So, you might have heard the Broncos are on the brink completing the worst-to-first turnaround en route to the AFC West title.

And you might have heard Denver can clinch a playoff spot Sunday with a win against the division rival Chiefs

And you might have heard ex-Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton is now quarterback of those aforementioned Chiefs.

And you might have heard the Broncos are coming off back-to-back losses – the first of the Tim Tebow 2011 era.

It’s only fitting a regular season chock-full of drama ends…dramatically.

Look, the players know what’s at stake, and unless you’ve intentionally avoided any football news the past week, you know what’s on the line as well.   The Broncos were mistake prone and sloppy against a superior Patriots team, and instead of rebounding the following week against the demoralized Bills, Denver looked listless and uninspired.  The Broncos offense is now committing turnovers – something we saw very little of during “The Streak” and the ultimate momentum killer.  The defense, notably the secondary, has given up huge yardage plays thanks to blown coverage, poor assignments, and even worse tackling.  Even special teams, the one constant this season, looked out of sorts against Buffalo.

Suffice it to say, if the Broncos a) advance to the playoffs, and if so b) aren’t satisfied with “just getting there,” these problems must be corrected.  Otherwise, I’m spending next week writing stories on the similarities between the 2008 and 2011 seasons, and that’s something I’m not especially looking forward to.

Even though I still disagree with the firing of head coach Todd Haley earlier this month, the Chiefs have seemingly rallied around interim coach Romeo Crennel, whose own tenure as head coach wasn’t particularly accomplished.  Kansas City still owns the title of being the only team to defeat Green Bay this season (though I suspect the Lions will join them Sunday), and put up a gallant effort against a Raiders team fighting for a playoff berth.  Orton has played his usual pedestrian role as quarterback for the Chiefs, nothing lights out, but a certain upgrade from Tyler Palko.

I’ve given Orton credit all season long – actually dating back to training camp – for his handling of all the scrutiny and attention that comes with competing and beating Tim Tebow for the starting quarterback job.  It’s a situation only he truly understands, and instead of being all sour grapes about it, Orton took the high road – publicly.  From the trading block to starting quarterback to benched starting quarterback to the waiver wire: it’s not exactly a dream season, but it could have a dream ending for Orton.    

Aside from the hyped revenge or scorn factor, Orton’s intimate knowledge of the Broncos is a true concern.  His intel is just the ammunition the defensive-minded Crennel needs to foil the Broncos’ plans.  After his Broncos demotion, Orton played scout-team quarterback in practice, running the opponent’s offense against Denver’s first-team defense.   As Champ Bailey told The Denver Post:

“It’s more scripted for him (in that role), but what he sees from us is what we do on Sunday.  I think he has more of an edge on that than anybody, and for us to say we’ve got an edge on anything he did on scout team is silly.

“From what he saw, he knows what we do.”

That’s all true, but Orton’s redemption road runs both ways.  No team has as thorough an understanding of what gets Orton into trouble as the Broncos.  The onus is on Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to consistently pressure Orton and switch things up from time to time.  If Orton burns the Broncos defense early, and he knows the secondary is ailing with safety Brian Dawkins likely out Sunday, will Allen make the necessary adjustments immediately or hold out.  Sadly, we’ve seen more of the latter as of late.

If there’s one thing Orton has yet to prove, it’s that he can win a game solely with passing.  From Chicago, to here in Denver, to his one win with Kansas City, Orton’s victories have mainly been the product of strong all-around team play.  If Kansas City can find rushing success against the Broncos, and make one or two plays on defense and/or special teams than Denver may be in trouble.  Come Sunday both teams will likely be focused on making the other’s quarterback do the winning, and in this respect, it is truly an intriguing matchup with Denver’s season on the line.

The Battle for the AFC West – It’s still possible the AFC West can send two teams to the playoffs, but only if Denver wins the division.  The Broncos cannot earn a wild-card spot, whereas Oakland remains in wild-card contention.  Kansas City and San Diego are eliminated, but can each play spoiler…something we’d like to see from the Chargers and not as much from the Chiefs.

