Tim Tebow: Time To Start Him Over Kyle Orton and His Hollow Numbers

Tim Tebow starting over Kyle Orton in Denver? Is it time?

Orton may be second in the NFL in passing yards, tied for sixth in touchdown passes and eighth in passer rating, but all those stats have led to just two wins this year.

He certainly doesn't deserve much blame for the 2-6 record since the passing game is just about the only bright spot for this team.

The rushing offense and defense are both absolutely atrocious. They're 32nd in rushing yards per game at 67.3, and they don't have one decent running back. They're also 31st in rushing yards allowed at 154.6 per game.

You can try to blame the bad running backs or the spotty offensive line for the horrible rushing attack, but it's obviously the play calling and personnel decisions by Josh McDaniels that have led to this disaster.  

Trading Peyton Hillis and a draft pick for Brady Quinn may have been the worst offseason move in the entire NFL. Hillis would have been much better in this system than Knowshon Moreno, even with McDaniels calling 131 more pass plays than running plays.

So if I'm not placing much, if any, blame on Orton, why am I calling for his being benched so that Tebow can play?

It's simple: This season is done. The Broncos will likely finish third or fourth in the AFC West, as they clearly look worse than the Chiefs and Raiders.

The last half of this season would be best spent developing Denver's huge investment, Tim Tebow. He may not be as accurate or experienced as Orton right now, but he's definitely a more dynamic player. He could certainly hit the underneath routes that are so common in McDaniels' offense.

If Orton stays under center and the team continues on the pace it's on, they'll likely finish with no more than six wins, and McDaniels could find himself unemployed after the season.

His seat should be hot enough at this point to get him to take some risks. Starting Tebow from here on out would be one, but if they could pull out a few wins and at least get close to a .500 record, management may let McDaniels stay on at least one more year to develop the "project" QB he drafted.