We missed Week 12, so check out last week’s rankings in parenthesis to keep track of how the Broncos are moving up the Power Rankings. At 6-5, the Broncos have a winning record for the first time in two seasons! Do the rankings reflect that?

ESPN: 16th (17)
Defense’s roll can easily continue at mediocre-to-bad Minnesota. (Kuharsky)

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Linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos tackles running back Thomas Jones #20 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half on November 13, 2011 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Denver defeated Kansas City 17-10. (Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for November, the NFL announced on Thursday.

Miller tied for the team lead with 31 tackles (24 solo) in addition to contributing 4.5 sacks (28 yds.) and two passes defensed while helping Denver post a 4-0 record in the month of November. It was the first time the Broncos went undefeated in November since 2000.

This marks the fifth time a Broncos rookie has been given an offensive or defensive rookie of the month award (RB Mike Anderson, September 2000, December 2000; RB Clinton Portis, October 2002; LB D.J. Williams, December 2004). Miller is the first Bronco to win the award in seven seasons.

For the season, Miller has totaled 57 tackles (45 solo), including 10.5 sacks (69 yds.) and 16 tackles for a loss, along with 21 quarterback hits, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles. His 10.5 sacks rank first among league rookies and are tied for third overall in the NFL.

With eleven games played and five to go, Miller is four shy of Jevon Kearse‘s rookie sack record. Let’s hope he gets healthy so he can chase it.

Receiver Eddie Royal has battled injuries this season.  (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Broncos rookie linebacker Von Miller (thumb) and receiver Eddie Royal (toe) are both questionable to play on Sunday against the Vikings.  Neither of the two players participated in practice Monday, nor did veteran running back Willis McGahee, who Coach John Fox said was excused due to “illness.”

“[Von Miller] will be day-to-day, just like everybody else,” said Fox on Wednesday.  “By league rule we don’t have to announce what their availability will be until Friday, and we won’t do so until then.”

Also on the injury report Wednesday were tight end Daniel Fells (hand), safety David Bruton (Achilles), and offensive tackle Ryan Clady (knee).  All three players participated in practice and are expected to play Sunday, barring any set-backs.

The Broncos will be looking for their fifth straight road win for the first time since 1998 on Sunday; having the roster at full strength would considerably help towards extending that streak.

Fox would not comment when asked if Miller had surgery on his thumb, which means he probably did.  Hopefully Miller, Royal and the rest of the injured Broncos are back on the field soon.

Quarterback Tim Tebow, #15 of the Denver Broncos, eludes Eric Smith #33 of the New York Jets and rushes 20 yards for the game winning touchdown in the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 17, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Jets 17-13. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow may be among the least accurate passers in the NFL, but nobody can deny his running ability.  The record books reflect that.

• Tebow was the fastest quarterback in franchise history to rush for nine touchdowns in his career (15 games), and also holds the second-most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in team history, second only to John Elway‘s 33.

• As a rookie in 2010, Tebow rushed 43 times for 227 yards (5.3 avg.) and six touchdowns and recorded two of the top three single-game rushing performances by a quarterback in franchise history.

• This season, Carolina’s Cam Newton joined Tebow (Den., 2010) and Fran Tarkenton (Min., 1961) as the only three players in NFL history to run and pass for a touchdown in four or more games during their rookie season(s).

• On Sunday, Tebow rushed 22 times for 67 yards.  That marked the most rushing attempts by a quarterback in a single game in NFL history.  Second on the list is Billy Kilmer (20 carries with the 49ers in 1961).  Among modern-era quarterbacks, the closest anyone comes to 22 carries is Michael Vick‘s 14 carries in 2004.

The Denver Post‘s Woody Paige calls Tebow a “hybrack — a hybrid quarterback-running back, ” and predicts that he’ll make the 2012 Pro Bowl.

Broncos Insider Vic Lombardi of CBS4 and 102.3 The Ticket reported alarming news on Wednesday morning, initially reporting that rookie linebacker Von Miller broke his thumb against the San Diego Chargers last week.

A broken thumb may have caused Miller to miss some playing time, but Lombardi later learned that Miller only has ligament damage in his thumb and should be good go.

A thumb injury of any kind is never fun to have, and it could hinder Miller in the coming weeks — expect Denver’s trainers to extensively tape Miller’s thumb for Sunday’s game against the Vikings.  As of now, it sounds like Miller will not miss any playing time because of the injury.

Coach John Fox will address the media at 1:15 p.m. (MT) this afternoon.  Any updates on Miller’s injury are expected to come then.  Stay tuned for updates.

Receiver Greg Orton spent time with the Broncos earlier in the year. (Photo by Paul Connors/Associated Press)

You read it here first, Orton is returning to the Denver Broncos, the club announced on Wednesday.  Orton will be joining the practice squad.

