A fan holds up a sign in support of the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 1, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 7-3 as the Broncos advanced to the AFC playoffs. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Your 2011 Denver Broncos Playoffs Wildcard Weekend Primer. (Updated 3:13 p.m. with radio broadcast info).

Who and what

The fourth seed Denver Broncos will face the fifth seed Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2011 NFL playoffs.

When and where

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. MT in Denver, at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

Television

National broadcast by CBS with Phil Simms and Jim Nantz providing commentary and play-by-play respectively.

Radio

National broadcast by Westwood One – Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Dan Fouts (color commentary) with Steve Tasker reporting from the sidelines. Local broadcast by KOA 850 AM – Dave Logan, Brian Griese, Andy Lindahl in same respective facets.

Tickets

Available online at Ticketmaster.com (only to Rocky Mountain region buyers). It appears most tickets have sold, but a quick search at midnight last night showed some single seats and club seats available. The Broncos box office will open this morning if tickets are still available. For more information, call the ticket office at 720-258-3333.

• No Terrible Towels – The Broncos strongly encourage you NOT to sell your tickets to Pittsburgh Steelers fans. So do we. It’s our responsibility as fans to maintain our home field advantage! The 2005 loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game — the Broncos’ last playoffs game — was a disgrace as thousands of gold-clad Steelers fans remained in the stadium celebrating their traveling victory. Don’t sell to anyone but Broncos fans, Broncos fans. No Terrible Towels in Mile High!
• AFC West Gear available – The Broncos’ 2011 AFC West Championship gear is available online, so get your T-shirts and hats while they’re hot!
• Playoff rivalry renewed – The Broncos’ first and last playoff opponent was the Steelers, and they’ve faced Pittsburgh in the postseason more than any other team in their history (six times, with a 3-3 record). More on the rivalry here.
• A look ahead – The winner between Broncos-Steelers will face either the Patriots or the Ravens, depending on the outcome of the other AFC Wild Card Weekend match. If the Texans win, the winner of Broncos vs. Steelers would travel to New England. If the Bengals win, Broncos/Steelers winner would travel to Baltimore.

Black Monday Aftermath

• Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is on the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ list of head coach candidates. [ProFootballTalk]
• Josh McDaniels is the lone surviving coach in St. Louis. [ESPN]
• Winning four of their last five may help Chargers coach Norv Turner and GM A.J. Smith keep their respective jobs. [CBS Sports]
• The Colts‘ Pollians aren’t so lucky. [Shutdown Corner]
• Raiders coach Hue Jackson isn’t happy. [Shutdown Corner]

Broncos vs. Steelers

• First look at the game. [Washington Post]
• Playoff teams with 3-game losing streaks are 4-0 at home in NFL history. [MaxDenver]
• The Steelers lost RB Rashard Mendenhall to an ACL tear. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
• Ben Roethlisberger “limped heavily out of the locker room” Sunday after the game. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
• Our friend Andrew Mason had an impressive extra gig this weekend. Congrats Mase! [New York Times]
• The Patriots are probably cheering for the Broncos this weekend. [Taunton Daily Gazette]

UPDATE: DENVER BRONCOS 2012 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

The Denver Broncos 2012 schedule‘s opponents have been announced following the team’s first-place record in the AFC West in 2011. Dates to be announced later in the offseason.

The Denver Broncos 2012 schedule sees the Mile High men facing seven opponents who finished better than their 8-8 record in 2011, including four teams with 12 or more wins. Welcome to the big leagues, Broncos.

Opponents are listed based on whether the Broncos are at home or away; the opponent’s 2011 record is in parenthesis.

DENVER BRONCOS 2012 SCHEDULE Dates to be announced
Home Games	Away Games
Kansas City Chiefs (7-9) Oakland Raiders (8-8) San Diego Chargers (8-8) Cleveland Browns (4-12) Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) Houston Texans (10-6) New Orleans Saints (13-3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)	Kansas City Chiefs (7-9) Oakland Raiders (8-8) San Diego Chargers (8-8) Baltimore Ravens (12-4) Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) New England Patriots (13-3) Atlanta Falcons (10-6) Carolina Panthers (6-10)

How many games do you see the Broncos winning next year? Take the poll that either appears to the left (on the sidebar) or directly below.

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Harris spent training camp with the Eagles last summer. (Image courtesy of GCOBB.com)

After placing offensive guard Chris Kuper on the injured reserve list on Monday, the Broncos brought back offensive tackle Ryan Harris, the team announced.

Harris was not re-signed in the offseason after Denver drafted Orlando Franklin to replace him.  After a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, Harris had to have surgery and was waived by the team.

Drafted by the Broncos in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft, Harris started in 34 games in Denver during his four years with the team.  It is expected that Harris will provide much-needed depth to the Broncos offensive line.

