2012, as he'd rather focus on 2013.
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