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I don’t think anyone could argue that the magic that carried the Denver Broncos surprising and impressive run would last forever. The games were wild and an absolute blast to watch —unless your team was the one getting upended by Tim Tebow and company. However, we all know that a team can’t rely on the miracle comeback as the common road to victory. It just doesn’t pan out. We have seen that happen to the Denver Broncos the last three weeks. This isn’t a critique on Tebow’s style of play, just the observation that the league is beginning to adjust and figure out how to stop what he’s doing. It’s not a condemnation of how Tebow plays, just an instance where we can look at him (and the Broncos) and say “your move.”

The issue at hand isn’t that Tebow can’t make that adjustment, it’s that he has to make it right now. Additionally, he has to make it against the defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers. As the Broncos improbable run continued on, Tebow was actually showing improvement —outside of his standard fourth quarter comebacks. It appears that he’s been figured out. After getting blown out by the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills, and then a tight loss to the Kansas City Chiefs (with a playoff berth on the line), adjustments need to be made. He and the suddenly vulnerable Broncos defense need to raise their level of play across the board to have a chance. The mystifying start to Tebow’s career as a starter has ended, it’s time for him to start learning the game and improving, not as a gimmicky apparition, but as a quarterback.

Throughout this season, I’ve compared Tebow’s unorthodox success with what happened with the Miami Dolphins and their Wildcat offense. I remember when the Wildcat appeared and the Dolphins found success with it by winning a few games, many thought the game had changed. We heard the same talk when the Broncos and Tebow started running their option offense and found Tebow making wild comebacks. The game was changing. The quarterback position was changing. While the game itself is constantly undergoing change, Tebow’s style is fresh, but that doesn’t mean it will remain effective. With three straight losses to end the season, it would appear the “freshness” has run out. The league is figuring out how to stop it.

I think Tebow and the Broncos are capable, but Tebow has to make an adjustment of his own in response to the ones the league has made. All players have to do this to be successful. Tebow’s chance is now.

Brian is a lifelong football fan, specifically of the Chicago Bears, having lived in Illinois his entire life and having followed the NFL throughout.

Sources

For Broncos Success, Tebow Needs to Own Fourth Quarter

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AFC EAST
New England Patriots
	   Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers
	   Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
New York Jets
	   Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers
	   Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
Miami Dolphins
	   Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
	   Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers
Buffalo Bills
	   Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
	   Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
	   Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
	   Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Pittsburgh Steelers
	   Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
	   Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Cincinnati Bengals
	   Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
	   Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Cleveland Browns
	   Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
	   Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
	   Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
	   Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Tennessee Titans
	   Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
	   Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Jacksonville Jaguars
	   Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
	   Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Indianapolis Colts
	   Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
	   Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
	   Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	   Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
San Diego Chargers
	   Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
	   Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Oakland Raiders
	   Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	   Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Kansas City Chiefs
	   Home: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
	   Away: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	   -- -- -- =
NFC EAST
New York Giants
	   Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
	   Away: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Philadelphia Eagles
	   Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
	   Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Dallas Cowboys
	   Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
	   Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Washington Redskins
	   Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
	   Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers
	   Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
	   Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
	   Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
	   Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Chicago Bears
	   Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
	   Away: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Minnesota Vikings
	   Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
	   Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints
	   Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
	   Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders
Atlanta Falcons
	   Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders
	   Away: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
Carolina Panthers
	   Home: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders
	   Away: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	   Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
	   Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders
NFC WEST
San Francisco 49ers
	   Home: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
	   Away: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
	   Home: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
	   Away: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Seattle Seahawks
	   Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Jets
	   Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
St. Louis Rams
	   Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, New England Patriots, New York Jets
	   Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

What do you guys think about this.

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) was mobbed by fans as he came up to shake hands before Sunday’s game. (Tim Rasmussen, The Denver Post)

Gotta run!.

Tim Tebow gets one more chance to show what he can do on the football field during the regular season. The Denver Broncos take on the Kansas City Chiefs to decide the AFC West on Sunday, Jan. 1. The scenario is pretty simple for Tebow and his Broncos in that if the team wins, they clinch the AFC West. If they lose, the Oakland Raiders can win the division by beating the San Diego Chargers.

The Week 17 game is also a chance for Tebow to put up more fantasy football points for leagues that still count stats this week. Last week, Tebow had a rough game against the Buffalo Bills, throwing 3 interceptions and losing a fumble. He did have 185 passing yards, 34 rushing yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown, but Tebow finished the week with just 15.8 fantasy points. That made him the No. 17 ranked quarterback for the week and not exactly what fans were looking to see from him with seasons on the line.

