Denver's starting quarterback gig will be Tim Tebow's to lose this offseason. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos 2011 season has come to an end.  Following an embarrassing loss to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round of the AFC Playoffs, the Broncos wild 9-9 (.500) season is finished.

Heading into next season, Broncos Vice President of Football Operations John Elway didn’t hesitate to say Tim Tebow is the team’s starting quarterback moving forward.  Entering his third season in the NFL, Tebow has yet to start in more than eleven games in a single season.

“I think Tim has earned the right to be the starting quarterback going into training camp next year,” Elway said. “I think that he made some good strides this year. He obviously played very well against Pittsburgh and played very well in a lot of football games.”

Moving forward with Tebow, the Broncos will also be changing their main home jersey color to orange.  Starting in 2012, Denver will wear their formerly alternate orange jerseys in all but one of their home games.

“This is what our fans wanted,” Broncos president Joe Ellis​ said in October. “And we’re going to accommodate their wishes starting with 2012.”

The last time the Broncos changed their main jersey color was prior to the 1997 season, following a heart-breaking playoff loss.  The next season, Denver went on to have an historic season and ultimately won Super Bowl XXXII.

Patriots receiver Deion Branch celebrates his 61 yard pass receptions for a touchdown at Foxborough. (Credit: AP/ Stephan Savoia)

Right from the get go the Divisional Round match up started out ugly for Denver, especially it’s secondary.  Tom Brady came out of the gate with a 7 yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker and finished with 6 touchdowns and 1 interception.  The one INT was a bright spot for the Broncos defense with Quinton Carter being in the right place at the right time.  Tebow and McGahee were able to march down a shortened field and punch it in with a rugby scrum that turned chippy.

Denver couldn’t capitalize on it’s next possession before half time to try and cut the Patriot lead down from 21-7 and the New England offense was able to strike twice before the break sucking the momentum out of the Broncos’ decision to defer until the 2nd half.  The media will surely question John Fox and his decision to let Tom Brady have the ball right out of the gate.  The Broncos were never able to find their feet.

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As it was last week, the staff here at Broncotalk is far too excited and nervous to run a live blog during the game.  You die hards will understand when you want to focus on the game nothing can get in the way.  With that said, here is the open thread for today’s game.  Drop us some comments and share with other fans.  As always you can find us on twitter.  Kyle @Broncotalk, Josh: @Crosshare77, Jon @broncoszone, Earl: @ehasleymiles, Mr. East: @Mr_East_BT.

GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The biggest potential landing spot for Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is no longer open. The St. Louis Rams, with whom Allen interviewed Thursday, have found another head coach. Reports Sports Illustrated‘s Peter King:

Jeff Fisher has chosen the Rams over the Dolphins.

— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) January 13, 2012

Allen will remain in Denver, at least for the immediate future, along with offensive coordinator Mike McCoy following the Jacksonville Jaguars’ hiring of Mike Mularkey earlier this week. The Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers still have head coach vacancies.

All of these late night skits would be getting really old if they weren’t so good.  This one uses a little of the same comedy as the SNL skit but Jimmy Fallon’s Bowie is spot on so I’ll allow it.  Enjoy!

Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with teammate Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots after a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in the second half at Gillette Stadium on January 1, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Breaking down the Denver Broncos‘ second playoff opponent in six years from the Football Outsiders‘ perspective: the New England Patriots.

Recall that lower (negative) percentages are good on defense, bad on offense and special teams. DVOA Primer

Overall DVOA: 22.5% (4th)

Again the Denver Broncos are facing a juggernaut of statistical efficiency, this time against the New England Patriots. Last week they knocked off the AFC’s top-ranked team in terms of DVOA; this week they face the conference’s second-best in Bill Belichick‘s Patriots. The main difference between the Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers is that, unlike Pittsburgh, New England isn’t an intimidating force in all facets of play. Just most of them. Let’s break it down. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

CBSSports.com

The Divisional Playoffs game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots presents a number of interesting angles, in both storylines (ahem Josh McDaniels) and on-the-field strategies (containing the Broncos’ version of the option; how to limit the Patriots’ tight ends). Here is how some of the experts break down this Saturday’s pivotal playoffs matchup.

Broncos Offense

Film Room: Patriots vs Broncos divisional preview by Andy Benoit, CBS Sports —

Something to keep in mind is the Steelers had a sound gameplan last week, playing man coverage and using a tepid pass-rush to ensure that Tim Tebow stayed in the pocket. What the Steelers didn’t count on was Demaryius Thomas being able to get by Ike Taylor and Tebow being able to pull the trigger on downfield throws. Those two young ’10 first-rounders both had career days.

The Patriots might bet that the two youngsters can’t do it again.

On the one hand, that’s a smart bet given that Thomas and Tebow were inconsistent all season (Tebow especially). On the other hand, it’s foolish given that cornerback Kyle Arrington – who would draw the Thomas matchup, as Thomas almost always lines up on the favorable side of the left-handed Tebow – is not half the cover artist Ike Taylor is, and given that logic says if Tebow can win against the man coverage of the league’s best pass defense, he can surely win against the man coverage of the league’s worst pass defense.

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• Eric Decker is out. It’s Matthew Willis‘ time. [Predominantly Orange]
• Willis suggests the Pats‘ defense is much better than its stats indicate. [Denver Post]
• The Broncos are emboldened by their upset last week, underdog status, and the early start against New England earlier in the season. [Yahoo! Sports]
• If Willis McGahee stays healthy this time, they might just pull it off. [Denver Post]
• Meanwhile, Tom Brady seems nervous. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Robert Ayers gives the Broncos a triple-threat in its pass rush. [Denver Post]
• Dennis Allen preps for his interview. [MaxDenver]
• Top five offensive and defensive plays from Sunday’s Wild Card win. [MileHighReport]
• Denver Mayor has declared this Friday “Orange Friday.” [CBS4 Denver]
• Marcus Thomas is pretty much the man (but we knew that). [First and Orange]

© Drew Litton

Tim Tebow is now America’s favorite professional athlete, according to a monthly ESPN Sports Poll that has been running for 18 years.

The poll results were gathered from 1,502 interviews from a nationally representative sample of Americans ages 12 and older. Tebow won with three percent of the votes.

According to Rich Luker, founder and director of the ESPN Sports Poll, Tebow reached this pinnacle more quickly than any other athlete in its history.

“To put this in perspective, Tim Tebow rose to the top before the end of his second pro season. It took Tiger Woods three years, LeBron James eight years and Kobe Bryant 11 years,” Luker said. “I think we may be at the front end of a new era in sports stars.”

Or simply the front end of a new era in Broncos football. And think, Sunday was only Tim Tebow’s 15th career start.

Poll: Tim Tebow is U.S.’ favorite [ESPN]

Picture via DrewLitton.com