Broncos clinch division with:

1. Win Sunday
2. Tie AND Oakland loss or tie
3. Oakland loss

The Raiders can advance to the playoffs as a wild-card team or AFC West champions.

Raiders clinch AFC West with:

1. Win AND Broncos loss or tie
2. Tie AND Broncos loss

Raiders earn wild-card spot with:

1. Win AND Bengals loss AND Titans loss or tie
2. Win AND Bengals loss AND Jets win

Plotline That Could Be Crucial or Insignificant – None.  It’s Week 17.  A Denver win means the Broncos host a home playoff game next weekend.  A loss could very well end the season.  Everything matters.

Final Score: Denver 20, Kansas City 16 

And for good measure…

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It’s been a rough season for the Chiefs, though around here, there’s little sympathy.

Multiple starters are on injured reserve, and despite finding some semblance of rhythm midway through the season, the Chiefs have looked nothing like last season’s AFC West champions.

Should now-ousted head coach Todd Haley be the fall guy?  In my opinion, no, but as a head coach, “fall guy” status is an occupational hazard.  No coach will use the injury excuse as an explanation for failure or underperformance, and Haley didn’t.

He’ll end up somewhere, because I truly believe Haley is a solid coach – not yet upper-echelon, but good enough to deserve another chance.

That brings me to the possible KC courtship of ex-Broncos head coach and current Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, a rumor I first heard Sunday.  I initially thought the speculation was ludicrous, and a day later, my opinion is unchanged.

Maybe McDaniels is a better fit in Kansas City; he has ties to GM Scott Pioli, and we all know about his strong working relationship with quarterback Matt Cassel.

Last week marked one year since McDaniels’ firing in Denver, a tenure marred by arrogance and miscues.  If the Chiefs really want to go down that road, then so be it.  As a division rival, I’m sure the Broncos Nation would applaud what is seemingly a poor hire.

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What a weekend!

I’m still beaming over my basketball Hoosiers’ amazing last-second win Saturday against No. 1 Kentucky.  My alma mater will certainly return to a place it hasn’t been in nearly four years: nationally ranked.

How sweet it is.  Seriously, it’s the happiest I’ve been over a sports victory in ages.  Yes, ages.  You can’t take the Indiana out of the girl.  Moving on, since I know not everyone echoes my Indiana-love sentiment…

Want a great follow up?  How about the Denver Broncos –  now 8-5 for the season.  It’s a truly remarkable season, and while I don’t want to jinx the team, there’s increasing hope of the p*******.

So, if you’re like me and on a sports cloud nine, the fact that it’s Monday isn’t so bad after all.  Now here are you headlines…

Krieger: With Tim Tebow, is there ever any doubt in Broncos? - Was there ever any doubt?  Dead in the water, scoreless through three and a half quarters, the Broncos trailed the Bears 10-0.  Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Champ Bailey, Tim Tebow talk about believing in Broncos to win - What players and coaches were saying after the Denver Broncos’ 13-10 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, after which they took over the AFC West division lead.  Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Fox’s Postgame Address - Go inside the locker room immediately following the team’s 13-10 overtime win against the Bears.  More from DenverBroncos.com >>>>

Josh McDaniels Rumors Rise Once Again With KC Chiefs’ Head Coach Todd Haley Potentially On Hot Seat - Is former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels in play for the Kansas City Chiefs should head coach Todd Haley be dismissed at the end of the season? That is the speculation right now, according to Dan Pompei of the National Football Post.  Read more from SB Nation >>>>

A holy appropriate subject - Tim Tebow is making a lot of sports fans uneasy, some of us angry, others even defiant. The 24-year-old Denver Broncos quarterback figures he has God on his side, and he’s fairly matter-of-fact about it.   Read more from The Boston Globe >>>>

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Happy Anniversary, Broncos fans.

It’s been exactly one year since the tumultuous Josh McDaniels era came to a merciful end.  Now 365 days later, perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Broncos are 7-5 and the “if the playoffs started today” 4th seed in the AFC.

The Broncos are the talk of the NFL – for the right reason: winning.  Not because of Spygate II.  Not because of any handshake drama with Chiefs head coach Todd Haley.  Not because of an utterly embarrassing home blowout to a divison rival.

