It’s a bizarre statistical anomaly.

It’s not the fact that Peyton Manning has more than twice as many passing yards in the playoffs as Tim Tebow had in his entire NFL career. That kind of thing happens when you start two dozen (and counting) games during the “second season.”

The amazing statistic isn’t that Manning has thrown 24 interceptions in those 24 playoff games. Fran Tarkenton had 17 in 11.

It’s not even the fact that nine of Manning’s 14 previous trips to the playoffs have resulted in a “one and done.” While mostly disappointing for both Broncos and Colts fans alike, that statistic is wholly believable given that the postseason pits two good teams against each other.

No, the most mind-boggling number in Manning’s playoff career so far is that loneliest of numbers: One. That’s how many of Manning’s NFL-best 57 fourth-quarter comebacks or game-winning drives have come in the playoffs.

Uno. Ein. Un. Um. The ol’ “solo” mio.

In 186 regular season victories between Indianapolis and Denver, the all-time winningest quarterback has had to lead his team on a come-from-behind or game-winning drive 30 percent of the time; he’s summoned that heroic manner and led a final charge to seal the outcome in his favor.

In the playoffs, the story has been different. Only once in 11 wins and 13 losses has Manning led his team to victory in the fourth quarter. Based on his regular season numbers, at least three of those 11 wins should have been of the late-game variety. And that’s the problem with statistics; they don’t always play out like they’re supposed to.

If the postseason were like the regular season, Manning’s .702 winning percentage would translate to a 17-7 record in 24 playoff games. If the postseason were like the regular season, we’d be talking about Manning as the greatest quarterback of all time, without question. We wouldn’t have to qualify the “greatest quarterback” statement with phrases like “one of” and “regular season.”

And while it may be too late for Manning to join the ranks of Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Tom Brady in the four-time Super Bowl winners’ club, he’s still got a chance to join the likes of John Elway and Roger Staubach (maybe even Troy Aikman, if things really break his way) as a multiple-time champion.

In order for that to happen, though, Manning can’t worry himself with numbers and statistics.

He can’t be concerned with his career .458 playoff winning percentage. He shouldn’t worry about the 1:1 ratio of interceptions-to-games-played that he’s posted through 14 years in the postseason. He must ignore the 598 completions and 6,800 postseason passing yards he brings with him to this year’s playoffs. Even that one measly fourth quarter game-winning drive is meaningless.

The gaudy stats he’s racked up throughout the rest of his career are equally useless this time around, as well.

Kansas City didn’t care that he was going to break the all-time passing record; they went ahead and picked him off four times back on Nov. 15. The Colts didn’t give a rip about Manning potentially breaking Brett Favre’s all-time wins record there in Indy; they spoiled that chance and what would have been game-winning drive No. 57 (he later earned that in the finale vs. San Diego). And Seattle certainly didn’t care about the greatest offense in NFL history capping a record-setting season with a Super Bowl win; they handed Denver a humiliating 35-point defeat that day.

Some funny stats about that Super Bowl loss? Peyton Manning completed 16 more passes than Russell Wilson that day and threw for 74 more yards. Demaryius Thomas set a Super Bowl record for receptions. Statistics can lie.

That year, Wilson never passed for more than 215 yards in the postseason. He threw just three touchdown passes in three games. The following year, in what was nearly a second consecutive Super Bowl win, he passed for 247 yards – coincidentally the same yardage total Manning threw for in his lone victory on football’s biggest stage.

Manning doesn’t need to put up video-game numbers for this Broncos team to be successful. He doesn’t need to worry about delivering late-game heroics like he’s done so often throughout his career. In order to win this time around, Manning simply needs to keep the ball in his team’s hands.

If there’s anything that has been abundantly true about this Broncos team, it is that they will find a way to win when they take care of the ball. Teams will not be so forgiving as the San Diego Chargers now that the playoffs have arrived.

Manning has at his disposal a running game that is coming into form at just the right time. He has a wide receiver duo that is among the best tandems in the league. He has veteran tight ends that make plays when called upon (and Vernon Davis). And most importantly, he has a smothering defense that is thirsty for blood after a season of being slighted.

Manning is no longer the greatest player on his team. Age and injury will do that to everyone. He is now a player on what, in many ways, may be the greatest all-around team of his career. His team no longer needs him to throw for 400 yards. They don’t need him to break records or be a fourth-quarter hero.

The best way for Peyton Manning to be a hero throughout these playoffs is simple: Don’t even try to be one.