The end was mercifully quick… for Broncos Nation and for Josh McDaniels. How could an era that began with such promise and fanfare go down in flames so fast?
The Broncos had a chance to play spoiler and steal this one from their hated rivals on the road, but poor play-calling in the final minutes by Josh McDaniels killed that chance. Kyle Orton was terrible, completing only 9 of 28 passes, and the Chiefs rushed for 185 yards as they beat the Broncos in the final act of the tragedy that was Josh McDaniels’ head coaching stint.
Just because the Chiefs have the best view on the compost pile doesn’t mean that they will beat the Broncos at Mile High. McDaniels & Co are coming off a timely Bye. Expect some new offensive wrinkles.
This wasn’t a game the Broncos were expected to win, but it was a game they could have won. While it bodes better for the team going forward, it also served to put a giant spotlight on the weaknesses of this team, and in the NFL weaknesses that go unimproved get exploited, quickly and mercilessly.
And now Ian’s annual Broncos prediction piece, which tests his swami-like ability to see the future through the bottom of a bourbon glass. Strap in for the bumpy ride that will be Denver’s up-and-down 2010-2011 season…
The 2010 Broncos season is just one draft, three shockingly random trades, and five months away. The once proud residents of Broncoland, who have spent most of this offseason trying to avoid the new ‘all news is bad news’ flavor of the organization, are desperate to know how Denver stacks up against its 2010 competition.
Tim listens well, learns well, and stays out of off-field trouble. He is the ideal student for a coach looking to bark orders and take no lip. And yet, no matter how hard McDaniels pushes, Tebow will forever remain… the unflappable Tim Tebow.
Broncos starting Quarterback Kyle Orton has signed a restricted free-agent tender with Denver, indicating that he will stay with the team through the 2010-2011 season. Orton was tendered at a first-round draft pick, but is not likely to follow the tender-to-trade path that Brandon Marshall took out of town.
McDaniels welcomes the idea of a competitive environment. Josh was optimistic that a competition at the position will push each of his three QB’s to excel.
The Denver Broncos completed a trade Sunday for Cleveland Browns Quarterback Brady Quinn.