There’s no doubt about it; the Broncos have been better than any of us would have imagined, but that doesn’t exonerate McDaniels from his otherwise terrible tenure as head coach.

The last 55 days or so (and counting) won’t erase that mess, but it’s a start.

It's been a year since the firing of Josh McDaniels. (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

The Good  

Yes, even Josh McDaniels did some good things in Denver.  For starters, he did win his first six games back in 2009, the franchise’s best start since the 1998 Super Bowl season.

This ‘The Good’ list would have ended there if not for what we’ve seen in recent weeks.

McDaniels did draft Tim Tebow, who, debate all you want about his quarterbacking skills, has gone 6-1 as a starter this season.  McDaniels also drafted wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.  So far, Decker has been the standout receiver of the two, but Thomas showed Sunday why was he taken 22nd overall in 2010.  While it remains to be seen, McDaniels’ validation could be that Class of 2010 trio.

Another plus?  McDaniels did put Denver in the position to draft Von Miller.  Though, had he been coach, I highly doubt McDaniels would have drafted the linebacker with the No. 2 pick.  I now shudder to think about life without Miller.  Moving on…

The Bad

Remember that 6-0 start in 2009?  Remember that halftime interview with Chris Berman during Monday Night Football?  Remember how everything went downhill – and fast – immediately thereafter?  Looking back on it now, McDaniels set that ball into motion months before; the 6-0 start was just a pleasant diversion from the inevitable.

Where to begin…let’s do this quick pull-off-the-band-aid-style with some highlights.

Jay Cutler.

He's not exactly Mr. Personality, but Jay Cutler can throw the football. (courtesy Mike Shadle)

Brandon Marshall.

Peyton Hillis.

Tony Scheffler.

For one reason or another, each player’s relationship with McDaniels turned horribly wrong.  So wrong each player is now playing elsewhere.  Cutler was miffed about McDaniels open adulation of Matt Cassel, and was traded before the 2009 season.  Hillis did something to fall out of McDaniels’ favor…do we even know what?  Scheffler and Marshall were reportedly close to Cutler, and therefore, the “enemy” in McDaniels’ eyes.

The players Denver got in exchange for those deals have had little impact.  Has Brady Quinn even played a down for the Broncos?   By my count, Robert Ayers is the only other player still on the Broncos roster.

As a talk radio caller recently put it, McDaniels’ roster moves were akin to “putting the team into a minibus and driving it into a lake.”

If one Spygate wasn’t enough, thanks to Steve Scarnecchia’s videotaping misadventures in London in 2010, Spygate took on a Broncos-flair.  Scarnecchia, Denver’s director of video operations, was fired and the Broncos and McDaniels were fined $50,000.

John Fox: Upgrade (personal photo)

That’s all the hard evidence.  The softer, yet possibly most irritating evidence of the complete failure of the McDaniels’ era was his overall approach.  Josh McDaniels’ stint with the nearly invincible Patriots of 2007 both got him the Denver job, and ultimately lost it for him.  His roster moves showed his true belief that individual matchups don’t matter nearly as much as coach’s ability to scheme in a system.  McDaniels used the Broncos franchise as a laboratory in his attempt to show the NFL just how gifted he was at outmaneuvering any opponent.  What resulted was a team that couldn’t outmuscle physical opponents or out-finesse tactical ones.  From the onset, McDaniels wanted his people succeeding with his plays and when they couldn’t the system crumbled.

(A quick side note…isn’t this the most obvious reason why John Fox is a successful head coach and McDaniels is a losing offensive coordinator?  Fox didn’t get to pick his people. Heck, he inherited a quarterback in Tebow that basically didn’t fit into any system currently being run in the NFL.  So instead of Fox running “his system” and making terrible player transactions just for the sake of having “his guys” he looked around at what was available and got to building.  That’s coaching.)

The Verdict

Do we really need one?  The Broncos are in the playoff hunt and McDaniels is now offensive coordinator for 2-10 St. Louis.  If Denver does get the chance to play a 17th game, I think we know who gets the last laugh.

