While it still could be a season to remember for the Oakland Raiders, it will be one to forget for the Denver Broncos.
But if Tim Tebow reportedly makes his first NFL start in Sunday's game at Oakland, it will certainly spice up the Broncos' miserable season.
The Raiders (6-7) are enjoying their best campaign since 2002, and while it may not result in a trip to the postseason, the team is headed in the right direction.
The same cannot be said for the Broncos (3-10), who have lost four straight games and 18 of their last 23. They are without a coach, and lately, without a clue as to how to win a football game.
Denver starting quarterback Kyle Orton missed practice all week with sore ribs, and Tebow took the majority of snaps with the first-string offense. Broncos interim coach Eric Studesville said Friday he would not make a decision on his starter until much closer to game time, but word apparently leaked out that Tebow would get the call.
The Raiders, who are 4-0 in the AFC West, will have to win their final three contests and hope for the Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) and San Diego Chargers (7-6) to fall apart.
Oakland would have been in better shape if it didn’t blow a 10-point lead in the third quarter and drop a 38-31 decision to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
Oakland’s season so far was highlighted by a three-game winning streak, which started with a 59-14 victory over the Broncos in Denver on Oct. 24. The Raiders set a franchise record for points and finished with 508 yards of offense.
Darren McFadden, who is 11th in the NFL with 993 yards, rushed for 165 and three touchdowns on that day, and also caught a touchdown pass. He is certainly eligible to have another big day Sunday as the Broncos are second-to-last in rushing yards allowed at 150.3 per game
Even Orton, one of the Broncos’ few bright spots, has fallen as of late. He is 28 for 69 in his last two games, and has four touchdown passes in his last four contests.
Orton was 19 for 41 with three interceptions in Denver’s 43-13 loss at the Arizona Cardinals last week, but is still having a solid season with 20 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. He is fourth in the NFL with 3,653 yards, but has been sacked 34 times, third most in the league.
It is hard to imagine Tebow turning Denver’s fortunes around, though, because he doesn’t play defense.
The Broncos are last in the NFL in points allowed at 28.9 per game and do not like to rush the quarterback either – they have 18 sacks, tied for last with the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Raiders are tied for third with 38 sacks.
Knowshon Moreno has rushed for 242 yards in his last two games for the Broncos, who are 29th and average 89.7 yards rushing.