Peyton Manning has worn a glove the past two games and has been more accurate than he was without one. (US Presswire)

The NFL announced Wednesday that Broncos QB Peyton Manning won the AFC's Offensive Player of the Week honor for the 23rd time, matching the record held by Patriots QB Tom Brady.

But this was the first time he won for a performance he turned in wearing a glove on his throwing hand, which he started doing in practice in December and then committed to in the last two regular-season games against Cleveland and Kansas City.

Broncos coach John Fox said the glove was "a cold-weather thing."

After playing his home games from 1998-2010 in the controlled confines of the RCA Dome and Lucas Oil Stadium, Manning now faces outdoor, late-season home games for the first time as a pro.

"You know, 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.

More than OK, really. During his two games with a glove, Manning's completion percentage is 5.8 percent higher (73.6 to 67.8) and his quarterback rating is 19.2 points higher (122.7 to 103.5) than it was without a glove.

Both are well above his career late-season and playoff numbers in games played in outdoor road games -- 63.9 percent and an 87.2 rating, respectively, when factoring in games played in the final six games of the regular season plus postseason.

By comparison, in those same late-season and playoff windows, Manning's career completion percentage and quarterback rating for games played inside are 66.7 percent and 100.6, respectively.

So who can blame him for trying something different -- especially when he's 40-19 as a starter in late-season and playoff games played indoors and 23-22 in late-season and playoff road games held outdoors?

Manning's receivers didn't notice anything different the past two weeks, either -- just the same, efficient quarterback who had the second-best season of his career.

"That's been pretty impressive to see him throw the glove on and it's like it's not even there. It's working great," TE Jacob Tamme said.

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