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Kyle “Best Chance” Orton may once again assume the role of NFL starting quarterback.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said Orton will get some first-team snaps during Wednesday’s practice, and though Tyler Palko is still officially the starter, Haley will start whichever quarterback is their “best chance” at victory.

Before leaving Denver last week, Orton – or his proxy, if you will – recorded this not-so-fond adieu to the good folks of Denver, courtesy of Landlocked Pioneers.  The video already has 18,000+ views.

Turns out, faux-Orton (Fauxrton?) thinks John Elway is like that “demon horse” at Denver International Airport, doesn’t believe IKEA can keep Denver from sucking, and even credits his neckbeard for preventing an ill-fated visit to Pike’s Peak.

My favorite line: “If I knew that all I had to do as a quarterback is hand off the ball, I would have…just handed off the ball.”

Well done, Landlocked Pioneers.  For those unfamiliar with the horse statue at our beloved airport, nothing says ‘Welcome to Denver’ quite like this. Behold:

Um...welcome?

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On paper, the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos are nearly identical.   Just look at their league rankings midway the season; these teams are mirror images.

The only measurable difference is record: Kansas City holds a game advantage.

It seems the AFC West is this season’s NFC West, which means at 4-4, the Chiefs are very much alive to repeat as divisional champions – something not widely thought possible six weeks ago.  The Chiefs have battled back from an 0-3 start without three of their best players.  TE Tony Moeaki, DB Eric Berry, and RB Jamaal Charles were all lost to season-ending IR before Week 3.

Just when you thought Kansas City was finally clicking…the Chiefs inexplicably played some of the worst football all season (the Colts’ performance against New Orleans is firmly planted at No. 1) in a 31-3 loss to then-winless Miami at Arrowhead Stadium.  The Chiefs looked disheveled, much like head coach Todd Haley’s recent “makeunder.”

If you apply the transitive property, the Broncos should beat Kansas City Sunday, but we all know the transitive property means absolute squat in sports.  Something tells me the Chiefs are livid about that Miami loss and would love nothing more than to embarrass Denver and redeem themselves at home.

At long last, a breakthough!

Entering last weekend’s game at Oakland, the Broncos ranked 16th in the league in rushing yards per game.  Almost 300 yards later, Denver now sits at 5th overall.  Running back Willis McGahee benefited from Denver’s offensive line adjustments, with his best outing in years.

And speaking of adjustments, Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has apparently finally figured out the Tim Tebow formula. Lost in the volume of Tebow-mania after Denver’s impressive victory in Oakland were comments from Raiders defenders, most notably Richard Seymour, that Oakland knew “exactly” what the Broncos were going to do on offense yet failed to stop it.  During this past week we’ve all heard how quickly NFL defenses adapt.  If McCoy holds to form we likely won’t see many new wrinkles from the option read system, but adapt or not, if Denver’s offense truly is capable of executing this type of offense it could be successful again.

That’s what the Chiefs are hoping…

Part of the aforementioned formula is giving Tebow safe throws within a short passing game.  The plays not only bolster Tebow’s confidence (because when he plays well, it’s contagious), but also develop his throwing abilities – in a real game setting no less. 

Knowing that, Kansas City has dedicated this week’s practice to limiting Tebow’s effectiveness by specifically working on defending those short passing lanes.  If the Chiefs defense can disrupt Tebow in the pocket, Denver’s offense suddenly becomes one-dimensional again, not only hindering Tebow’s ground production, but McGahee as well.  Remember, a passing game, even one ranked 31st in the league, can be a running back’s best friend.

Matchup That Could Be Crucial or Insignificant

As stated above, the Broncos and Chiefs are basically the same team at this point.  That makes most every matchup on the field significant, because all things being equal, this game will come down to which team can eke out one or two more key plays.

That said…here’s your matchup: Arrowhead Stadium vs. Denver Broncos.

The Broncos are 3-7 when playing at Arrowhead the past ten years.  Moreover, since 1990, the Kansas City Chiefs have never gone 1-2 in a three game homestand (this will be the third consecutive home game for the Chiefs).  In fact, only once in 2009 when the Chiefs were dreadful, did they fail to post a winning record during a three game homestand.