No, not that Kyle Orton, the Greg Orton.  Greg joined the NFL as a receiver out of Purdue in 2009.

Signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent, Orton went on to play in the AFL and UFL for two seasons.  Orton joined the Broncos last August and played in the preseason before being waived prior to the start of the regular season.

At 6-3, 199 pounds, Orton joins the Broncos at the age of 24.  Having never been spent time on an NFL roster during the regular season, Orton is technically considered a rookie and will wear jersey No. 14 for the Broncos.

The Broncos created two free practice squad spots when the team activated linebacker Mike Mohamed and safety Kyle McCarthy to the active roster on Monday, replacing the roster spots formerly held by quarterback Kyle Orton (waived) and cornerback Cassius Vaughn (injured reserve).

The Broncos on Wednesday also signed third year cornerback Tony Carter to the practice squad.  Signed by the Broncos as a college free agent from Florida State University in 2009, Carter bounced back and forth from the practice squad and active roster that season.  After playing in three games in Denver, Carter joined the New England Patriots in 2010 and played in one game last season.

At 5-9, 175 pounds, Carter most recently spent time with the Minnesota Vikings last training camp.  Carter will wear jersey No. 32 with the Broncos.

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow celebrates a 2-point conversion during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, in Miami. (AP Photo/Hans Deryk)

Is it magic that sees Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos riding a four-game win streak? Or is there statistical substance behind what some see as smoke and mirrors?

Kerry Byrne of ColdHardFootballFacts.com breaks down the numbers in this phenomenal piece for Sports Illustrated.

Tebow is no statistical circus freak winning in spite of himself. Tebow’s Broncos are winning because he consistently outperforms the opposing quarterback when you take into account all aspects of production: passing, running, sacks, total touchdowns, interceptions and fumbles. In fact, he consistently outperforms them by a wide margin.

Byrne goes on to reveal some very interesting numbers about Tebow’s success in finding the end zone and not forfeiting turnovers.

If Tebow can extend these trends beyond this small sample size, he’ll take the Broncos far indeed. He’s certainly earned that chance.

Tebow’s success due to production and protection, not magic [Sports Illustrated]

Replacing Lloyd as Denver's top receiver, Eric Decker has scored a total of nine touchdowns this season. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

When the Broncos traded receiver Brandon Lloyd to the St. Louis Rams, Denver received a conditional sixth round pick that would turn into a fifth round selection if Lloyd caught thirty or more passes with the Rams this season.  Entering last week’s games, Lloyd was four short of thirty.  On Sunday, he caught five.  [BT/NFL.com]

Meanwhile, second year receiver Eric Decker has had no trouble replacing Lloyd as Denver’s best receiver.  [StarTribune]

This November marked the first time the Broncos have gone undefeated in the month since 2005 when they finished 13-3 and went to the AFC Championship Game.  [Denver Post]

The Broncos announced on Monday that the team has signed safety Kyle McCarthy and linebacker Mike Mohamed to the active roster from the practice squad and placed cornerback Cassius Vaughn on the injured reserve list.  [@Denver_Broncos]

Broncos’ running back Willis McGahee never got the memo that running backs over the age of 30 are supposed to run into a wall.  [Denver Post]

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is asking fans to consider donating $1 today towards the Tim Tebow Foundation CURE Hospital to be built in the Philippines.  [Denver Broncos Official Blog]

Mike Klis of the Denver Post wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos’ December 18th match against the New England Patriots is flexed from 2:15 p.m. (M.T.) to 6:30 p.m. prime-time on NBC.  We wouldn’t be either.  [First-And-Orange]

Vikings’ long snapper Cullen Loeffler suffered a fractured sacrum on Sunday and will miss the rest of the season; league-leading sack specialist Jared Allen filled in for Loeffler on Sunday, but the Vikings will sign a true long snapper this week.  [StarTribune]

Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson — who did not play last week with an ankle injury — has “made progress,” and is possible to play Sunday.  [SB Nation Denver]

Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos warms-up against the San Diego Chargers during their NFL Game on November 27, 2011 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Since he watched two of his turnovers returned for touchdowns in a 45-10 blowout loss against the Detroit Lions in Week 8, Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has been spotless in the turnover category.

Over the past four weeks, Tebow has scored six touchdowns and thrown zero interceptions, being sacked just three times.  Additionally, it appears that Tebow has — although just slightly — improved as a passing quarterback.

On Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, Tebow was 9-of-18 (50% completion percentage) for 143 yards and a beautiful 18-yard touchdown pass to receiver Eric Decker.  The fact that Tebow properly set his feet and was throwing from the pocket on the score makes it all the more encouraging.

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Highlights of the Denver Broncos‘ 16-13 overtime victory against the San Diego Chargers can be seen below: