Finally...The Tebow Era Begins

No matter what detractors of Tim Tebow had to say about him becoming the starter before the Chargers game Kyle Orton had an overall record with the Broncos coming in of 12-21, 12-22 after today. Another in your face stat is that Orton NEVER has won a game for the Broncos when the team trailed by 3 or more points at halftime.

So why didn’t Fox let Tebow become the starter on opening day? The reasons given were that Orton had more experience and gave the Broncos a better chance to win, really? Of course it wasn’t, the real answer was driven more by $’s and not how great Orton executed X’s and O’s. Orton couldn’t be traded prior to the start of the season and the Broncos are set to pay him a whooping $9 million dollars (Thank you very much Josh McDaniels) in this his last and one would think after today the final year of his contract. The sad truth is today Pro Football is a business first and a game second and that my friends was the primary reason Orton kept the job.

In today’s dollars this may seem to be a fair wage to pay a starting QB in the NFL. Man, I just don’t see it even in today’s dollars; he didn't even come close to earning that much money. The League minimum is $340,000 it could be argued he wasn’t even worth that given his results on the field.

If you’re still not convinced that Orton was an overpaid stiff keep this in mind. In 1983 John Elway was signed by the Broncos to a 6-year contract worth $12.7 million. In those 6 years he gave us 3 AFC Championships and 3 Super Bowl appearances. Not bad for $12.7 mill huh?

What has Orton produced? Zippo!! He came from a great Defensive team in the Bears who had a lot more to with the wins he has on his resume than he did with his skilled play at QB. As the Broncos starter without a solid D to back him up his bogus game has been proven a fraud for all to see over and over.

So with this as a the backdrop going into today’s game I was all set to watch another dark and dull horror show against the Chargers this week. Orton in his usually style came out and played horrible to start the game while the Boo-Birds came out early and often. 3 and outs, incompletions, an interception, underthrown and overthrown balls the same game we’ve all seen from game 7 of 2008 season until today. He was 6 for 14 for 32 yards and 1 INT in the first half. The Broncos had a whooping total of 126 yards of total offense at the half with Willis MaGahee being the only man who was generating anything. MaGahee had a 125 yard rushing day the first Broncos RB to go over a 100 since 2006. Tebow got a token 2 yard QB draw call in the first half that was completely obvious to the Chargers D and everyone in the stadium and that was it for offense.

The only play of note in the first half was made by CB Cassius Vaughn who had Interception return for a TD which was a great play but was negated by the 42 yard TD reception he gave up to Malcolm Floyd right at the end of the second half. He giveth and he taketh away. The Broncos CB’s stink but that’s for another time. The tackling in the first half by the Broncos was some of the worst I’ve seen this season.

After wading through another cesspool in the first half I was sure Orton would come out and start the second half and secure a another win for the Chargers, but NO!! To my surprise #15 trotted out onto the field and suddenly my heart started beating a little faster I sat up in my chair and just like that I was brought back from the dead. Did you notice the transformation of the fans at the stadium when he came in? They were on their feet and screaming. Believe or not for the first time in a year and half I was even screaming and excited.

After Tebow had two 3 and outs the game dramatically tuned. With the Chargers up 26-10 with 13:35 left in the 4th Quarter Tebow led the offense to one score then another off the Rivers fumble. And if not for a dropped pass and a catchable 2 point conversion by Brandon Lloyd the game would have been tied!! Kudos to Lloyd though, he did make a couple of circus catches to keep drives going.

Even after the Chargers kicked another FG to go up 29-24 Tebow was within one play of winning the game with just 24 seconds left in the 4Q.

Did you see the immediate impact the energy of Tebow translated to his teammates on O and even on D? It was dramatic and electric, something we just haven’t seen since Jay Cutler played in Denver. Tebow in just one half proved he’s a warrior, a great runner and scrambler. He also proved he could make the throws when he needed to get the Broncos back in game. To all the critics of his mechanics I say “So what”, if he gets the ball off and makes completions and the team scores in the red zone what more could you ask for? A game that was over at half time with Orton came down to the last play with Tebow.

We finally have seen the end of the Orton Era and the beginning of the Tebow Era and thank God almighty for us long suffering Broncos Fans it was sooner rather than later. Fox would be completely out of his mind to bring Orton back after the bye week. Its Tebow job to lose from now on and I don't see that happening, Orton is done.

I can hardly wait to see how well Tebow plays in his first start at Miami 2 weeks from today. GO TEBOW!!! GO BRONCOS!!!