On the flip side, two of the three blowout losses the Chiefs have suffered this season happened at home.

It’s always difficult to win at Arrowhead, but coming off a Black Hole victory it will be interesting to see if Denver can continue to succeed in front of the most hostile crowds it will encounter this season.

Final Score:  Kansas City 27, Broncos 20

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Okay, so we’ve gone another day with still no end to the lockout. *Sigh*

I’m getting really tired of writing those words.

Moving on…

Want more lockout news?  Get your fix with CBSSports.com.

The Denver Post reports the latest player workout featured plays from John Fox’s playbook.

Also on The Denver Post, a look at what the team will need to do to get under the salary cap.

Get to know the Broncos head coach on the team’s official site.

Broncos LB Wesley Woodyard talks about the NFL lockout with Lexington, Kentucky’s WLEX.

The Sports Jury breaks down the Broncos running back needs for 2011.

HBO isn’t throwing in the towel for ‘Hard Knocks’ this preseason.  Which AFC West team is rumored to be a contender on Football News Now.

ESPN jumps into the Haley vs. McDaniels dispute of 2010.

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A certain Aerys Sports Denver Broncos correspondent – who shall remain unnamed – is working on new posts later today.

As if you needed any additional incentive to visit throughout the day.

Until then, delve into these Broncos headlines…

The Denver Post reports on the offseason absences (at least in Denver) of the Broncos’ 2009 draft picks.  Included, which player was a “mistake” to draft.

Also on The Denver Post, how the ongoing lockout may sway the team’s decision on a starting quarterback.

And to complete The Denver Post trifecta, Dave Logan answers reader questions.

NFL.com has the latest on the NFL labor talks.  Late Thursday afternoon, it was reported both sides agreed to a rookie wage scale.

Allegations of improper benefits by WR Demaryius Thomas while at Georgia Tech are detailed on ESPN.com.  Yesterday, the NCAA placed Georgia Tech on probation.

NFL Mocks looks at some undrafted free agents – and which could help out the Broncos.

Turf Show Times writes that KC coach Todd Haley thinks Josh McDaniels is a cheater.

Reno Gazette-Journal reports NFL players in Lake Tahoe for a celebrity golf tournament say a labor deal is “close.”  John Elway and Tim Tebow are among the participants.

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Have you notice it’s ranking season?

NFL is counting down the league’s current Top 100 players.  Two Broncos, wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and cornerback Champ Bailey, made the still-being-unveiled list.  On the subject of lists, nothing NFL-related if off-limits, helmets included, for the ranking maestros of ESPN.

Not to be outdone, Pro Football Weekly has released its list of coaches – placed 1-32.  No surprise at the top; as much as it pains me, Bill Belichick comes in #1.

First-year Broncos coach John Fox places a commendable 12th.  It’s the highest ranking for a coach with a new team.  It’s a clear indication PFW respects Fox’s career accomplishments:

Broncos head coach John Fox is ranked as PFW's 12th best coach. (Courtesy Kevin Tsui

Head Coaching Record

Carolina Panthers (2002-2010)

• 73-71 (Regular Season)
• 5-3 (Postseason)

Fox’s record is just above .500, but keep in mind a whopping 14 of those losses came last season.

He’s also the highest ranked coach in the AFC West, placing ahead of Norv Turner, coach of perennial divisional favorite San Diego (15), Kansas City’s Todd Haley (19), and Oakland’s Hue Jackson (30), who has no NFL head coaching experience.

As we know, rankings mean very little, especially in this lockout-impacted offseason.   The only true rankings come in the form of W-L.

We’ll have to wait for that.

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Denver fans have surely thought, analyzed, overanalyzed, gut-trusted, and over-over-analyzed this year’s draft haul.  We have a good idea for what new talent the Broncos will have to work with in the event of a season.

