Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers prepares to enter the game against the Miami Dolphins during their NFL Game on October 2, 2011 at Qualcomm Stadium in San DIego, California. (Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Your wittiest, most cleverest captions in the comments. Last winner after the jump.

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• NFL Films gives us a Chargers–Broncos preview, and Playbook breaks down some tape. [NFL.com]
• Woody Paige surmises that Tim Tebow‘s fate isn’t tied to the outcome of this game, as so many of us believe. [Denver Post]
• The Chargers are favored by 3.5, which some claim to be the week’s best bet. [Democrat and Chronicle]
• As we’ve discussed at length on Twitter, Tebow’s salary is NOT affecting his playing time. [Denver Post]
• Champ Bailey discusses his health and his plans to play in Thursday practice notes. [Max Denver] [DenverBroncos.com]
• Injuries at tight end may force the Broncos to move some offensive tackles around. [CBS4 Denver]
• “Astounding” … “Exceptional” … just some of the words used to describe Von Miller‘s play through four games (more). [Pro Football Focus]
• If there’s one singular item killing the Broncos, it’s turnovers. [Predominantly Orange]
• Some alternative, better Tebow billboard suggestions. [It’s All Over Fat Man!]

Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne (7) lays on the ground after being injured in the first half against the San Diego Chargers during their NFL football game in San Diego, California October 2, 2011. (Photo by Mike Blake /Reutuers)

The Miami Dolphins just can’t get a break.

The winless Dolphins can’t seem to get wide receiver Brandon Marshall to catch anything and are finding out why New Orleans let running back Reggie Bush go in the offseason.  To top it all off, they found out on Thursday that starting quarterback Chad Henne is going to have season-ending surgery.

This leaves the Dolphins with fifth year quarterback Matt Moore as the starter.  After learning Henne would be out for the year, Miami went shopping for a veteran quarterback.

In August, the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins were prepared to trade quarterback Kyle Orton and a fourth round draft pick.  Before the deal was finalized however, Miami’s owner, Stephen Ross, declined to pay a three-year, $27 million contract extension to Orton that had already been agreed to, which blew up the deal, according to ESPN‘s Adam Schefter.

Two months later and four games into the season, Orton has completed 85-of-142 passes (59.9 completion percentage) for 945 yards and eight touchdowns against six interceptions and nine sacks.  Now down to one quarterback on the roster, are the Dolphins still interested? Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Broncos rookie offensive lineman Orlando Franklin was excused from practice yesterday because of the passing of his twenty-year old brother.  Franklin was back on the field Thursday and noted via twitter that he is grateful for everyone’s thoughts and prayers.

“Thanks guys for all your prayers for my little brother,” tweeted Franklin. “Its a shame that he had to die at twenty.”  A twenty-four year old rookie, Franklin has started every game at right tackle for the Broncos this season.

Our deepest condolences go out to Franklin and his family.  Please join us in keeping Orlando and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

• Eric Decker spent the 2011 offseason reshaping his body following his 2009 foot injury and 2010 rehabilitation. It’s paid off. [Washington Post]
• The first step to becoming a team to beat in the AFC West: beat the current one. [DenverBroncos.com]
• John Fox starts talking about urgency (about time), and Andrew Mason notes some 1-3 stats involving the playoffs. [Max Denver]
• The Broncos used their dime package against Green Bay more than in their first three games combined. [Denver Post]
• PFF lauds Von Miller, who is leading the NFL in QB pressures at OLB. [Pro Football Focus]
• And then lauds him some more, ranking him first in the Rookie of the Year race. [Pro Football Focus]
• Wednesday practice notes and photos. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Notes on every player on the San Diego Chargers roster.
• The Chargers’ victory over the Dolphins was a decisive one, from reading these game film notes. [Fifth Down]
• No more rowdy friends on Monday night — ESPN pulls Hank Wiliams Jr.’s iconic theme song for good. [Shutdown Corner]

This video of Tim Tebow on ESPN’s Outside the Lines is actually a few weeks old, but I hadn’t seen it yet, so I thought perhaps some of you had missed it as well. In it, OTL spends 10 minutes interviewing those around Tebow, discussing why the Denver Broncos QB is so, well, discussed.

“From some of the Christian fans, it’s as though if you criticize Tim Tebow’s throwing motion, you’re trying to trash Christianity,” author Tom Krattenmaker says in the video.

With the Broncos presumably on the precipice of handing over their season, and possibly their franchise, to Tim Tebow, now seems as appropriate a time as any to examine the positives and negatives surrounding this outspoken Christian proponent.

Brian Dawkins has been a big part of Denver's defense this season. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Just when we thought the Denver Broncos were getting healthier.

On Wednesday, veteran safety Brian Dawkins did not participate in practice, joining tight end Daniel Fells on the sideline.  The usual MIP (missing at practice) Broncos all sat out again, receivers Demaryius Thomas (finger) and Eddie Royal (groin) were joined by tight end Julius Thomas (ankle).

There’s been no word yet on the status of Dawkins, who played the entire game on Sunday and did not appear to suffer any injuries.  It could be that Dawkins is just getting a veteran day off.  Fells did hurt his knee against the Packers in the first quarter but returned later in the game.

Back at practice was cornerback Champ Bailey and defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, both players missed Sunday’s game with respective hamstring and groin injuries.  The Broncos are hopeful to have Bailey and M. Thomas back this week and Royal, D. Thomas and J. Thomas back after the team’s week six bye.

The Broncos seemingly took a more serious approach to practice Wednesday, practicing in pads with no music playing during stretching periods, both abnormal for the team’s first day of practice.  With that said, Andrew Mason of MaxDenver noted that the team looked just as focused as they have in previous weeks.

Bailey has already said he will play this week, which is great news for the secondary. The loss of Dawkins however would be a big blow.  Rookie safety Rahim Moore would be joined by fellow rookie Quinton Carter at the back end of Denver’s secondary — which does not sound very comforting considering the two would be defending passes off the arm of San Diego’s Phillip Rivers.

Hopefully the Broncos can get healthier this week and come out of the bye week at full strength.

The Denver Broncos‘ schedule hasn’t done them any favors. They’re 1-3 and just coming away from a blowout loss in Green Bay. Things are down, fans are up in arms… but there are still signs this team is heading in the right direction. Let’s see if those below elevation 5,280 agree. (Previous week’s ranking in parenthesis)

ESPN: 27th (26)
Hosting the Chargers should be a more reasonable gauge than traveling to Green Bay was.

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Outside linebacker Shaun Phillips #95 of the San Diego Chargers defends against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

On paper, the first four weeks of the Denver Broncos 2011 schedule didn’t look overly imposing. On the football field, it has proven to be one of the NFL’s toughest.

The Broncos’ first four opponents — the Oakland Raiders (2-2), Cincinnati Bengals (2-2), Tennessee Titans (3-1), and Green Bay Packers (4-0) — boast a combined 11-5 (.688) record this season.  Those four teams have an 8-4 (.667) record outside of their games against the Broncos.

Only the Dallas Cowboys, with opponents having a 12-4 record, have had a tougher schedule than Denver.

Meanwhile, the AFC West-leading San Diego Chargers (3-1) have benefited from perhaps the NFL’s softest schedule. They’ve played the Minnesota Vikings (0-4), New England Patriots (3-1), Kansas City Chiefs (1-3), and Miami Dolphins (0-4), who have limped into a combined 4-12 (.250) record. Chargers opponents have a 3-9 (.250) record outside of games against San Diego.

The Broncos have played half of the league’s remaining undefeated teams; the Chargers have played half of the league’s winless ones. One has to wonder what each team’s record would be if their schedules were flip-flopped.

What-if’s aside, at least this gives us a bit of perspective, and acknowledgement that the Broncos have every reason to believe they can beat the Chargers at home this week.

• Dave Logan says he’s never seen anything like the Tim Tebow/Kyle Orton controversy in his 22 years in Denver. [San Diego Union Tribune]
• Dave Krieger says the team’s higher-ups are starting a war with the fans. [Denver Post]
• The Denver Broncos have fallen to the 17th favorite team in a national survey. [Denver Business Journal]
• Von Miller seems totally oblivious as his phenomenal season flies under the radar. [Denver Post]
• Another bright side to the young season: an improving running game. [Predominantly Orange]
• Philip Rivers needs his three tall targets to all be available at the same time. [San Diego Union Tribune]
• Southern California gives its Broncos scouting report. [San Diego Union Tribune]
• Week Four is in the books, which means FO adds opponent adjustments. DVOA rankings. [Football Outsiders]
• Brett Favre: King of Douchebags [Shutdown Corner]