Now Tebow faces a team that he didn’t have a lot of success against in Week 10, but it is a team that he also helped his Broncos to beat. While the Broncos won the game 17-10, Tebow was 2-of-8 in passing with one touchdown and he also rushed for another 43 yards and a touchdown. Overall those aren’t great numbers, but it was good enough for the Broncos to win the game. Now the team hosts the Chiefs in a Week 17 must-win situation and Tebow goes out for a second chance to put up big numbers.

It doesn’t seem likely that Tebow will have great fantasy football numbers in Week 17, but many also predicted he wouldn’t have them against some of the other teams he has beaten either. The truth is that you never know what to expect from Tebow in games like this one, but the likely scenario is that he will put the Broncos in a position to win the game in the fourth quarter. It’s a risky start if you are trying to figure out your Week 17 quarterback situation and simply looking at his performance in Week 10 against the Chiefs, I wouldn’t advise going with Tebow in this game either.

More From YCN :

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Best Fantasy Tight Ends

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Sources:

Week 16 NFL Scores

Defensive Team Leaders

Yahoo! Fantasy Football

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Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos throws a pass against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 24, 2011 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo won 40-14. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

What are your opinions.

Read More: Brian Dawkins (S – DEN), David Bruton (S – DEN), Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, St. Louis Rams

The Denver Broncos (8-7) may be without their top safety, Brian Dawkins, in Sunday’s contest against the Kansas City Chiefs (6-9). According to Lindsay H. Jones of the Denver Post, the Broncos’ veteran defensive back missed practice on Friday, further decreasing the likelihood of his ability to start in Sunday’s Week 17 season finale.

The former Philadelphia Eagles safety has played in all but one game, the Rams’ Week 15 loss to the New England Patriots. Dawkins is third on the Broncos’ defense with 7 pass deflections, sporting also 51 tackles and 3.0 sacks.

If Dawkins is unavailable come Sunday, the Broncos will start David Bruton, who is also struggling with an Achilles injury. Bruton, a third year pro out of Notre Dame, has 14 tackles and 3 pass deflections in 2011.

For more on this Week 17 game, visit Broncos blog Mile High Report and Chiefs blog Arrowhead Pride. Be sure to check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

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As if the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow need any more pressure.

A home loss to Kansas City in Week 17, coupled with an Oakland win at home against San Diego on Sunday, will keep the Broncos out of the playoffs. They would be 8-8 and end the season with three straight losses.

Instead of this season being looked upon as one of progress in the first year of the John Fox era after a 4-12 2010 season, it would be looked upon as a blown opportunity.

Adding to the pressure is the fact that Denver has to face former starting quarterback Kyle Orton, who was claimed by the Chiefs in November after being waived by the Broncos. Orton has a unique opportunity. According to ESPN Stats & Information, this will be the first time since the AFL-NFL merger that a quarterback will play against a team he started for earlier in the season.

Nothing would make Orton happier than to knock Tebow and the Broncos out of the playoffs. Tebow replaced Orton after the Broncos got off to a 1-4 start, and now Orton will do his best to make Denver 1-5 in games he has started.

Can you imagine how the Broncos and Tebow will feel if that happens?

Playoff Machine

Check current playoff seedings and figure scenarios through the end of the season. Playoff Machine | Scenarios

After going 7-1 in his first eight starts, Tebow has seen his team lose its last two games. He played well in a loss to New England in Week 15. However, Tebow regressed at Buffalo last Saturday. He threw three interceptions — ball security had been his biggest attribute — including one that was returned for a score and a had a fumble that was brought back for a touchdown.

Denver’s brass hasn’t come out and publicly said Tebow will get a chance to start next year, but there have been indications that is the way the franchise is leaning. However, if the Broncos lose this game and Tebow, who was named the second Pro Bowl alternate this week, takes another step back, the idea could be reconsidered.

There is a feeling in Denver that Tebow will elevate his game Sunday because Orton will be on the other sideline. Tebow is highly competitive and will want to get the better of the man he replaced. Denver also is comforted by the fact that in college Tebow often played his best in the biggest games.

Orton also has plenty at stake. He is a free agent after the season. Interim Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel said after the Chiefs beat previously undefeated Green Bay in Week 15 — Orton’s first start as a Chief — that Orton would probably have a chance to be the Chiefs’ starter next year over injured incumbent Matt Cassel if Orton finished the season strong. Orton was just so-so in a 16-13 overtime loss to Oakland last week. He had his moments, but he failed in the red zone, which was a problem during much of his time in Denver.

