Now that the regular season is over, what was this Broncos season like to experience as a fan?
This was the strangest Broncos season I have ever experienced as a fan, and I go back to 1984. It started with the whole Orton-Tebow debate, then the Orton was the man, then the typical 1-4 start, then the move to Tebow, then the Miami Miracle, then the Detroit Debacle, then the incredible six game winning streak, Tebow Mania at its' peak, and then the buildup to the Patriots game, then the three game losing streak to end the season, and finally backing into the playoffs at 8-8. What a strange turn of events all season long.
Are you even excited that the Broncos made the playoffs at 8-8 and backed their way in?
Of course I am excited that the Broncos made the playoffs, but it certainly wasn't the way that I thought they would get in. It was weird that as soon as Denver lost, I was depressed and moping around, but the next thing I know the Chargers are scoring a touchdown and the Raiders are down 38-26, and the Broncos basically win the division by default. Once the Raiders lost, I did at least have a smile on my face as I tried to think about the Broncos and Steelers matchup for wild card weekend.
Do you feel bad that the Broncos made the playoffs? Do you think they deserve to go?
No, you don't give back playoff invitations. The Broncos had not made the playoffs since 2005. It is hard to make the playoffs in the NFL. On this Monday, 20 teams are packing up their up bags and heading home for the offseason, and the Broncos are one of the 12 teams that are still playing, so it is still special to make the playoffs. The Broncos should have made the playoffs in 2006 and they should have made it in 2008. I am not going to apologize for making the playoffs in 2011, but it certainly isn't the way I had envisioned the Broncos making the playoffs. Backing in at 8-8 is not the way that you draw it up, but I can't feel bad about it now. The bottom line is that the Broncos are in, and the new season starts next weekend. Obviously, when you lose your last three games you probably don't deserve to go, but their body of work for the season allowed them to get into the tournament.
If Kyle Orton remained the starter, would this team have made the playoffs?
No. If Orton was the starter I think they would have finished in the 6-10 range. Orton is not a winner, and this team was not going to win with the conventional and standard offense that Orton was running in his two and half years as the starter.
What will be the most memorable moment of this Broncos season?
The six game winning streak that Denver put together to battle back from a 2-5 record to a 8-5 record was one of the most exciting stretches of Broncos football I had seen in a long, long time. The comeback win over the Bears on December 11th will stand out because it was so improbable, and it was the height of Tebow Mania. Long after this season is over, I will at least be able to look back and watch those six games and smile while I rewatch those games this Spring and Summer.
Were you surprised that the Broncos fell apart in these last three games?
Yes. The Broncos were riding such a wave of momentum at 8-5, and it looked like one of those dream seasons that resembled something out of a fairy tale. The way they jumped out on the Patriots 17-7 certainly added to the dream. From there the Broncos just imploded and got buried by Tom Brady and company, got buried by the Bills, and played scared in a loss to Kansas City. It is amazing how their season turned in a matter in three weeks. That is what happens in the NFL. Seasons can turn on a dime.
Has the NFL caught up to Tim Tebow?
I don't know if the league has caught up on Tebow and Broncos offense, but it certainly has decided to play this style of defense: Keep Tebow in the pocket, blanket his receivers with man to man coverage, and make him make a great throw. During the six game winning streak, he was able to do it at times-especially late in the game- but the last three weeks he hasn't been able to do it. It is that simple in my opinion.
Are the Broncos moving in the right direction as a franchise?
Yes. The Broncos improved their win total from four wins to eight. They an impact player in Von Miller, and Champ Bailey is still playing at a Pro Bowl level. Elvis Dumervil had a nice season coming back from injury, and they have a good mix of young players ( Chris Harris and Quinton Carter) and veterans on defense (Broderick Bunkley, D.J. Williams, and Andre Goodman). On offense, Willis McGahee gives them a good running back, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas have shown some flashes at receiver, and they have a pretty good offensive line with some youth at that spot. The key for this franchise will be the development of Tim Tebow and what will happen at the quarterback position in 2012 and beyond. They are definitely headed in a better direction now, but there is still a long way for them to go in order to be playoff contenders year in and year out.
Do the Broncos have any chance to win on Sunday against the Steelers?
Sure they do, but it will be a monumental task. First, anything can happen in the NFL playoffs. Second, on any given Sunday in the NFL, any team has a chance to knock someone off. Third, maybe the fact that Tebow and Denver has been humbled the last three weeks, and this week they will play loose and with nothing to lose. I'll preview this game in more depth later in the week, but the Broncos need to go out and play this game with no bullets left in the holster. Maybe they can use the whole "Nobody believes in us" routine to rally up and pull off one of the greatest upsets in NFL playoff history.
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