Tim Tebow Is a Perfect Fit for Denver Broncos-Oakland Raiders Rivalry

It has been a long time coming for the Denver Broncos-Oakland Raiders rivalry to begin its renewal.

After an eight-year absence of meaningful clashes between the two AFC West squads, the 2010 season may be the year that re-ignites a once turbulent rivalry.

Tim Tebow is the fuel to fire it up.

The 2002 season was the last time the two teams were caught in a playoff race deep into the season. Denver finished 9-7 and failed to make the postseason, and Oakland went 11-5, losing 48-21 to Jon Gruden’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII.

During that season, Mozilla Firefox debuted, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated, and Michael Vick was named to the Pro Bowl.

The Raiders have experienced minimal success since then, at best finishing 5-11 in the past two seasons.

The Broncos have had more to cheer about, though they have not made a splash since 2005 when Jake Plummer led them to a 13-3 year and a loss in the AFC Championship Game against Pittsburgh.

The 2010 season marks new beginnings for both organizations, though.

Oakland made a move for Washington’s fallout quarterback Jason Campbell, and Denver drafted God’s gift Tim Tebow in the first round.

Since that memorable 2002 season, Oakland and Denver alike have been searching for their own answers before taking stabs at each other, and the introduction of these two young signal callers may jump start the rivalry that once echoed through the NFL.

For the Broncos, they have anxiously awaited the arrival of their next big thing at quarterback. Some thought it was Jay Cutler when he was selected 11^th overall in 2006. But after three years and no return to the playoffs, Denver traded him to Chicago.

Enter Tebow, a college football relic in Gainesville with questions surrounding his pro potential. Though some experts projected the Florida product as a third or fourth round option, Denver made a bold move and selected Tebow in the first round, 25^th overall.

We all know by now that Kyle Orton seemingly is not the answer. And unless the Broncos truly believe Brady Quinn can lead them to the promised land, Tebow appears to be the future.

Not since John Elway has Denver had its own football deity to latch onto, and whether or not Tebow is the next star to come to the Mile High City, the hype may be all it takes to renew the sting between Denver and Oakland.

The timing could hardly be better for both organizations.

Josh McDaniels is in his second year at the helm in Denver looking to move beyond another mediocre 8-8 mark. The quarterback moves in the past couple of seasons clearly signifies the Broncos’ front office desires to uncover the right answer behind center.

Like McDaniels, Tom Cable goes into his second full season as Oakland’s head man, and the future is on the horizon for the Raiders. A mean running game is in the works with sophomore back Darren McFadden and Michael Bush, and the wide receivers are on the upswing with Darrius Heyward-Bey leading the charge, very quickly.

For Tebow, his progression at the top level will be watched closely by everyone in the country (whether you want to or not thanks to ESPN), but more scrutinized by the Broncos.

Is he the answer at quarterback down the road? It remains to be seen, but his arrival signifies times of change in the AFC West. The future of the Broncos looks to be in his hands, and rest assured, Oakland is setting some pieces in place to make its own push back at glory.

Denver needs a hero after the Jay Cutler debacle as Oakland relentlessly searches for its own.

A Tebow-Campbell rivalry may be primed in a couple of years, but the maturation of a new age rivalry is in the works.

Until then, the Silver and Black need something to look at other than their own abysmal shortcomings.

Tebow’s many hairdos will suffice for now.