Still, if Orton knocks off the Broncos, it could go a long way in helping him get a starting job in 2012, whether it’s in Kansas City or elsewhere.

The Broncos know the potential for an embarrassing situation here. But they knew it five weeks ago when they cut Orton. Denver knew Kansas City was a possibility to claim Orton because Cassel was out for the season with a hand injury. But the Broncos believed it was worth the risk because they believed Orton wasn’t needed any longer. They didn’t think Tebow needed the security blanket of the veteran. Orton wasn’t helping Denver at the time of his release, and the fact that he was claimed saved Denver $2.5 million in salary.

“We made the decision to go with Tim Tebow,” Fox told reporters this week. “I think that decision has proved worthy. We took that risk whenever you release any player. We don’t have any control over who takes him or where he goes or any of those things, but it’s good for Kyle. I wish him nothing but the best except for this Sunday … I think at the end of the day we feel real comfortable with Tim. We made that decision and here we are.”

After talking to several people in the organization, I get the sense the that Broncos feel comfortable playing against Orton in a game of this magnitude. I also get the sense that Denver is confident defensively going against Orton. The Broncos practiced against Orton for parts of three seasons, after all.

“We can hit him now,” Denver defensive end Robert Ayers said of facing Orton as an opponent. “I’m not going to think too much into this whole Kyle Orton thing. We’re fighting for something that’s big, and we want to go to the playoffs. That’s all I’m focusing on.”

Still, Orton also feels comfortable against the Broncos, and be sure that he has given every tidbit he knows about his former Denver teammates to his new coaching staff as he tries to come out of the game the victorious quarterback.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. likes Orton’s chances in this matchup.

“I would rather have Orton for one game,” Williamson said. “I do get that Tebow plays his best in big games, and Orton has rarely showed that ability. But Orton is the better NFL quarterback right now and his experience puts it over the top for me.”

If Williamson is right, there could be major ramifications in both Denver and in Kansas City if Orton sends the Broncos into offseason mode.

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

The numbers do not tell the same story as the NFL standings. So while Broncos fans will undoubtedly point to the final wins and losses of the 2011 season and cite the popular phrase, “You are what your record says you are,” others will say otherwise. The Denver Broncos have been awfully “lucky” this season, according to ESPN’s Chris Sprow, and the numbers agree with him as he develops a formula that says the Broncos should have lost more than they won this season.

In fact, the Broncos should have 5.8 wins this season (six if you round up, of course). Sprow writes, “Sorry Denver fans, but to paraphrase “The World According to Garp,” in the world where luck isn’t a factor, this case is terminal. With more than a quarter of Denver’s wins ascribed to good fortune, its division is its only fallback.”

The San Francisco 49ers are next on the list among the playoff contenders as the next luckiest team — somehow a fact that doesn’t surprise since a team with Alex Smith and Frank Gore as their offensive core has never made for a winning formula until this season.

As for the Broncos, some will say that Tebow just wins and the numbers cannot measure that. Others can point to the Chiefs’ season last year and say it’s the same thing on a different team. Either way, the Broncos are definitely an anomaly that many are trying their best to explain.

What are your opinions.

I’ll be honest. I have never liked Kyle Orton. As a lifelong Chicago Bears fan living in Denver, I’ve had to put up with the likes of this particular quarterback for six long years.

However, along with many other Denver Broncos fans, I am now extremely worried that he could enact serious revenge upon the team that benched him for Tim Tebow earlier this season. Karma is a difficult mistress, and Denver fans know that they never embraced Orton or gave him much of a chance while he was in Colorado. Ever since he arrived from Chicago via the trade that sent Jay Cutler to the Bears, Orton was booed consistently and without mercy. If the Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs and Orton on Sunday, they will most likely not make the playoffs and Orton will be one very happy man.

It’s not as if Orton really engenders a persona that a fan could come to love. While in Colorado, especially after Tebow was drafted, Orton was frequently terse and not very personable in interviews with the local media. When asked about how he felt about the fans loudly supporting Tebow over him, Orton repeatedly talked about how he didn’t care what the fans thought.