Unfortunately, as is always the case, the Broncos division rivals in the AFC West also got a chance to stock up on some new talent.  Seeing as how six of Denver’s games will always be against these teams, it’s worth taking a look at some of the personnel directions in which these teams are headed.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Chiefs executed a worst to first move in the AFC West between 2009 and 2010.  The team’s success this past year came from its young, athletic roster starting to click with head coach Todd Haley’s intense coaching philosophy.  Haley restored an aggressive speed to the Chiefs defense, special teams, and running game.  Firming up depth in the secondary, and the passing game, this off-season will help the Chiefs continue that upward momentum.

Clone Pick: Jonathan Baldwin, WR (Pittsburgh) – The Chiefs know exactly the one player on the roster the team would like to replicate.  Dwayne Bowe is THE threat in the passing game.  When Bowe was contained, so was the Chiefs aerial attack, and that created some problems this past season.  Baldwin provides the Chiefs with another big receiver, and could bring the KC passing attack up to the level of its ground game.

“Kinda Makes Sense” Pick: Ricky Stanzi, QB (Iowa) – Only one team in the AFC West can be fully confident with its quarterback situation, and that team is not Kansas City.  While Matt Cassel started showing his deserved starter status in 2010, there should still be some questions on whether he truly is a franchise quarterback.  Ricky Stanzi won’t be expected to challenge Cassel for the starting job…at least not yet.  Cassel’s durability remains a question though, and ultimately Brody Croyle doesn’t appear to be a firm number two.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

The Norv Turner Era in San Diego just doesn’t make sense.  The defense is always solid, the offense has all the trappings of a scoring machine, yet somehow San Diego seems to under-perform so egregiously in the first half of seasons that the team must always rally to make the playoffs.  This past season the rally fizzled, and the Chargers spent much of the season viewing special teams as a major liability.  If there’s one unit you can definitely provide a talent upgrade for in the draft it’s special teams.

Defcon 3 Picks: The Chargers selected Corey Liuget, DT (Illinois), Marcus Gilchrist, DB (Clemson), and Jonas Mouton, LB (Michigan) with their first three picks. That is three players for each of the three defensive levels.  Liuget will likely be the one with a chance to start.  However, Gilchrist could see considerable time with so many pass-oriented offenses in the league.  Mouton gives added depth at linebacker but will likely be a big special teams contributor.

“Exception to the Rule” Pick: Vincent Brown, WR (SDSU) – It’s shocking to see the Chargers grab a receiver who isn’t a giant.  For the past few years the San Diego receiving corps has rivaled most professional basketball teams in terms of average height.  Now here’s Brown coming in at 5’11”, 187 lbs.  I guess the Chargers finally realized you can’t fit  6’5”, 240 lbs. dudes into the slot.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Just when you thought Al Davis was finished…the 2010 Raiders happen.  The team finally gets competitive again finishing 8-8, and then Davis fires the coach.  Well, the outlook has yet to improve for Oakland.  Quarterback still appears to be a moving target as the Raiders didn’t have a chance to select any high-rated prospects as their first pick came midway through the second round.

Expecting the Worst Picks: The Raiders used their first four picks to select two offensive linemen, and two defensive backs.  Stefen Wisniewski, OL (Penn St.) & Joseph Barksdale, OL (LSU) will be expected to fill and strengthen the O-line.  Wisniewski may be an attempt to replace Robert Gallery who likely won’t return.  Demarcus Van Dyke, DB (Miami) & Chimdi Chekwa, DB (Ohio St.) could come in handy if Nnamdi Asomugha also leaves town.  Both defensive backs have great speed, but unless one proves to be as good as Patrick Peterson is supposed to be, neither would be able to replace Asomugha.

Pining for Bo Jackson Pick: Taiwan Jones, RB (EWU) – No, Taiwan Jones is not built like Bo Jackson, but that kind of speed is something Al Davis has become addicted to for the past two decades.  Sure, running back is not a position the Raiders are hurting at with Darren McFadden improving each season, but Jones does have that big play speed.  Perhaps the idea is McFadden and Jones get defenses so gassed that Oakland can go the majority of the game without having to throw the ball.

As a whole, the AFC West is bound for improvement in the coming seasons.  Kansas City is doing all the right things, the Chargers will likely remain competitive, and Oakland looks like a competitor at the beginning of each season.

It’s all extra motivation for the Broncos to REALLY start to get it right this year.

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