There is a chance that Denver will shuffle their offensive linemen around and insert Harris into the lineup, but with the playoffs on the horizon, it is more likely that Harris will be a veteran backup for the time being.

Contract details are not yet know.  In addition to signing Harris, the Broncos also signed defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon and defensive back Ramzee Robinson to future contracts.

• The Denver Broncos have won the AFC West and are postseason-bound for the first time in over five years.  Meanwhile, their 2012 regular season opponents have been determined.  [MD]

• A versatile threat as a receiver, returner and runner, Eddie Royal has rushed seven times this season for 48 yards and has scored twice. [NFL.com]

• Broncos right guard Chris Kuper broke his leg on Sunday and will miss the playoffs.  Thoughts and prayers for a full recovery headed your way, Koop!  [FAO]

• The Steelers could be without starting free safety Ryan Clark this weekend in Denver, and they will be without running back Rashard Mendenhall.  [PL]

• In the first round of the Wild Card, Denver will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at home next Sunday.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (MT).  [FAO]

• Have we witnessed the end of Tebow Time?  In recent weeks, quarterback  Tim Tebowhasn’t even played well in the fourth quarter.  [NFL.com]

It’s hard to fully appreciate a division title given the way they won it, but they won it nonetheless: the 8-8 Denver Broncos are the 2011 AFC West Champions.

It’s the first division title and playoff berth for the Broncos since 2005. As fourth seed, Denver will host the fifth seed Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at home for the first week in the playoffs.

And while we’re all still reeling over the loss to the Chiefs this afternoon, and the way they lost three straight to back into the playoffs, and the way Tim Tebow and company are playing utterly dreadful offensive football, remember that the Broncos were 4-12 only a season ago.

No team in the AFC West more deserved to go to the playoffs than Denver.

Denver Broncos' Tim Tebow pitches the ball to teammate Lance Ball while playing against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL football game in Denver, Colorado January 1, 2012. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

Whatever swagger the Denver Broncos had following their six-game win streak has flown out the window. The offensively offense-less Broncos lost 3-7 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17, dropping their third straight game to finish the 2011 season 8-8.

Tim Tebow‘s fourth quarter magic has been noticeably missing of late. Two late-game comeback opportunities — the staple of the Tebow era in Denver — evaded the Broncos QB today as his last pass was intercepted with a few dozen seconds left in the game. His fumble in the second quarter within striking distance of the Chiefs’ end zone was an even larger game-killer. Tebow finished 6 for 22 for 60 yards and an interception.

The defense held Kansas City to seven points, and the special teams recovered a muffed punt that setup the Broncos’ only three points. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and head coach John Fox can share the blame with Tebow for not even scrounging up a measly eight points against Kansas City.

The Broncos can still win the division if the Oakland Raiders lose to the San Diego Chargers today. The Raiders trail 38-26 with less than four minutes remaining.

Towards the end of November, LandlockedPioneers came out with a hilarious video spoof of quarterback Kyle Orton bidding farewell to Denver.  With Orton set to return to Denver tomorrow, they’ve come out with another video:

Dig it or disgust it, you cannot deny that he does somewhat resemble Orton, albeit not a twin-brother resemblance.

• 

  Safety Brian Dawkins may have to watch from the sidelines on Sunday in Denver. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

  Football Outsiders has named Broncos offensive tackle Orlando Franklin, linebacker Von Miller and cornerback Chris Harris to their 2011 All-Rookie team.  Congrats, fellas!  [FO]

• Per the Broncos official injury report, safety Brian Dawkins (neck) is doubtful for Sunday’s game.  Kansas City running back Jackie Battle (foot) has been ruled out and safety John McGraw (ankle) is doubtful.  [IRP]

• Broncos center, J.D. Walton, has snapped to quarterback Tim Tebow–a former Heisman Trophy winner–this season and used to snap to Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III–the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner–while in college.  [DP]

• Bronco fans that followed former Head Coach Josh McDaniels when he left Denver are few and far between.  Rams receiver Brandon Lloyd however, would follow him to the ends of the earth.  [SLTT]

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A lot of players have gotten their hands on the football this season in Denver.  (Images courtesy of Getty Images, AP Photos and Reuters Pictures)

This season in Denver, the Broncos have certainly spread the football around.  Nearly 30 different players touched the ball this season, either returning an interception or kick, passing or rushing.

Last season, only two players attempted a pass.  This season, five different Broncos have thrown the football (although one of them was Britton Colquitt on a punt gone wrong).  Of course, when three of the five players attempting passes are a pair receivers and a punter, it’s no surprise that only two players have completed passes this season for Denver. Click here to read the rest of this entry »