A lot of the rancor surrounding the fans’ feelings for Orton was a result of his very poor record while he was the starting quarterback in Denver. In three years as the starter, Orton was 12-26. Granted, he did have two seasons where he threw for over 3,600 yards. However, Orton always seemed to have a problem converting all those yards into touchdowns. In 38 starts, he only had four games where he threw for three or more touchdowns.

One wonders what Orton thought seeing Tebow’s struggles on the field finally evolve into fourth quarter magic that saw the Broncos win four of their next five games. Apparently he saw the writing on the wall and knew that, barring injury to Tebow, he’d never start again for the Broncos. In a most charitable move, Denver granted the release that Orton requested. While Kansas City may not have been the landing spot that Orton wished for, it has turned out well for both him and the team.

Now Orton is returning to Denver to play against a former understudy in Tebow. Tebow, who was granted that favorite son status that Orton could never earn, will be the one whose name is chanted in the stands on Sunday. Of course, boos will once again rain down upon Orton when he comes to play, but I’m quite certain that his goal will be to share those boos with Tebow by the end of the game.

Julie lives in Denver and roots for the local Broncos team. A lifelong NFL fan, she is mourning the end of the regular season this weekend.

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That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

There is the quick update of the day.

Oakland Raiders’ fans everywhere are patiently, or impatiently, waiting for New Year’s Day to arrive. Forget the big New Year’s Eve bash, we just want to watch the Silver and Black defeat the San Diego Chargers, while the Kansas City Chiefs blow out the crumbling Denver Broncos on January 1, 2012.

One Nation. Home of the Oakland Raiders, the Oakland Coliseum
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There are still three more days before we find out how this will play out, and the closer we get the stronger my belief becomes that we’ll get our wish.

First, let’s look at the scenario in Denver. Even though Kansas City isn’t playing for a playoff berth, they have strong reasons for wanting a victory at Sports Authority Field. The Chiefs’ quarterback Kyle Orton is returning to play against the team that dumped him for Tebow, and that’s has to sting more than a little.

Orton is out to prove that Denver made a big mistake in thinking that Tebow was their savior. The Broncos were lucky in more than a few of their wins with the young quarterback at the helm, but he’s started to crumble quickly. Denver was stomped in their last two losses, 40-14 by the Buffalo Bills and 41-23 by the New England Patriots. On top of that, their players have really taken a beating, and they’re dealing with a lot of injuries.

The Chiefs’ interim coach, Romeo Crennel, needs the win to save his job, and even Orton may not keep his in 2012 if the team doesn’t do well in Denver. That’s quite a bit of motivation. Is it enough for Kansas City to get the victory? I believe it is.

The biggest concern for the Raiders, of course, is their game against the Chargers. While the team has been inconsistent this year to say the least, they’ve were able to beat San Diego on the road, and won both of their games against the Chargers in 2010.

The Silver and Black will be on fire for this one. The players showed they have heart in the game on Christmas Eve, and they were also extremely resilient. Quarterback Carson Palmer does well against San Diego, and potentially having two exceptional receivers on the field in Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford, could turn this game into a high scoring offensive show for the Raiders.

Palmer commented on Wednesday, “So this is a big moment for this team and our fans and the fact that we get to play at home is obviously a huge advantage any time we get to play in front of our fans in that stadium because they can be so loud. So it’s exciting, this whole team’s excited.”

After so many years without the hope of even being in the playoffs, the Silver and Black have given us an exciting 2011, and the team could take their season farther than we even thought was possible. Just believe.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter or on Twitter @kcdermody.

More from this contributor:

Oakland Raiders’ Jacoby Ford Back at Practice: Who Will Return to Face the Chargers? Fan’s Look

Three Oakland Raiders Selected to the Pro Bowl: Fan reaction

Oakland Raiders’ Janikowski Nominated for Never Say Never Moment: Fan’s Look

Oakland Raiders Give Fans the Best Christmas Present: A Defeat of the Kansas City Chiefs – Fan’s Take

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The Kansas City Chiefs close out the 2011 NFL season with a trip to Colorado to take on the Denver Broncos. Here are five things to watch for as the Chiefs battle the Broncos.

Kyle Orton Versus Old Team

Kyle Orton was let go by the Broncos in late November. The Chiefs picked him up to stand in for injured Matt Cassel. Orton had two decent games against the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders. If he has the same type of game against his old mates, it will be a long day for Denver. It will help that Orton should have some kind of working knowledge of the Broncos’ defense.

Tim Tebow Versus Chiefs’ Defense

In the first game between the Chiefs and Broncos back on Nov. 13, quarterback Tim Tebow ran for a touchdown and threw for another. He completed just two passes all game long and had 43 yards rushing. Surely the Chiefs would know how to handle the offense by now. Shut down the running game of Denver and then let the vaunted secondary take over after that and the Chiefs will win.

Head Coaches

Interim head coach Romeo Crennel is trying to prove he’s head coaching material. John Fox is trying to avoid another late-season disappointment for the Broncos. Despite not making the playoffs just a year after winning the AFC West, the Chiefs can spoil the postseason hopes of Denver.

Ryan Succop

Placekicker Ryan Succop had a miserable game against the Oakland Raiders Dec. 24. He had two kicks blocked that could have won the game. In the thinner air of Denver, a kicker’s dream exists. Earlier in the season, Sebastian Janikowski of the Raiders tied an NFL record with a 63-yard kick way back on Sept. 12 in Denver. Succop needs to have a good game in the thinner air to regain his confidence.

Momentum

A win for the Chiefs will give them momentum going into the offseason and a positive vibe with the draft and in the front office. With all of the major players coming back next year from their injuries, a season-ending victory may help nudge the team along as they start workouts for next season.

William Browning is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs after latching on to the team during the lean years of St. Louis football. Born in the gateway city, he is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

That’s all the news for today.

The Denver Post’s NFL reporters post analysis, notes and more on this blog dedicated to the Denver Broncos.

So much of what has made Tim Tebow a football icon is based on the good times, the big wins, the comebacks, the national championships, the awards.

Then there are days like Saturday in Orchard Park, N.Y., where Tebow and the Broncos lost 40-14 to the Buffalo Bills. Tebow threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, with two of those mistakes returned for touchdowns. Tebow said he intends to learn from it.

“I feel I can let stuff go, but at the same time I don’t know that you want to,” he said Wednesday. “Part of being motivated is learning from mistakes, learning from past failures and also learning from losses and having that feeling of disappointment drive you.

“I don’t know if you want to always just let everything

go and continue to be the same person. I think you need to let it eat it at you a little bit, because I think it can make you better.”

Tebow needs to play much better Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs with a playoff berth at stake. Kyle Orton is returning to Denver to play against the Broncos, who waived him last month. But another big story line is Tebow’s performance in the last two games, each a blowout loss for the Broncos. Tebow committed a total of five turnovers in those games.

After running and passing the Broncos to win after win in an option-based offense, Tebow was shut down by the Bills and the New England Patriots. They made Tebow throw from the pocket.

“I’d rather have him in the pocket than running around for first downs outside the pocket,” Chiefs interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “And usually, when he gets outside the pocket, he runs for a first down.”

Tebow said the Broncos’ offensive plan the last two games was fine but the execution was poor.

“They both had schemes,” he said of the Bills and Patriots. “At times we executed very well and at times we executed very poorly. We just have got to be more consistent.”

The Patriots opened in a 4-3 defense and changed to

(Click on image to enlarge)

a 3-4, which the Bills and Chiefs also play. Kansas City has a dominant pass rusher, outside linebacker Tamba Hali (12 sacks), and defensive backs who can win one-on-one matchups. The first Denver-Kansas City game this year, on Nov. 13, was Tebow’s fourth start of the season. The Broncos attempted only eight passes and completed two. They ran the ball 55 times and won 17-10 at Arrowhead Stadium.

“The offense hasn’t changed, the quarterback hasn’t changed and so I think a similar approach will be in place (Sunday),” Crennel said.

Dealing with a four-turnover performance at Buffalo is new ground to Tebow. Even when he struggled earlier this season, he made sure to avoid critical mistakes.

The Chiefs like to use combination pass coverages in the secondary, with two safeties playing deep and man-to-man coverage underneath with cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr. For a quarterback to throw well against that scheme, his receivers have to win battles at the line of scrimmage. Also, Tebow will have to identify the safeties before he throws. And he will have to do it with a playoff berth at stake.

“The thing that was disappointing (against Buffalo) was it was a pretty good game, but you have a handful of plays, four or five plays, that aren’t good ones, that are really bad, then it makes the whole game not too good,” Tebow said. “You can’t have 60 (good plays) and five bad ones, or at least your bad ones can’t have very big mistakes on them. … But it’s exciting (to be in this position). We’re a very motivated team … This is what you play for.”

Jeff Legwold: jlegwold@denverpost.com

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

By Lindsay H. Jones
The Denver Post